Not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by PayPal. The name is a trademark of its owner and appears here only to identify whose published fee schedule we use.
PayPal fees for 2026
PayPal's U.S. merchant fee page, last updated November 4, 2026, sets these rates for payments received in U.S. dollars.[1]
| Payment type | Fee |
|---|---|
| PayPal Checkout or invoice paid with PayPal | 3.49% + $0.49 |
| Goods and services payment (Send Money) | 2.99% |
| Card payment (standard card processing) | 2.99% + $0.49 |
| Pay Later | 4.99% + $0.49 |
| QR code payment | 2.29% + $0.09 |
| Pay with Venmo at checkout | 3.49% + $0.49 |
| Invoice paid by bank (ACH) | 1%, capped at $10 |
| International payment | +1.5% |
| Instant transfer to bank (business) | 1.5%, minimum $0.50 |
Personal accounts that sell use the same merchant rates. Sending money to friends and family is free from a PayPal balance or bank account; funding it with a card costs the sender 2.9% + $0.30.[2]
PayPal fees on common amounts
| Amount | Checkout or invoice | Goods and services | Card payment | QR code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10 | $0.84 | $0.30 | $0.79 | $0.32 |
| $50 | $2.24 | $1.50 | $1.99 | $1.24 |
| $100 | $3.98 | $2.99 | $3.48 | $2.38 |
| $500 | $17.94 | $14.95 | $15.44 | $11.54 |
The fixed $0.49 is what makes small payments expensive: on $10 it is almost 5% by itself.
Effective PayPal fee rate by payment size
PayPal's real rate on a checkout payment ranges from over 50% on a $1 payment to just above 3.49% on large ones, because the $0.49 fixed fee is spread over the amount. Below about $20, the fixed fee adds more than two points by itself.
| Payment | Fee | Effective rate | You receive |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1 | $0.52 | 52.00% | $0.48 |
| $5 | $0.66 | 13.20% | $4.34 |
| $10 | $0.84 | 8.40% | $9.16 |
| $20 | $1.19 | 5.95% | $18.81 |
| $50 | $2.24 | 4.48% | $47.76 |
| $100 | $3.98 | 3.98% | $96.02 |
| $1,000 | $35.39 | 3.54% | $964.61 |
For small, repeated payments such as tips or digital downloads, the QR code rate (2.29% + $0.09) or bundling several purchases into one payment cuts the effective rate the most.
PayPal vs Venmo, Stripe, Square and Cash App
PayPal Checkout is the most expensive of the common U.S. options on a standard card-funded payment: on $100 it costs $3.98, against $2.00 for a Venmo business profile and $3.20 for Stripe.[5][6][7][8] Each column uses that service's standard U.S. rate for an online or app payment, with no international card and no instant transfer.
| Amount | PayPal Checkout | PayPal goods & services | Venmo business | Stripe online | Square online (Free) | Cash App business |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10 | $0.84 | $0.30 | $0.29 | $0.59 | $0.63 | $0.41 |
| $50 | $2.24 | $1.50 | $1.05 | $1.75 | $1.95 | $1.45 |
| $100 | $3.98 | $2.99 | $2.00 | $3.20 | $3.60 | $2.75 |
| $500 | $17.94 | $14.95 | $9.60 | $14.80 | $16.80 | $13.15 |
Rates are not the only difference: PayPal and Venmo offer buyer protection and a familiar checkout, Stripe and Square need your own site or link, and Cash App and Venmo business profiles are limited to their apps. Card processors are compared amount by amount in Stripe vs Square fees. Each has its own calculator: Venmo, Stripe, Square and Cash App.
PayPal goods and services fee
A goods-and-services payment sent through PayPal's Send Money flow costs the seller 2.99% with no fixed fee. Checkout buttons, invoices and payment links on a website use the 3.49% + $0.49 rate instead, so on a $100 sale the same buyer costs you $2.99 one way and $3.98 the other.
Invoices, international payments and currency
- Invoices: 3.49% + $0.49 when paid with PayPal or Venmo, 2.99% + $0.49 by card, 4.99% + $0.49 with Pay Later, and 1% (max $10) by bank transfer.
- International: add 1.5% when the buyer is outside the U.S.
- Currency conversion: PayPal's spread is 3% on most conversions and 4% when paying or sending.
- Fixed fee by currency: USD 0.49, GBP 0.39, EUR 0.39, CAD 0.59, AUD 0.59.
- Disputes: $15 per dispute and $20 per card chargeback.
Outside the U.S., domestic goods-and-services rates are lower: United Kingdom 2.9% + £0.30; Canada 2.90% + C$0.30; Australia 2.90% + A$0.30.[4]
What to charge to receive a set amount
To receive a set amount, divide it plus the fixed fee by one minus the rate. Choose What to charge in the calculator; it rounds up to the cent so you never come up short. Rules on adding a separate surcharge vary, so most sellers build the fee into the price instead. For card payments on your own site, compare the Stripe fee calculator and the Square fee calculator; for app payments, the Venmo fee calculator.
PayPal fee changes
- Announced: a new "PayPal Checkout – Agentic Virtual Card" payment type joins the merchant fee page (rate not yet published).[3]
- Pay with Crypto rate 0.99% → 1.5%.
- Pay Later 4.99% + fixed fee; advanced card payments 2.89% + fixed; Virtual Terminal 3.39% + fixed.
- QR code payments moved to one rate of 2.29% + fixed fee.
Frequently asked questions
How much does PayPal charge per transaction?
In the U.S., 3.49% + $0.49 for checkout and invoice payments, 2.99% for goods-and-services payments sent through the app, and 2.99% + $0.49 for card payments. International payments add 1.5%.
What is the PayPal fee on $100?
$3.98 on a checkout or invoice payment, so you receive $96.02. A goods-and-services payment costs $2.99.
How do I calculate PayPal fees in reverse?
Add the fixed fee to the amount you want and divide by one minus the rate: ($100 + $0.49) ÷ 0.9651 = $104.12.
Does PayPal charge fees for friends and family?
Not when it is paid from a PayPal balance or bank account. Paying with a credit or debit card costs the sender 2.90% + $0.30.
What is the PayPal instant transfer fee?
1.5% (minimum $0.50) for business accounts and 1.75% ($0.25 minimum, $25 maximum) for personal accounts. Standard transfers are free.