PayPal Fee Calculator

How it is calculated

You supply the payment amount, the percentage rate and the fixed fee yourself; the tool has no built-in PayPal rate table. It computes fee = amount × percent ÷ 100 + fixed, then net = amount − fee, and finally the effective rate fee ÷ amount × 100. Amount is in dollars, percent is the percentage (2.9 means 2.9%) and the fixed fee is in the same currency as the amount. All three fields are required: a blank fixed fee returns no result, so enter 0 if there is none. The amount must be above zero, and negative rates are refused. Because the fixed fee is the same on every payment, the effective rate is always higher than the percentage you entered, especially on small payments. Rates change by country, currency and account type, so check your own fee schedule.

Common mistakes

• Leaving the fixed fee empty when there is none; the tool needs a number, so type 0.
• Entering the rate as a decimal (0.029) instead of a percentage (2.9), which makes the percentage part almost zero.
• Using the net amount you want as the "amount". The tool computes the fee on the gross payment; to receive a target net you must price higher, and the fee on the higher price is larger.
• Applying a domestic rate to an international or currency-converted payment, where the percentage and fixed fee are usually different and conversion may add a further charge not modelled here.
• Ignoring the fixed fee on small sales: on a payment of 5 the same rates give an effective rate of 8.90%.