How much does PayPal take from a payment?
PayPal takes 3.49% + $0.49 from a standard US goods and services payment. On a $100 sale that is $3.98, so you keep $96.02. Card payments through PayPal's checkout cost 2.99% + $0.49, invoices cost 3.49% + $0.49, and payments from buyers outside the US add 1.5%.
$100 sale
$96.02
you receive after 3.49% + $0.49
$500 sale
$482.06
3.59% effective rate
$1,000 sale
$964.61
3.54% effective rate
$10 sale
$9.16
8.4% effective; micropayment rate is cheaper
The fixed $0.49 fee is what makes small sales expensive. At $10 the effective rate is 8.4%. If most of your orders are under $10, PayPal's micropayment rate (4.99% + $0.09) usually costs less; you have to ask PayPal to enable it.
PayPal fee formula
PayPal fees by payment type (US, 2026)
| Payment type |
Rate |
Fixed fee |
| Goods and services (PayPal checkout) |
3.49% |
$0.49 |
| Goods and services sent from the PayPal app |
2.99% |
none |
| Standard credit or debit card |
2.99% |
$0.49 |
| Invoicing |
3.49% |
$0.49 |
| Invoice paid by bank (ACH) |
1% |
capped at $10 |
| Pay with Venmo |
3.49% |
$0.49 |
| PayPal Pay Later |
4.99% |
$0.49 |
| QR code, in person |
2.29% |
$0.09 |
| Virtual Terminal |
3.39% |
$0.29 |
| Micropayments (under $10) |
4.99% |
$0.09 |
| Registered nonprofit |
1.99% |
$0.49 |
| International surcharge |
+1.5% |
none |
| Conversão de moeda |
3% to 4% |
none |
Rates are PayPal's published US business rates. Accounts on custom pricing, and sellers in other countries, pay different rates. Use the currency selector in the calculator to see the fixed fee in 24 currencies.
What a refund or chargeback costs you on PayPal
This is the part most fee calculators leave out, and it changes the math.
$0.00
PayPal refunds none of the fee when you refund a sale
Since 2019 PayPal keeps the full transaction fee on refunds. Refund a $100 order and you are out $3.98 plus the shipping you already paid. A store with 1,000 orders a month and a 3% refund rate loses about $119 a month to kept fees alone.
$15.00
Dispute fee on every lost PayPal claim
PayPal charges a $15 Standard Dispute Fee on claims paid through a PayPal account or checkout, and $30 on the High Volume tier. Card chargebacks on payments that did not go through PayPal checkout cost $20, win or lose. On a $100 order, a lost dispute costs $118.98. Turn on Orders per month in the calculator to see your monthly exposure.
A dispute rate of 0.5% is average for ecommerce. At 1,000 orders a month that is five disputes, about $595 a month in fees and lost sales. Visa starts monitoring at 1.5%, and PayPal can hold funds or add reserves well before that.
When PayPal waives the dispute fee, and when it doubles
PayPal's user agreement lists the cases where no Standard Dispute Fee applies. Most fee calculators skip this, yet it decides whether a dispute costs $0 or $30.
- Inquiry in the Resolution Center that is never escalated to a claim
- Dispute settled directly with the buyer before PayPal gets involved
- Unauthorized transaction claim the buyer files directly with PayPal
- Claim where the sale meets every Seller Protection requirement
- Claim on a transaction worth less than $30 (twice the fee)
- Claim PayPal or the card issuer decides in the seller's favor
The fee doubles to $30 when a seller hits the High Volume tier. PayPal sets it monthly: a dispute ratio of 1.5% or more, with more than 100 sales in the previous three full calendar months.
The ratio counts Item Not Received and Not as Described claims, chargebacks and bank reversals, but not unauthorized claims. June to August decide the fee for claims filed in October.
On the High Volume tier the Seller Protection waiver and the under-$30 waiver no longer apply. Tracking numbers, signature confirmation and a clear description on every order are the cheapest way to keep claims in the waived column.
How to pay less in PayPal fees
Price for the net, not the grossSwitch the calculator to "What to charge to net $X". To clear $100 after fees you need to charge $104.12.
Use the micropayment rate under $104.99% + $0.09 beats 3.49% + $0.49 on every sale below about $12.
Settle in the buyer's currencyLet PayPal hold a GBP or EUR balance instead of converting each sale; conversion spread is 3% to 4%.
Offer Pay by Bank on large invoicesACH payment on a PayPal invoice costs 1%, capped at $10. A $2,000 invoice costs $10 instead of $70.29 by PayPal checkout.
Skip instant transfersStandard transfers to a bank are free. Instant transfers from a business account cost 1.5%, with a $0.50 minimum.
Answer disputes before they are filedMost PayPal disputes start as an unanswered message. A reply within 24 hours and a clear refund policy keep the case at the inquiry stage, where no fee applies.
Negotiate once you pass $3,000 a monthPayPal offers merchant rate pricing on request to accounts with steady volume.
Can I pass PayPal fees to my customers?
You can build fees into your prices. PayPal's user agreement bans a surcharge for choosing PayPal that is higher than for any other payment method. In the US, Visa and Mastercard cap credit card surcharges at 3%, and some states restrict them. The safer route is to price the fee in and use the reverse mode above.
Perguntas frequentes
How are PayPal fees calculated?
Fee = amount × rate + fixed fee. For a US goods and services payment the rate is 3.49% and the fixed fee is $0.49. International buyers add 1.5%, and currency conversion adds 3% to 4% if PayPal converts the money.
How much does PayPal take from $100?
$3.98 on a standard goods and services payment, so you receive $96.02. From an international buyer it is $5.48. If PayPal also converts currency, add another $4.
What is the PayPal goods and services fee?
3.49% + $0.49 when a buyer pays through PayPal checkout or an invoice. A goods and services payment sent from the PayPal app costs the seller 2.99% with no fixed fee. Friends and family payments funded by a balance or bank account are free; funded by a card they cost the sender 2.9% + $0.30.
Is the PayPal fee 3%?
Close, but not quite. The headline rate for checkout is 3.49% plus $0.49, so the effective rate is 3.98% on $100 and 3.54% on $1,000. Card payments and app payments for goods and services are 2.99%. The only way to pay near 3% flat is a large order or a negotiated merchant rate.
How much is the PayPal fee on $5,000?
$174.99 on a standard goods and services checkout payment (3.49% + $0.49), so the seller receives $4,825.01. From an international buyer the fee is $249.99. Pay by Bank on an invoice would cost $10, the cap, which is why large invoices should offer it.
Does PayPal refund fees when I refund a customer?
No. PayPal keeps the full fee on refunds. Square and Stripe do the same, so a refund costs the processing fee on every major platform.
How much is a PayPal dispute or chargeback fee?
$15 per claim on the Standard tier and $30 on the High Volume tier (dispute ratio of 1.5% or more with over 100 sales in three months). Card chargebacks on payments outside PayPal checkout cost $20. The fee is waived on claims decided in the seller's favor or covered by Seller Protection.
How much is the PayPal instant transfer fee?
1.5% of the amount for business accounts, with a $0.50 minimum, when money moves instantly to a bank or debit card. Standard transfers are free and usually arrive the next business day, so most sellers only pay for instant transfers when cash flow is tight.
Does PayPal report my sales to the IRS?
Yes, on Form 1099-K once gross payments exceed $20,000 and 200 transactions in a year. Congress restored that threshold in 2025, replacing the planned $600 rule. PayPal fees are a deductible business expense, so sellers report gross sales and deduct the fees.
How do I calculate what to charge to receive a specific amount?
Divide the target plus the fixed fee by one minus the rate. To net $100: ($100 + $0.49) ÷ (1 − 0.0349) = $104.12. The calculator's reverse mode does this for every payment type.
Are PayPal fees lower for nonprofits?
Yes. Registered 501(c)(3) organizations pay 1.99% + $0.49 on donations after applying through PayPal.
Does PayPal charge a monthly fee?
No for standard business accounts. Virtual Terminal and PayPal Payments Pro carry a $30 monthly fee.
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