Payment Processing Fee Calculator
Enter an amount and compare the net you receive across common processors.
Why the effective rate is higher than the headline rate
A 2.9% + 30c rate on a $5 charge is 8.9%, not 2.9%. The fixed component dominates small transactions, which is why micro-payments need different pricing.
Effective rate by ticket size
The headline rate is a percentage plus a fixed amount, so the real cost depends entirely on the size of the charge.
| Charge | Stripe 2.9% + 30c | PayPal 3.49% + 49c | Square 2.6% + 10c |
|---|---|---|---|
| $5 | $0.45 (8.9%) | $0.66 (13.3%) | $0.23 (4.6%) |
| $20 | $0.88 (4.4%) | $1.19 (5.9%) | $0.62 (3.1%) |
| $100 | $3.20 (3.2%) | $3.98 (4.0%) | $2.70 (2.7%) |
| $500 | $14.80 (3.0%) | $17.94 (3.6%) | $13.10 (2.6%) |
On a $5 charge, Stripe costs 8.9% of the sale. On a $500 charge the same processor costs 3.0%. The rate did not change; the fixed component simply stopped mattering.
When the fixed fee dominates
Below roughly $20, the fixed component is the majority of the cost. That is why low-ticket catalogues often lose money on card payments even when the product margin looks fine, and why some sellers bundle items or set a minimum order instead of raising prices.
The arithmetic is simple: to keep the effective rate under 5% on Stripe, a charge has to be above about $15. Below that, the 30 cents is doing more damage than the 2.9%.
Cross-border and currency
The rates above assume a domestic card in the processor's home currency. International cards typically add about 1.5% on Stripe, and converting into a different settlement currency adds roughly 1% more. A $100 international sale can therefore cost 5.4% rather than 3.2%.
PayPal applies its own cross-border fee on top of the base rate, and the percentage depends on the countries involved. Neither processor is cheaper in every case, which is why the calculator lets you switch between them rather than declaring a winner.
FAQ
- Which is cheaper, Stripe or PayPal?
- Stripe is usually cheaper for domestic card payments. PayPal can be cheaper when customers prefer it.
- Are these rates for everyone?
- No. Negotiated rates exist for high volume, and international cards cost more.
- Do I need a company to use Stripe?
- Stripe supports sole traders in many countries, but requirements vary by region.
Related calculators
2.9% + 30c is the default, not the only option
Rates vary by volume, category and processor. Check what your volume would actually qualify for.
See Stripe's rates →