2.9% + $0.30 Fee CalculatorCalculate the True Cost of the Standard Credit Card Processing Fee
Enter any dollar amount to see the exact fee at the 2.9% + $0.30 rate — the most common credit card processing fee in the US. See why small transactions cost you far more than you might expect.
Calculate the 2.9% + $0.30 Fee
Why the $0.30 Fixed Fee Hurts Small Transactions
The “2.9% + $0.30” pricing sounds simple, but the fixed $0.30 component creates a hidden problem for businesses selling low-priced items. The percentage part scales with the transaction — but the $0.30 stays flat whether someone pays $2 or $2,000.
| Amount | Fee | You Receive | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1.00 | $0.33 | $0.67 | 33% |
| $2.00 | $0.36 | $1.64 | 18% |
| $3.00 | $0.39 | $2.61 | 13% |
| $5.00 | $0.45 | $4.55 | 9% |
| $10.00 | $0.59 | $9.41 | 5.9% |
| $15.00 | $0.73 | $14.27 | 4.87% |
| $25.00 | $1.03 | $23.97 | 4.12% |
| $50.00 | $1.75 | $48.25 | 3.5% |
The Real-World Impact on Low-Price Products
Consider a digital product priced at $4.99. At 2.9% + $0.30, the processing fee is $0.44 — an effective rate of 8.82%. If you sell 10,000 units per month, you're paying $4,400 in processing fees.
Now compare: if that same product were priced at $49.99, the effective rate drops to 3.5%. You'd pay $1,750 on 1,000 sales generating the same ~$50,000 revenue, saving roughly $2,650 in processing fees.
Strategies for Reducing the Impact of the Fixed Fee
You cannot negotiate away the fixed fee on standard pricing, but you can structure your business to minimize its impact:
- Set minimum order values: A $10 minimum keeps your effective rate below 6%. A $25 minimum keeps it near 4.1%.
- Bundle small purchases: Let customers add multiple items to a cart and process one transaction instead of several.
- Use alternative payment methods for small amounts: ACH transfers (0.8% capped at $5 on Stripe) have no fixed fee and are cheaper for transactions under ~$37.50.
- Consider micropayment-optimized processors: PayPal's micropayment rate (4.99% + $0.09) costs less than the standard 2.9% + $0.30 for transactions under roughly $7.50.
- Negotiate volume pricing: If you process over $80,000/month on Stripe, contact sales for custom rates that may lower or eliminate the fixed fee.
Compare With PayPal's Rate
See how the 2.9% + $0.30 rate compares to PayPal's 3.49% + $0.49.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "2.9% + $0.30" mean?
It means the processor charges 2.9% of the transaction amount plus a flat $0.30 per transaction. On a $100 charge, the fee is $100 x 0.029 + $0.30 = $3.20. This is the standard rate for US domestic online card payments on Stripe, and similar rates are used by other processors.
Why is the fixed $0.30 fee a problem for small transactions?
The $0.30 is the same regardless of transaction size. On a $100 payment, it's only 0.3% of the total. But on a $3 payment, it's 10% of the total — making the effective fee rate jump from about 3.2% to nearly 13%. Small transactions are disproportionately expensive because of this fixed component.
What is the effective fee rate on a $5 transaction?
On a $5 transaction with a 2.9% + $0.30 fee structure, the total fee is $0.45 and the effective rate is 9%. That's nearly three times the headline 2.9% rate.
At what amount does the effective rate approach 2.9%?
The effective rate asymptotically approaches 2.9% as the transaction amount increases, but it never actually reaches it because of the fixed $0.30. At $1,000, the effective rate is about 2.93%. At $100, it's 3.20%. You'd need transactions over $10,000 for the rate to be within 0.01% of 2.9%.
Which payment processors charge 2.9% + $0.30?
Stripe charges exactly 2.9% + $0.30 for US domestic card payments. Square charges the same rate for online payments (but 2.6% + $0.10 for in-person). Braintree (owned by PayPal) also uses 2.9% + $0.30. PayPal's standard rate is higher at 3.49% + $0.49.
How do I calculate the fee if I want to receive exactly $100?
To receive exactly $100 after fees, charge $100 / (1 - 0.029) + $0.30 / (1 - 0.029) = $103.30 (rounded). The formula is: Charge Amount = (Desired Net + Fixed Fee) / (1 - Percentage Rate). This is called "passing the fee to the customer."
Is 2.9% + $0.30 competitive?
For standard online card payments without volume commitments, 2.9% + $0.30 is the industry baseline in the US. It's competitive for small to mid-size businesses. High-volume merchants ($80K+/month) can negotiate lower rates, and businesses with in-person sales can find cheaper rates from processors like Square.
How much do I lose on a $1 transaction?
On a $1 transaction, the fee is $0.33 — an effective rate of 33%. You'd receive only $0.67. For transactions this small, the fixed fee makes processing barely viable.
Can I reduce the $0.30 fixed fee?
Not on standard Stripe pricing. However, you can negotiate custom pricing at high volumes ($80K+/month) which may lower both components. Alternatively, ACH payments on Stripe cost 0.8% with no fixed fee (capped at $5), which is much cheaper for larger transactions.
Assumptions & methodology
- All rates shown are standard published domestic card rates for online payments.
- International card surcharges (+1–2%) and currency conversion fees are not included.
- Actual fees may differ based on negotiated volume discounts, business type, or plan.
- We are not affiliated with Stripe, PayPal, or any payment processor.
- Always verify current rates on the official Stripe and PayPal pricing pages.
- Examples use the US Stripe rate of 2.9% + $0.30. Other processors using the same rate structure (Square online, Braintree) yield identical results.
Last updated: February 15, 2026