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PayPal Fee Calculator
PayPal's 2.99% + $0.49 looks harmless until you invoice a $20 job and hand over 5.4% of it. This calculator shows both directions: what you net from an amount, and what to charge in order to net a target.
PayPal's fee, and the two numbers sellers confuse
PayPal charges a percentage plus a fixed fee on commercial payments. In the US the standard goods and services rate is 2.99% + $0.49. Because of the fixed component, the effective rate depends entirely on the size of the payment: 5.9% on $10, 3.5% on $50, 3.2% on $200.
| Amount | Fee at 2.99% + $0.49 | You receive | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10 | $0.79 | $9.21 | 7.9% |
| $25 | $1.24 | $23.76 | 5.0% |
| $50 | $1.99 | $48.01 | 4.0% |
| $100 | $3.48 | $96.52 | 3.5% |
| $500 | $15.44 | $484.56 | 3.1% |
Gross-up: the calculation most freelancers get wrong
If you want to receive $1,000 and you invoice $1,000, you receive $966.51 — the fee comes out of your side. The correct request is not $1,000 plus the fee on $1,000, because the fee is charged on the larger amount too. The formula is:
amount to request = (target + fixed fee) ÷ (1 − percentage)
For a $1,000 target at 2.99% + $0.49 that is $1,031.38, not $1,030.39. The difference is small on one invoice and meaningful across a year of them.
Cross-border surcharges are additive
Payments that cross a border, or that involve a currency conversion, attract an additional percentage on top of the domestic rate. PayPal's published surcharge varies by market and account type, so this calculator lets you add your own figure rather than guessing on your behalf — check the fee table in your PayPal account and enter the number you actually see on a recent transaction.
PayPal Fee Calculator — FAQ
What is the PayPal fee for goods and services in 2026?
The US commercial rate is 2.99% + $0.49 per transaction for domestic goods and services payments. The fixed $0.49 makes the effective rate much higher on small payments — 7.9% on a $10 payment, 3.5% on $100.
How do I calculate what to charge to net a specific amount?
Divide (target + fixed fee) by (1 − percentage). To net $1,000 at 2.99% + $0.49, request about $1,031.38. Adding the fee to the invoice instead under-recovers, because the fee is charged on the higher amount as well.
Does PayPal charge extra for international payments?
Yes. Cross-border payments and currency conversions carry an additional percentage on top of the domestic rate, and the amount varies by market and account type. Check a recent transaction in your account for the exact rate and enter it in the surcharge field.
Is friends and family cheaper than goods and services?
It is cheaper or free for the sender in many markets, but it provides no seller protection and no dispute process, and using it for commercial sales can result in account limitations. For business payments, the goods and services fee is the cost of protection.
Why is the fee higher than 2.99% on my small sales?
Because of the fixed $0.49 component. On a $10 payment the fixed fee alone is 4.9%, so the total effective rate is around 7.9%. Batching small orders, setting a minimum order value, or adding a small handling charge are the standard ways to absorb it.
Sources & last checked. Rates reflect PayPal's published US commercial goods and services pricing for 2026: 2.99% + $0.49 per domestic transaction. Cross-border and currency conversion surcharges vary by market and are entered manually in this calculator rather than assumed. Last reviewed October 2026.