PayPal fee calculator
A $100 Goods & Services payment costs $3.48 in PayPal fees, leaving you $96.52. Through PayPal Checkout the same $100 costs $3.98. Pick the rate above and type any amount — or switch to reverse mode to find what to charge so a target amount reaches you in full.
Rates checked Oct 2026 — always confirm on the provider's official fee page. Fees are rounded to the nearest cent, the way the platforms round them.
How the PayPal fee works
PayPal charges the person receiving money for goods or services. The two rates most sellers meet are Goods & Services (2.99% + $0.49) and PayPal Checkout (3.49% + $0.49). Personal payments between friends and family from a bank or balance are a different case and are not what this calculator is for.
The flat 49 cents is easy to overlook and expensive on small payments: it alone takes 4.9% of a $10 sale before the percentage is even applied. If you sell low-priced items, PayPal's micropayment pricing may exist for your account type — check the official fee page, since eligibility and rates are PayPal's call.
PayPal rates at a glance
| Component | Percent | Flat fee |
|---|---|---|
| Goods & Services: Goods & Services fee | 2.99% | $0.49 |
| PayPal Checkout: Checkout fee | 3.49% | $0.49 |
Cross-border payments and currency conversion cost more than the domestic rates in the table; PayPal adds its own exchange-rate markup on top of the transaction fee. Rates checked Oct 2026 — always confirm on PayPal's official fee page.
What PayPal takes from $10, $100 and $1,000
| You charge | PayPal fee | You receive | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10.00 | $0.79 | $9.21 | 7.90% |
| $100.00 | $3.48 | $96.52 | 3.48% |
| $1,000.00 | $30.39 | $969.61 | 3.04% |
Flat fees are why small payments lose the largest share: on a $10 charge the fixed part alone can outweigh the percentage. If your typical ticket is small, the effective-rate column — not the headline rate — is the number to plan around.
Frequently asked questions
How much does PayPal take from $100?
At the Goods & Services rate of 2.99% + $0.49, the fee on $100 is $2.99 + $0.49 = $3.48, so you receive $96.52. Via PayPal Checkout (3.49% + $0.49) the fee is $3.98 and you receive $96.02.
How do I charge so I receive exactly $100 after PayPal fees?
Use reverse mode above. At the Goods & Services rate you need to charge $103.59: the fee on $103.59 is $3.59, leaving exactly $100.00. Simply adding 2.99% ($102.99) falls short, because PayPal takes its cut of the added amount as well.
Does PayPal refund its fee when I refund a buyer?
Generally, no — for most commercial transactions the original processing fee is not returned when you issue a refund. Treat the fee as a sunk cost of the sale when you set your refund policy.
Is the fee different for international payments?
Yes. International commercial payments carry a higher percentage plus a fixed fee in the payment currency, and currency conversion adds a markup over the base exchange rate. This calculator uses domestic US rates.