PayPal Fees Calculator — United States Rates
Calculate PayPal payment processing fees. Forward and reverse calculations with up-to-date rates.
Transaction Type
Current PayPal US Rates
Official| Type | Rate | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Card | 2.99% | $0.49 |
| PayPal Checkout | 3.49% | $0.49 |
| QR Code | 2.29% | $0.09 |
Last verified: 2026-04-08 · Source
Use reverse calculation to determine what to charge so you receive the exact amount you need after fees.
Which PayPal US rate applies to you?
Pick the scenario that matches your sale. Most cards pre-fill the calculator; the cross-border card opens a detailed surcharge guide.
US domestic card payment
Buyer enters a credit/debit card on your checkout — eBay, Etsy, Shopify, or your own site.
Charge $100.00 → fee $3.48 → you receive $96.52
Try this scenario →Buyer pays with PayPal Checkout
Buyer clicks the PayPal button — uses PayPal balance, linked bank, or saved cards. Includes Seller Protection.
Charge $100.00 → fee $3.98 → you receive $96.02
Try this scenario →In-person QR code payment
Pop-up shop, market stall, or face-to-face sale — the lowest US PayPal rate at 2.29% + $0.09.
Charge $100.00 → fee $2.38 → you receive $97.62
Try this scenario →Selling to a non-US buyer
Buyer's account is registered outside the US — PayPal adds a 1.5% cross-border surcharge to the standard card rate (so 2.99% becomes 4.49%; the $0.49 fixed fee stays the same).
See cross-border details →Reverse: I want to net $100
Work backwards from your target take-home — what you should charge so the buyer covers the fee.
To net $100.00, charge $103.59
Try the reverse calculator →PayPal Fee Structure
Standard Card
2.99% + $ 0.49
Applies when a buyer pays by entering a credit or debit card directly, without using a PayPal account.
PayPal Checkout
3.49% + $ 0.49
Applies when a buyer pays through the PayPal wallet — using their PayPal balance, linked bank account, or cards saved in PayPal.
QR Code
2.29% + $ 0.09
Applies to in-person transactions where the buyer scans a PayPal QR code to complete the payment.
Rates last verified on 2026-04-08. Source: PayPal official pricing .
Example Fee Calculations
| Amount | Standard Card | PayPal Checkout | QR Code | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fee | You Receive | Fee | You Receive | Fee | You Receive | |
| $25.00 | $1.24 | $23.76 | $1.36 | $23.64 | $0.66 | $24.34 |
| $50.00 | $1.99 | $48.01 | $2.24 | $47.76 | $1.24 | $48.76 |
| $100.00 | $3.48 | $96.52 | $3.98 | $96.02 | $2.38 | $97.62 |
| $500.00 | $15.44 | $484.56 | $17.94 | $482.06 | $11.54 | $488.46 |
| $1,000.00 | $30.39 | $969.61 | $35.39 | $964.61 | $22.99 | $977.01 |
| $5,000.00 | $149.99 | $4,850.01 | $174.99 | $4,825.01 | $114.59 | $4,885.41 |
All amounts in USD. Fees calculated using current PayPal rates.
How PayPal Pricing Works
PayPal's fee structure varies by how the buyer pays. Standard card processing — where a buyer enters a credit or debit card — costs 2.99% + $0.49 per transaction. Like card fees in general, the fixed $0.49 component has a larger proportional impact on small payments.
PayPal Checkout is the button that lets buyers pay with their PayPal balance, linked bank account, or saved cards through the PayPal wallet. This method costs 3.49% + $0.49 — 0.5% more than standard card — because PayPal bundles buyer protection and dispute handling into the product.
For in-person or QR code payments, PayPal charges 2.29% + $0.09, the lowest rate in its lineup. This is intended for retail and pop-up scenarios where the buyer scans a code to pay; the reduced fixed fee makes it practical for low-value transactions.
PayPal deducts fees before settling to your PayPal balance. Transfers from PayPal to your bank account are free via standard transfer (1–3 business days) or available within minutes for an instant transfer fee.
For payments from buyers outside the United States, PayPal adds a flat 1.5% cross-border surcharge to the percentage portion of whichever rate already applies — standard card, PayPal Checkout, or QR. The fixed fee stays unchanged. So a standard card payment from a non-US buyer is billed at 4.49% + $0.49 (2.99% + 1.5%), not the 2.99% + $0.49 domestic rate. Unlike PayPal UK — which lists EEA (4.19%) and Other (4.89%) as fully separate rate tiers — PayPal US treats cross-border as an additive surcharge layered on the domestic rate, not as a distinct rate type. See PayPal International Fees for the full stacking rules.
Using PayPal in the United States
PayPal remains the most recognized online payment brand among US consumers. Offering PayPal Checkout alongside card payments consistently produces higher conversion rates — particularly for buyers who are hesitant to enter card details on unfamiliar sites. The PayPal button carries an implicit trust signal that is difficult to replicate, which is why most US e-commerce stores include it even when Stripe handles their primary card processing.
US sellers need to be aware of 1099-K tax reporting. PayPal is required to report your earnings to the IRS once you exceed the applicable annual threshold. The threshold has changed several times in recent years, so always check IRS.gov for the current rules before tax season. If you're a casual seller or freelancer, PayPal income must be reported on your federal tax return regardless of whether you receive a 1099-K.
New sellers frequently encounter PayPal's fund-holding policy: payments can be held for up to 21 days until you establish a track record. You can release holds early by uploading shipment tracking, getting buyer confirmation, or achieving consistent positive feedback. Established accounts with good standing typically see next-day access to funds. On the dispute side, the 3.49% PayPal Checkout rate includes access to PayPal's Seller Protection program, which can offset chargeback losses — a meaningful benefit for higher-ticket US merchants.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are PayPal's standard payment processing fees?
PayPal charges 2.99% + $0.49 per transaction for standard card payments. On a $100 sale the fee is $3.48 and you receive $96.52.
Why is PayPal Checkout more expensive than standard card?
PayPal Checkout (3.49% + $0.49) includes access to PayPal's buyer protection program and lets buyers pay from their PayPal balance or linked bank account. The higher rate funds the dispute-resolution infrastructure that comes with that payment method.
What are PayPal's QR code fees?
QR code payments cost 2.29% + $0.09 per transaction — the lowest PayPal rate for US merchants. The reduced fixed fee makes it viable for small in-person sales.
Does PayPal charge monthly fees?
No. PayPal's standard business account has no monthly fee or setup cost. You pay only per completed transaction. Some advanced products (like PayPal Payments Pro) carry monthly fees, but the standard checkout options do not.
How do I reverse-calculate what to charge to receive a specific amount?
For standard card, use: charge = (desired amount + $0.49) / (1 − 0.0299). To net $100 you need to charge $103.59. Use the reverse calculator on this page to compute the exact charge for any target amount and rate type.
PayPal vs Stripe — which is cheaper?
For US domestic card payments, Stripe (2.9% + $0.30) is typically cheaper than PayPal standard card (2.99% + $0.49), particularly on larger transactions where the lower fixed fee matters. For ACH bank payments, Stripe's 0.8% (capped at $5) has no PayPal equivalent.
Does PayPal US charge a separate international rate?
No. PayPal US doesn't list cross-border payments as a distinct rate type. Instead, it adds a flat 1.5% surcharge to the percentage portion of whichever domestic rate applies (standard card, PayPal Checkout, or QR). A standard card payment from a non-US buyer is billed at 4.49% + $0.49 (2.99% + 1.5%), not the 2.99% + $0.49 domestic rate; the fixed fee is unchanged. This is different from PayPal UK, which lists EEA (4.19%) and Other (4.89%) as fully separate rate tiers. See /paypal-international-fees/ for the complete stacking rules.
Compare with Other Processors
Stripe US
2.9% + $0.30 to 5.4% + $0.30
Calculate →Wise US
0.41% + $1.70 to 0.66% + $1.70
Calculate →Stripe UK
1.5% + £0.20 to 3.25% + £0.20
Calculate →PayPal UK
1.5% + £0.10 to 4.89% + £0.30
Calculate →Wise UK
0.33% + £0.21 to 0.56% + £1.50
Calculate →Compare All Processors
See fees side by side and find the cheapest option
Compare →Related Tools
Visit the homepage to calculate fees for other processors.