How Much Should I Charge to Receive $100 After PayPal Fees?
PayPal deducts its fee from your payment before depositing. To net exactly $100, you need to charge your client more upfront.
Using PayPal Standard Card (G&S) — 2.99% + $0.49
PayPal fee deducted: $3.59
Formula: (100 + 0.49) / (1 − 0.0299) = 100.49 / 0.9701 = $103.59
$100 Gross-Up by PayPal Rate Type
The amount to charge depends on which PayPal payment method your client uses.
| Rate Type | Rate | Charge to Receive $100 | Fee Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Card (G&S) Default | 2.99% + $0.49 | $103.59 | $3.59 |
| QR Code | 2.29% + $0.09 | $102.44 | $2.44 |
| PayPal Checkout | 3.49% + $0.49 | $104.12 | $4.12 |
Data source: PayPal US merchant fees. Last verified: 2026-04-08 .
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What to Charge — Example Amounts
| I Want to Receive | PayPal US | Stripe US | Wise US | Stripe UK | PayPal UK | Wise UK | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charge | Fee | Charge | Fee | Charge | Fee | Charge | Fee | Charge | Fee | Charge | Fee | |
| 50.00 | $52.05 | $2.05 | $51.80 | $1.80 | $52.00 | $2.00 | £50.96 | £0.96 | £51.80 | £1.80 | £50.43 | £0.43 |
| 100.00 | $103.59 | $3.59 | $103.30 | $3.30 | $102.28 | $2.28 | £101.73 | £1.73 | £103.30 | £3.30 | £100.64 | £0.64 |
| 500.00 | $515.92 | $15.92 | $515.24 | $15.24 | $504.58 | $4.58 | £507.82 | £7.82 | £515.24 | £15.24 | £502.37 | £2.37 |
| 1,000.00 | $1,031.33 | $31.33 | $1,030.18 | $30.18 | $1,007.44 | $7.44 | £1,015.43 | £15.43 | £1,030.18 | £30.18 | £1,004.53 | £4.53 |
Amounts shown in each processor's native currency. Using each processor's default rate type: PayPal US — Standard Card; Stripe US — Domestic Card; Wise US — USD → EUR; Stripe UK — UK Domestic Card; PayPal UK — Standard Domestic; Wise UK — GBP → EUR.
How PayPal Gross-Up Calculation Works
When a client pays you $100 via PayPal Goods & Services, PayPal deducts 2.99% of the total charge plus a $0.49 fixed fee before depositing the rest into your account. This means if you invoice $100, you receive only $96.51 — a $3.49 shortfall.
To receive exactly $100, you need to charge more than $100 upfront using the gross-up formula: charge = (desired amount + fixed fee) / (1 − percent fee). For PayPal Standard Card: (100 + 0.49) / (1 − 0.0299) = 100.49 / 0.9701 = $103.59.
PayPal has three different rate types for US merchants: Standard Card at 2.99% + $0.49 (Goods & Services), QR Code at 2.29% + $0.09, and PayPal Checkout at 3.49% + $0.49. The payment method your client uses determines which rate applies, so knowing the expected method lets you quote precisely.
The Gross-Up Formula Explained
The gross-up formula solves a circular dependency: PayPal's percentage fee is applied to your charge amount, not to your desired net. If you simply add 2.99% to $100 and charge $102.99, PayPal's fee on $102.99 is $102.99 × 0.0299 + $0.49 = $3.57, leaving you with $99.42 — short by $0.58.
Algebraic derivation:
net = charge × (1 − p) − f
charge = (net + f) / (1 − p)
Verified with PayPal Standard Card ($100 net):
charge = (100 + 0.49) / (1 − 0.0299) = 100.49 / 0.9701 = $103.59
Check: $103.59 × 0.9701 − $0.49 = $100.00 ✓
Where p is the percentage
fee (0.0299 for standard card) and f is the fixed fee ($0.49).
Real Examples
Freelance designer charging for a logo project
You quote a client $100 for a logo. If they pay via PayPal Goods & Services (standard card), you need to charge $103.59 to net exactly $100. If your client uses PayPal's QR code checkout instead, you only need to charge $102.44 — saving your client $1.15 with no impact on what you receive.
Common project amounts — $50, $500, $1,000
The gross-up grows with the transaction size because the percentage component scales up. For a $50 net target, charge $52.05. For $500, charge $515.92. For a $1,000 project, charge $1,031.33. All using PayPal Standard Card (2.99% + $0.49).
Small payment edge case — receiving $10
For small amounts, the fixed fee dominates. To receive $10 via PayPal Standard Card, you must charge $10.81 — the $0.49 fixed fee alone is nearly 5% of the net amount. With QR Code (fixed fee only $0.09), the charge drops to $10.33. For micropayments, payment method choice matters more than percentage rate.
Common Mistakes When Charging for PayPal Fees
✗ Myth: Just add 2.99% to your desired amount (e.g., $100 × 1.0299 = $102.99)
Correct: This falls short every time. If you charge $102.99, PayPal's fee is $102.99 × 0.0299 + $0.49 = $3.57, leaving you with $102.99 − $3.57 = $99.42 — you're $0.58 short. The fee is calculated on the charge amount, not the net you want to receive. Use the gross-up formula: charge = (desired + $0.49) / (1 − 0.0299).
✗ Myth: PayPal G&S and PayPal Checkout have the same fee rate
Correct: PayPal Standard Card (Goods & Services) charges 2.99% + $0.49, while PayPal Checkout charges 3.49% + $0.49 — a 0.5 percentage-point difference. To receive $100, Standard Card requires $103.59 but PayPal Checkout requires $104.12. Additionally, PayPal Friends & Family has no fee, but using it for business transactions is against PayPal's terms of service and removes buyer protection. Never ask clients to pay via F&F to avoid fees.
PayPal vs. Stripe: How Much to Charge for $100
To receive $100 via Stripe (domestic card, 2.9% + $0.30), charge $103.30. PayPal Standard Card requires $103.59 — $0.29 more. The difference is small for a single invoice but adds up across many transactions. For most freelancers and small businesses, the choice between PayPal and Stripe should be based on client preference and checkout experience, not the $0.29 fee difference per $100.
PayPal Standard Card
$103.59
to receive $100
Stripe Domestic Card
$103.30
to receive $100
Difference: $0.29 more with PayPal
Compare all processors on the reverse calculator or see the full fee comparison.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I charge to receive $100 after PayPal fees?
Charge $103.59 to receive exactly $100 when your client pays via PayPal Standard Card (Goods & Services, 2.99% + $0.49). If they use PayPal QR Code, charge $102.44. If they use PayPal Checkout, charge $104.12. These numbers come from the gross-up formula: charge = (desired + fixed fee) / (1 − percent fee).
Is the PayPal fee calculator formula accurate for QR code payments?
Yes, but QR Code uses a different rate: 2.29% + $0.09 instead of the Standard Card rate of 2.99% + $0.49. To receive $100 via QR Code, charge $102.44 using the formula: (100 + 0.09) / (1 − 0.0229) = $102.44. The lower fixed fee makes QR Code especially advantageous for small transactions.
What if my client pays with PayPal Friends & Family?
PayPal Friends & Family (F&F) has no transaction fee, so the sender pays exactly what you request and you receive the full amount. However, PayPal prohibits using F&F for commercial transactions. If you ask clients to pay via F&F to avoid fees, you violate PayPal's Acceptable Use Policy, and neither party has buyer or seller protection. Build the fee into your invoice price instead.
How does the PayPal gross-up formula work?
Set x as the charge amount and net as what you want to receive. PayPal's fee is: fee = x × p + f, where p is the percent fee and f is the fixed fee. So net = x − (x × p + f) = x(1 − p) − f. Solving for x: x = (net + f) / (1 − p). For Standard Card and $100 net: x = (100 + 0.49) / (1 − 0.0299) = 100.49 / 0.9701 = $103.59.
Compare with Other Processors
Stripe US
2.9% + $0.30 to 5.4% + $0.30
Calculate →PayPal US
2.29% + $0.09 to 3.49% + $0.49
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
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