Free online tool · 2026
Estimate PayPal fees and net proceeds, or calculate how much your customer should pay so you receive the amount you need.
Rate reference
These rates estimate USD payment fees for US merchant accounts and were checked against PayPal's US merchant fee page in July 2026.
| Transaction type | Percentage rate | Fixed fee (USD) | International surcharge |
|---|---|---|---|
| PayPal Checkout | 3.49% | $0.49 | +1.50% |
| Standard Credit / Debit Card Payments | 2.99% | $0.49 | +1.50% |
| QR Code / In-person Payment | 2.29% | $0.09 | +1.50% |
Actual fees may vary by account type, country, currency, product, transaction type, or individual agreement. Refer to your final PayPal statement. View official PayPal rates.
How to use it
The math
A standard calculation finds the fee and subtracts it from the payment. Reverse calculation is useful for quotes and invoices.
Worked examples
These examples use the rates shown above and round the final result to the nearest cent. They demonstrate how the percentage fee, fixed fee, and international surcharge affect a payment. Your actual PayPal charge can differ, so use the calculator for planning and confirm the final amount in your PayPal account.
At 3.49% plus $0.49, a $100 payment produces an estimated $3.98 fee. The recipient keeps about $96.02.
$100.00 × 3.49% + $0.49 = $3.98
Adding the 1.50% international surcharge raises the percentage rate to 4.99%. The estimated fee becomes $25.44, leaving about $474.56.
$500.00 × 4.99% + $0.49 = $25.44
For a domestic Checkout payment, reverse calculation estimates that the customer should pay $1,036.67. The estimated $36.67 fee leaves a $1,000 target amount.
($1,000.00 + $0.49) ÷ 96.51% = $1,036.67
FAQ
Commercial payment fees are usually deducted from the recipient's transaction proceeds. For example, if a customer sends $500, the recipient normally sees the fee removed before the balance is credited. Reverse calculation can estimate a higher payment that leaves the desired net amount after fees, but it does not change PayPal's charge. Check your agreement and applicable rules before asking a customer to cover a payment fee.
This tool adds 1.50 percentage points to the selected base percentage rate. For example, Checkout is estimated at 4.99% instead of 3.49%, while the fixed fee stays the same. On a $500 payment, that extra 1.50% represents $7.50 in additional estimated fees. Currency conversion, if required, is a separate cost and is not included in this calculator.
PayPal rates can depend on the merchant country, currency, payment method, product, micropayment pricing, charity status, or a separate agreement. A transaction may also involve a currency conversion or another service not represented by the three rate options on this page. This calculator uses the displayed US merchant USD rates for planning only. Compare the result with the fee schedule and transaction details in your own PayPal account.
No. Everything is calculated within this browser page, and the amount you enter is not sent to our server. Reloading or resetting the page clears your calculation. If you copy a result, it is placed on your device's clipboard only after you press the copy button.
Use cases
From quoting and invoicing to reviewing completed orders, understanding transaction costs in advance makes cross-border payments clearer and reduces fee-related surprises.
Independent exporters often need to account for product costs, logistics, exchange rates, and payment fees in one quote. FeeCalc shows the expected net proceeds from a customer's payment or works backward from a target amount. This makes it easier to include payment costs in pro forma invoices, sample charges, and final quotations before a deal is agreed.
For example, a $1,200 international Checkout payment at the displayed rate produces an estimated $60.37 fee and $1,139.63 net. Showing the payment fee separately from freight and product costs makes the quotation easier to audit later.
Designers, developers, translators, and consultants are frequently paid through PayPal. The calculator explains how percentage and fixed fees affect each milestone or invoice. Freelancers who need to receive an exact project budget can use reverse calculation to set a more accurate payment request and reconcile deposits, retainers, and final balances.
A freelancer targeting $2,000 after a domestic Checkout fee would enter $2,000 in reverse mode. At the displayed rate, the estimated payment is $2,072.83 and the estimated fee is $72.83.
Independent store operators need realistic transaction costs when setting prices, free-shipping thresholds, and promotions. Fixed fees have a larger effect on low-value orders, while international payments may carry an additional surcharge. Testing several order values helps merchants compare net revenue and make pricing or campaign decisions using figures closer to their actual settlement.
On a $75 domestic Checkout order, the example fee is $3.11 and the estimated net is $71.89. Repeating the calculation at several order values shows whether a discount or free-shipping threshold still leaves enough contribution margin.
Personal shoppers may collect product costs, taxes, international shipping, and a service fee before placing an order. Reverse calculation estimates the payment needed to preserve the full purchasing budget after PayPal fees. Sharing the result with a clear cost breakdown also makes reimbursements, top-ups, refunds, and group orders easier to document.
If a customer sends $300 through international Checkout, the displayed assumptions estimate a $15.46 fee and $284.54 net. A personal shopper can compare that net amount with the purchase budget before accepting the payment.