How Much Should I Charge to Receive $1,000 After Stripe Fees?
Stripe deducts its fee from your payment before depositing. To net exactly $1,000, you need to charge your client more upfront. Use ACH Direct Debit and the fee drops to just $5.
Using Stripe Domestic Card — 2.9% + $0.30
Stripe fee deducted: $30.18
Formula: (1000 + 0.30) / (1 − 0.029) = 1000.30 / 0.971 = $1,030.18
$1,000 Gross-Up by Stripe Rate Type
The amount to charge depends on which Stripe payment method your client uses. ACH Direct Debit is capped at $5 — dramatically cheaper for $1,000+ invoices.
| Rate Type | Rate | Charge to Receive $1,000 | Fee Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic Card Default | 2.9% + $0.30 | $1030.18 | $30.18 |
| International Card | 4.4% + $0.30 | $1046.34 | $46.34 |
| Int'l + Currency Conversion | 5.4% + $0.30 | $1057.40 | $57.40 |
| ACH Direct Debit Best value at $1K | 0.8% (capped at $5) | $1005.00 | $5.00 |
Data source: Stripe US merchant fees. Last verified: April 2026 .
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What to Charge — Example Amounts
| I Want to Receive | Stripe US | PayPal US | Wise US | Stripe UK | PayPal UK | Wise UK | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charge | Fee | Charge | Fee | Charge | Fee | Charge | Fee | Charge | Fee | Charge | Fee | |
| 100.00 | $103.30 | $3.30 | $103.59 | $3.59 | $102.28 | $2.28 | £101.73 | £1.73 | £103.30 | £3.30 | £100.64 | £0.64 |
| 250.00 | $257.78 | $7.78 | $258.21 | $8.21 | $253.14 | $3.14 | £254.01 | £4.01 | £257.78 | £7.78 | £251.29 | £1.29 |
| 500.00 | $515.24 | $15.24 | $515.92 | $15.92 | $504.58 | $4.58 | £507.82 | £7.82 | £515.24 | £15.24 | £502.37 | £2.37 |
| 1,000.00 | $1,030.18 | $30.18 | $1,031.33 | $31.33 | $1,007.44 | $7.44 | £1,015.43 | £15.43 | £1,030.18 | £30.18 | £1,004.53 | £4.53 |
| 2,500.00 | $2,574.97 | $74.97 | $2,577.56 | $77.56 | $2,516.04 | $16.04 | £2,538.27 | £38.27 | £2,574.97 | £74.97 | £2,511.01 | £11.01 |
| 5,000.00 | $5,149.64 | $149.64 | $5,154.61 | $154.61 | $5,030.37 | $30.37 | £5,076.35 | £76.35 | £5,149.64 | £149.64 | £5,021.80 | £21.80 |
Amounts shown in each processor's native currency. Using each processor's default rate type: Stripe US — Domestic Card; PayPal US — Standard Card; Wise US — USD → EUR; Stripe UK — UK Domestic Card; PayPal UK — Standard Domestic; Wise UK — GBP → EUR.
How Stripe Gross-Up Calculation Works
When a client pays you via Stripe, Stripe deducts its fee from the total charge before depositing the remainder into your account. If you invoice $1,000 using domestic card (2.9% + $0.30), Stripe takes $29.30 in fees, and you receive only $970.70. To net exactly $1,000, you need to charge a higher amount upfront — this is called grossing up.
The gross-up formula resolves a circular dependency: Stripe's percentage fee applies to your charge amount, not the net you want to receive. Simply adding 2.9% to $1,000 gives $1,029 — but Stripe's fee on $1,029 is $29.14 + $0.30 = $29.44, leaving you with $999.56 instead of $1,000. The correct formula is: charge = (net + fixed fee) / (1 − percent fee) = (1000 + 0.30) / 0.971 = $1,030.18.
Stripe offers four rate types for US merchants. Domestic Card (2.9% + $0.30) applies to US-issued cards. International Card (4.4% + $0.30) applies to cards issued outside the US. International + Currency Conversion (5.4% + $0.30) applies when Stripe handles the currency conversion. ACH Direct Debit is unique: at 0.8% capped at $5, it becomes the obvious choice for $1,000+ invoices — the fee is just $5 versus $30.18 for card.
At $1,000, the payment method choice has real financial impact. ACH saves $25.18 per invoice compared to domestic card. International card costs $16.16 more than domestic. If you regularly invoice clients at $1,000, steering B2B clients toward ACH and ensuring domestic clients use domestic cards (not foreign-issued cards) can save hundreds of dollars per year with zero change to your pricing.
The Gross-Up Formula Explained
The gross-up formula solves a circular dependency: Stripe's percentage fee is applied to your charge amount, not to your desired net. If you simply add 2.9% to $1,000 and charge $1,029, Stripe's fee on $1,029 is $1,029 × 0.029 + $0.30 = $30.14, leaving you with $998.86 — short by $1.14.
Algebraic derivation:
net = charge × (1 − p) − f
charge = (net + f) / (1 − p)
Verified with Stripe Domestic Card ($1,000 net):
charge = (1000 + 0.30) / (1 − 0.029) = 1000.30 / 0.971 = $1,030.18
Check: $1,030.18 × 0.971 − $0.30 = $1,000.00 ✓
Where p is the percentage
fee (0.029 for domestic card) and f is the fixed fee ($0.30). For ACH Direct Debit, the formula gives $1,008.06
— but the $5 fee cap applies, so the actual charge is $1,005.00.
Real Examples
Monthly retainer contract — $1,000/month
You charge a client a flat $1,000/month retainer for ongoing services. If they pay by card, charge $1,030.18 via Stripe domestic card to net exactly $1,000. If your client is a US business that can pay via ACH bank transfer, charge just $1,005.00 — saving them $25.18 with no impact on what you receive. That adds up to over $300/year on a monthly retainer.
Consulting day rate
Many consultants price their day rate at a round $1,000. When invoicing via Stripe, it's tempting to simply send a $1,000 invoice — but after the 2.9% + $0.30 card fee, you'd net only $969.42. Charge $1,030.18 instead. For international clients, Stripe applies a 4.4% + $0.30 cross-border fee, so charge $1,046.34 to protect your full day rate.
Small business B2B invoice
When billing another business for $1,000, ask whether they can pay via ACH bank transfer. ACH fees are capped at $5 regardless of the transaction amount — meaning for a $1,000 invoice, the fee is $5 rather than $30.18. Offer both options: charge $1,030.18 for card or $1,005.00 for ACH, and let the client choose their preferred method.
SaaS annual plan pricing
If you price your SaaS annual plan at $1,000/year and accept card payments via Stripe, build the fee into your price. The $30.18 card fee on a $1,000 charge means your net is $969.82 — not $1,000. Either price at $1,030 (round up and keep the extra) or charge exactly $1,030.18. For enterprise customers paying via ACH or wire, the $5 cap makes annual billing dramatically more cost-effective.
Common Mistakes When Charging for Stripe Fees
✗ Myth: ACH costs 0.8% on $1,000, so the fee is $8.00
Correct: Stripe caps ACH Direct Debit fees at $5.00. On a $1,000 payment, 0.8% would normally be $8.00 — but the cap kicks in and the fee is $5.00. To receive exactly $1,000 via ACH, charge $1,005.00. This makes ACH dramatically cheaper than card at the $1,000 level: $5 vs $30.18, a saving of $25.18.
✗ Myth: Card fees scale proportionally — 2.9% of $1,000 = $29 in fees
Correct: The fee is 2.9% + $0.30 fixed. On a $1,000 charge, that's $29.30 — but the gross-up calculation is not simply 2.9% of $1,000 either. Because Stripe calculates its percentage on your charge amount (not your net), the correct charge to net $1,000 is $1,030.18, not $1,029.00. The $0.30 fixed component is nearly negligible at this scale (0.03%), but the percentage calculation still requires the gross-up formula.
✗ Myth: International and domestic card fees are close enough to ignore at $1,000
Correct: The difference is $16.16 per transaction. Domestic card: charge $1,030.18 (fee $30.18). International card: charge $1,046.34 (fee $46.34). If you invoice international clients monthly at $1,000, that's over $193/year in extra fees. For regular international clients, explore Stripe's currency conversion settings or invoice in their local currency to clarify which rate applies.
Stripe vs. PayPal: How Much to Charge for $1,000
To receive $1,000 via PayPal Standard Card (2.99% + $0.49), charge $1,031.33 — $1.15 more than Stripe domestic card. Both processors are nearly equivalent for domestic card payments at this amount. Where they diverge is ACH: Stripe's $5-capped ACH has no PayPal equivalent, making Stripe significantly cheaper for B2B clients who can pay by bank transfer.
Stripe Domestic Card
$1,030.18
to receive $1,000
PayPal Standard Card
$1031.33
to receive $1,000
Difference: $1.15 more with PayPal
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I charge to receive exactly $1,000 after Stripe fees?
Charge $1,030.18 to receive exactly $1,000 when your client pays via Stripe domestic card (2.9% + $0.30). If they pay via international card (4.4% + $0.30), charge $1,046.34. For ACH Direct Debit, charge $1,005.00 — the fee is capped at $5 regardless of amount. Use the gross-up formula: charge = (net + fixed fee) / (1 − percent fee).
Why is the ACH fee only $5 on a $1,000 Stripe payment?
Stripe caps ACH Direct Debit fees at $5.00 per transaction. The standard rate is 0.8%, which on $1,000 would be $8.00 — but the cap applies, so you pay only $5.00. This cap makes ACH the best method for invoices of $625 or more (where 0.8% would exceed $5). To receive $1,000 via ACH, simply charge $1,005.00.
What is the gross-up formula for Stripe fees?
The formula is: charge = (net + fixed fee) / (1 − percent fee). For Stripe domestic card and a $1,000 net: charge = (1000 + 0.30) / (1 − 0.029) = 1000.30 / 0.971 = $1,030.18. This formula solves the circular dependency where Stripe's percentage is applied to your charge amount, not to the net you want to receive.
Does Stripe round to the nearest cent?
Yes, Stripe rounds fees to the nearest cent. The calculated charge of $1,030.18 is already rounded. If your formula produces more decimal places (e.g., $1,030.1781...), round up to the next cent to ensure you cover the fee and receive your full $1,000 net.
How much does Stripe charge for international payments of $1,000?
For international cards (cards issued outside the US), Stripe charges 4.4% + $0.30. To receive $1,000, charge $1,046.34 — a fee of $46.34. If the payment also involves currency conversion, the rate rises to 5.4% + $0.30, requiring a charge of $1,057.40. Always clarify with international clients which card they'll use so you can quote correctly.
Is it better to use ACH or card for a $1,000 Stripe payment?
ACH is far cheaper for the recipient at $1,000. Card fee: $30.18. ACH fee (capped): $5.00. Difference: $25.18 savings per transaction with ACH. If you invoice clients regularly at $1,000, switching to ACH saves over $302/year on 12 monthly invoices. The trade-off: ACH takes 2–5 business days to settle, while card payments settle faster.
How does the $1,000 Stripe fee compare to PayPal?
For a domestic card payment of $1,000 net: Stripe charges $30.18 (2.9% + $0.30), so you'd charge $1,030.18. PayPal Standard Card charges 2.99% + $0.49, so you'd charge $1,031.33 — $1.15 more than Stripe. The difference is minimal for a one-off payment but adds up at volume. PayPal has no ACH equivalent capped at $5, making Stripe a better choice for large B2B invoices.
Can I pass Stripe fees directly to my client?
Yes — the simplest way is to use the gross-up formula to charge more upfront, so your net is exactly $1,000. Alternatively, Stripe allows surcharging in many US states. Check your state's laws before applying surcharges. The gross-up approach (charging $1,030.18 on a $1,000 invoice) is the most legally straightforward and transparent method.
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
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