How Much Should I Charge to Receive $500 After Stripe Fees?
Stripe deducts its fee from your payment before depositing. To net exactly $500, you need to charge your client more upfront.
Using Stripe Domestic Card — 2.9% + $0.30
Stripe fee deducted: $15.24
Formula: (500 + 0.30) / (1 − 0.029) = 500.30 / 0.971 = $515.24
$500 Gross-Up by Stripe Rate Type
The amount to charge depends on which Stripe payment method your client uses.
| Rate Type | Rate | Charge to Receive $500 | Fee Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic Card Default | 2.9% + $0.30 | $515.24 | $15.24 |
| International Card | 4.4% + $0.30 | $523.33 | $23.33 |
| Int'l + Currency Conversion | 5.4% + $0.30 | $528.86 | $28.86 |
| ACH Direct Debit | 0.8% + $0.00 | $504.03 | $4.03 |
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 |
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 $500 via Stripe using a domestic US card, Stripe deducts 2.9% of the total charge plus a $0.30 fixed fee. If you invoice exactly $500, you receive $484.80 — a $15.20 shortfall. To receive the full $500, charge more upfront using the gross-up formula.
The gross-up formula is: charge = (desired amount + fixed fee) / (1 - percent fee). For Stripe domestic card and a $500 target: (500 + 0.30) / (1 - 0.029) = 500.30 / 0.971 = $515.24. Stripe then deducts $515.24 x 2.9% + $0.30 = $15.24, leaving exactly $500.00 in your account.
Stripe applies different rates based on the card type. Domestic US cards: 2.9% + $0.30. International cards: 4.4% + $0.30. International with currency conversion: 5.4% + $0.30. ACH Direct Debit: 0.8% with no fixed fee, capped at $5. At $500, the card type spread is significant — from $4.03 (ACH) to $28.86 (international + conversion).
At $500, ACH Direct Debit offers the most dramatic savings: $4.03 versus $15.24 for domestic card. That's a $11.21 difference — meaningful for any business processing multiple $500 invoices. For regular B2B clients, offering ACH as a payment option reduces costs for both parties with no change to what you receive.
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 $500 and charge $514.50, Stripe's fee on $514.50 is $514.50 × 0.029 + $0.30 = $15.22, leaving you with $499.28 — short by $0.72.
Algebraic derivation:
net = charge × (1 − p) − f
charge = (net + f) / (1 − p)
Verified with Stripe Domestic Card ($500 net):
charge = (500 + 0.30) / (1 − 0.029) = 500.30 / 0.971 = $515.24
Check: $515.24 × 0.971 − $0.30 = $500.00 ✓
Where p is the percentage
fee (0.029 for domestic card) and f is the fixed fee ($0.30). At $500, the fixed fee accounts for only 0.06%
— the percentage rate is the primary driver.
Real Examples
Freelancer invoice for a mid-range project
You've completed a $500 design project and want to receive exactly $500 after Stripe's cut. For a US client paying by domestic card, invoice $515.24. For an international client, invoice $523.33. If the client is a US business and can pay via ACH, the invoice drops to $504.03 — saving them over $11 compared to card payment.
SaaS annual plan or one-time license
A $500 annual subscription or one-time license fee needs to account for Stripe fees. Price at $515.24 to net exactly $500 per domestic card payment. If a significant portion of your users pay from abroad, the international card rate ($523.33) means you lose $8.09 more per transaction. Consider region-based pricing to protect margins.
Service deposit — consulting, coaching, events
Collecting a $500 deposit via Stripe? Charge $515.24 for domestic card to ensure you receive the full $500. For B2B clients, ACH at $504.03 is dramatically cheaper — $11.21 less than card. At $500, the ACH option starts to become a compelling cost savings for both parties.
E-commerce product at the $500 price point
Setting a product price to net exactly $500 means pricing at $515.24 for domestic card buyers. International buyers paying with a foreign card require a price of $523.33 to net the same $500. If your store sees significant international traffic, the $8.09 difference per sale erodes margins — consider factoring the blended rate into your pricing.
Common Mistakes When Charging for Stripe Fees
✗ Myth: Just add 2.9% to $500 and charge $514.50
Correct: Charging $514.50 gives you less than $500. Stripe's fee on $514.50 is $514.50 x 0.029 + $0.30 = $15.22, leaving you with $514.50 - $15.22 = $499.28 — $0.72 short. The percentage applies to the charge amount, not your desired net. The correct gross-up is $515.24: (500 + 0.30) / (1 - 0.029) = $515.24.
✗ Myth: ACH and card fees are similar at $500
Correct: At $500, the difference is substantial. Card fee: $15.24. ACH fee: $4.03. That's an $11.21 saving per transaction with ACH — a 74% reduction. For businesses processing ten $500 invoices monthly, switching to ACH saves over $1,345 per year. ACH takes 2-5 business days to settle versus near-instant for cards, but the cost difference is significant.
✗ Myth: International card fees don't matter much at $500
Correct: At $500, the international card surcharge costs an extra $8.09 per transaction ($523.33 vs $515.24). With currency conversion, it's $13.62 more ($528.86 vs $515.24). For businesses invoicing international clients regularly, this adds up. Offering ACH to US-based clients and local payment methods (SEPA, iDEAL) to international clients can significantly reduce costs.
Stripe vs. PayPal: How Much to Charge for $500
To receive $500 via PayPal Standard Card (2.99% + $0.49), charge $515.92 — $0.68 more than Stripe domestic card. The difference is minor at $500. Stripe's ACH option ($504.03) is significantly cheaper than any PayPal rate for clients who can pay by bank transfer. For most freelancers and small businesses, the choice between Stripe and PayPal should be based on client preference and checkout experience, not the $0.68 fee difference per $500.
Stripe Domestic Card
$515.24
to receive $500
PayPal Standard Card
$515.92
to receive $500
Difference: $0.68 more with PayPal
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I charge to receive $500 after Stripe fees?
Charge $515.24 to receive exactly $500 when your client pays with a US domestic card (2.9% + $0.30). For an international card, charge $523.33 (4.4% + $0.30). For international with currency conversion, charge $528.86 (5.4% + $0.30). For ACH Direct Debit, charge just $504.03 (0.8%). Use the gross-up formula: charge = (desired + fixed fee) / (1 - percent fee).
What is the Stripe fee on a $500 payment?
For a domestic card charge of $515.24, Stripe deducts $15.24 — approximately 2.9% plus $0.30. For international card ($523.33), the fee is $23.33. For international with currency conversion ($528.86), the fee is $28.86. ACH ($504.03) costs just $4.03. The fee depends entirely on which payment method your client uses.
Is ACH Direct Debit worth using at $500?
Absolutely. At $500, ACH costs $4.03 versus $15.24 for domestic card — a $11.21 saving per invoice. That's a 74% fee reduction. The trade-off is settlement speed: ACH takes 2-5 business days while cards settle near-instantly. For established B2B clients where cash-flow timing is flexible, ACH is the better choice at this amount.
How does Stripe compare to PayPal for receiving $500?
To receive $500 via Stripe domestic card, charge $515.24. PayPal Standard Card requires $515.92 — just $0.68 more. The difference is negligible for a single invoice. However, Stripe's ACH option ($504.03) has no PayPal equivalent, making Stripe significantly cheaper for B2B clients who can pay by bank transfer.
Why does the gross-up formula give $515.24 instead of $514.50?
Simply adding 2.9% to $500 gives $514.50 — but that's wrong. Stripe's percentage is calculated on the amount you charge, not the net you want. If you charge $514.50, Stripe takes 2.9% of $514.50 ($14.92) plus $0.30 = $15.22, leaving you with $499.28. The correct formula reverses the calculation: (500 + 0.30) / (1 - 0.029) = $515.24.
Does the $5 ACH cap affect a $500 payment?
No — the ACH cap kicks in when 0.8% of the charge exceeds $5.00, which happens above approximately $625. At $500, the 0.8% fee is $4.03, well below the $5 cap. The standard formula applies: charge = 500 / (1 - 0.008) = $504.03.
How much more does an international card cost at $500?
An international card (4.4% + $0.30) costs $523.33 to net $500 — $8.09 more than domestic card ($515.24). With currency conversion (5.4% + $0.30), it's $528.86 — $13.62 more. For businesses with global clients, these differences at $500 make it worth identifying which card type your clients use.
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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