PayPal Fee CalculatorCalculate Exact PayPal Processing Fees for Any Amount
Enter your transaction amount below to see exactly how much PayPal charges, what you receive after fees, and your effective fee rate. Supports 10 currencies and regions.
Calculate Your PayPal Fees
How PayPal Fees Work
PayPal charges merchants a per-transaction fee on every commercial payment received. The fee consists of two parts:
- A percentage fee based on the transaction amount (e.g. 3.49% in the US)
- A fixed fee per transaction (e.g. $0.49 in the US)
For example, on a $100 US transaction, PayPal charges $3.98 in fees and you receive $96.02. Like all processors, the fixed fee means smaller transactions have a disproportionately higher effective rate.
PayPal's standard account has no monthly fees. You only pay when you receive a payment. PayPal Payments Pro, which includes a virtual terminal, costs $30/month.
PayPal Fees by Country (2026)
PayPal's standard merchant rates vary significantly by country. EU and UK rates are considerably lower than US rates due to interchange fee regulations.
| Region | Standard Rate | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 3.49% + $0.49 | USD |
| European Economic Area | 1.99% + €0.35 | EUR |
| United Kingdom | 1.99% + 29p | GBP |
| Canada | 2.90% + CA$0.30 | CAD |
| Australia | 2.60% + A$0.30 | AUD |
| Singapore | 3.9% + S$0.50 | SGD |
| Malaysia | 4.39% + RM2.00 | MYR |
| Indonesia | 4.39% + Rp5,500 | IDR |
| Thailand | 3.9% + ฿15 | THB |
| Vietnam | 4.4% + ₫6,000 | VND |
Cross-border transactions add 1.5% (varies by country, 0.5–2%). Currency conversion adds a 3–4% spread. Rates shown are for standard commercial transactions.
Additional PayPal Fees to Know About
Beyond standard transaction fees, PayPal charges for specific services:
- Chargebacks: $20.00 per dispute (not refunded even if you win)
- Cross-border fee: 0.5–2% depending on the sender's country
- Currency conversion: 3–4% spread above mid-market rate
- PayPal Payments Pro: $30/month for hosted checkout and virtual terminal
- Micropayments: 4.99% + $0.09 (cheaper for transactions under ~$12)
- PayPal Here (in-person): 2.7% per card swipe
- Instant transfer to bank: 1.75% (max $25)
PayPal's refund policy is slightly better than Stripe's: the percentage fee is returned on refunds, though the fixed fee ($0.49 in the US) is retained.
How to Reduce Your PayPal Fees
- Apply for merchant rate discounts — PayPal offers volume discounts starting at $10,000/month, with rates as low as 1.98% + $0.49
- Use micropayment pricing — for transactions under $12, the micropayment rate (4.99% + $0.09) is cheaper than standard
- Avoid currency conversion — PayPal's 3–4% conversion spread is expensive; encourage customers to pay in your local currency
- Reduce chargebacks — at $20 each (non-refundable), chargebacks are more expensive than Stripe's $15 fee
- Consider PayPal alternatives for large amounts — ACH or wire transfers avoid percentage-based fees entirely
Compare PayPal with Stripe
See how PayPal fees compare to Stripe for your specific transaction amounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does PayPal charge per transaction?
PayPal charges 3.49% + $0.49 per US domestic transaction for standard commercial payments. Rates vary by country — for example, 1.99% + €0.35 in the EU and 2.60% + A$0.30 in Australia.
Does PayPal charge a monthly fee?
PayPal's standard account has no monthly fees. However, PayPal Payments Pro (which includes a virtual terminal and hosted checkout) costs $30/month. PayPal also charges for optional services like chargeback protection.
What is PayPal's fee for receiving money from friends and family?
PayPal does not charge fees for domestic personal (friends & family) transfers funded by a PayPal balance or bank account. However, credit/debit card funded transfers and international transfers do incur fees. Business accounts should always use commercial transaction rates.
What are PayPal's international transaction fees?
PayPal charges an additional cross-border fee of 1.5% for international transactions (varies by country, ranging from 0.5% to 2%). Currency conversion adds another 3-4% spread on top of the mid-market exchange rate.
Can I negotiate lower PayPal fees?
Yes. PayPal offers discounted merchant rates for businesses processing over $10,000/month. Rates can drop to as low as 1.98% + $0.49 for high-volume merchants. Contact PayPal's merchant services to discuss volume pricing.
Does PayPal refund fees when I issue a refund?
PayPal does not return the fixed fee portion ($0.49 in the US) when you refund a transaction, but the percentage-based fee is returned. This is slightly better than Stripe's policy, which retains the full processing fee on refunds.