Payment Processing Fee Calculator
This payment processing fee calculator shows exactly how much a payment gateway keeps and how much actually lands in your account. Enter a transaction amount, pick the payment type, and see your net payout, total fees, and effective rate update instantly.
It is built for freelancers, online sellers, and small businesses who accept money through PayPal, Stripe, or Square and want to price correctly instead of guessing at processing costs. Each gateway loads its own pre-set rates, including domestic, international, ACH, and in-person scenarios.
How to Use the Calculator
Choose your payment gateway
Open the PayPal, Stripe, or Square calculator. Each one loads the fee structure and payment types for that platform automatically.
Enter the transaction amount
Type the total your customer pays into the Transaction Amount field. Results recalculate as you type.
Select the payment type
Pick the matching Payment Type from the dropdown. The calculator fills in the correct processing rate and fixed fee for that option, and adds any international surcharge on its own.
Fine-tune fees (optional)
Open Fee Settings to edit the processing percentage, fixed fee, and any additional fee by hand — handy when you have a negotiated or custom rate.
Read your results
Check the color-coded You Receive amount, the total fees, the effective rate, and the Ask For figure that tells you what to charge to net your target amount.
Features
Three Payment Gateways
Calculate fees for PayPal, Stripe, and Square, each with a dedicated calculator and its own pre-configured rates.
Pre-Set Payment Types
Seven PayPal types (domestic, international, QR code, micropayments, charitable), seven Stripe methods (cards, ACH, Link, Tap to Pay), and six Square types (in-person, online, invoice, manual, Afterpay, ACH).
International Surcharges
Cross-border fees apply automatically — PayPal adds 1.5%, while Stripe adds 1.5% for international cards and 2.5% with currency conversion.
Reverse "Ask For" Amount
See the exact price to charge so that, after fees, you receive your target amount — ideal for passing processing costs to the customer.
Editable Fee Settings
Override the processing rate, fixed fee, and additional percentage by hand for negotiated or custom pricing.
Net Amount & Effective Rate
A color-coded "You Receive" figure plus total fees and the true effective rate after every charge is applied.
Visual Breakdown Bar
A split bar shows fees versus the amount you keep, with the percentage of each side at a glance.
Itemized Fee Breakdown
A detail table lists the processing fee, fixed fee, and additional fee separately, then sums them to a clear total.
Reset to Defaults
One click clears your amount and restores the gateway's default rates so you can start a fresh estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are payment processing fees calculated?
Most gateways charge a percentage of the transaction plus a small fixed fee. This calculator multiplies your amount by the processing rate, adds the fixed fee, layers on any international surcharge, then subtracts the total from your amount to show your net payout and effective rate.
How much does PayPal charge per transaction?
It depends on the payment type. The calculator's PayPal presets cover domestic goods & services at 3.49% + $0.49, QR code / in-person at 2.29% + $0.09, micropayments at 4.99% + $0.09, and a charitable rate at 1.99% + $0.49, among others. International payments add a 1.5% cross-border surcharge on top.
What is the "Ask For" amount?
It is the price to charge so that, after all fees are deducted, you receive the amount you entered. For example, to net $100 at 2.9% + $0.30 you would charge about $103.41. It is the quickest way to pass processing costs on to the customer.
Are international payment fees higher?
Yes. Choosing an international payment type adds a cross-border surcharge automatically — 1.5% for PayPal and Stripe international cards, and 2.5% for Stripe's International + Currency Conversion option. PayPal's currency conversion spread is separate from transaction fees and is not included here.
What's the difference between PayPal, Stripe, and Square fees?
For online card payments, Stripe runs 2.9% + $0.30 while Square is 3.3% + $0.30. For in-person sales, Square's 2.6% + $0.15 is usually cheapest. Bank transfers are far lower — Stripe ACH is 0.8% and Square ACH is 1.0%. Switch between the three calculators to compare your own scenario side by side.
How accurate are the rates?
The presets reflect each gateway's published standard pricing, but rates change and some accounts have negotiated terms. Use the Fee Settings panel to enter your exact numbers, and always confirm against your provider's official pricing page for a final figure.
Are monthly or subscription fees included?
No. This tool focuses on per-transaction processing fees. Any monthly plan costs — such as Square's paid tiers — are separate and are not part of the calculation.
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