PayPal Fee Calculator
Calculate PayPal fees for payments, transfers, and international transactions. See exact costs for business and personal accounts before you send or receive money.
PayPal Fee Calculator
PayPal Fee Structure:
- • Fixed fee: $0.49
- • Percentage fee: 3.49%
- • Minimum fee: $0.49
PayPal is one of the world's most recognized digital payment platforms, serving over 400 million users globally. Since its founding in 1998, PayPal has become synonymous with online payments, offering services for personal transfers, business transactions, and international money transfers. Understanding PayPal fees is crucial whether you're an individual sending money to friends, an online business accepting payments, or someone making international transfers.
PayPal's fee structure varies significantly depending on the type of transaction, funding source, and whether you're sending money domestically or internationally. While PayPal offers convenience and buyer protection, their fees can be higher than alternatives, especially for international transfers where currency conversion fees apply.
Our PayPal fees calculator helps you understand the true cost of your transactions before you send. Whether you're calculating business payment processing fees or personal transfer costs, get accurate estimates to make informed decisions about using PayPal for your payment needs.
How PayPal Fees Are Calculated
PayPal uses different fee structures depending on the transaction type. For business payments, they charge 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction in the US. Personal transfers between friends and family are free when funded by a bank account, but cost 2.9% when funded by credit or debit cards.
PayPal Fee Types:
- Business Payments: 3.49% + $0.49
- Personal (Bank): Free
- Personal (Card): 2.9% fee
- International: Base fee + 2.5-4% conversion
- Instant Transfer: 1.75% (min $0.25)
- No Monthly Fees: Pay per transaction only
International transactions are where PayPal becomes expensive. In addition to the base transaction fee, PayPal adds a currency conversion fee of 2.5-4% above the market exchange rate. This can make international transfers cost 5-7% total, significantly more than specialized money transfer services.
Example Calculation:
Business payment of $500:
- • Payment amount: $500
- • Percentage fee: 3.49% = $17.45
- • Fixed fee: $0.49
- • Total PayPal fee: $17.94
- • Amount received: $482.06
Using the PayPal Fee Calculator
Our PayPal fees calculator simulates PayPal's exact fee structure for different transaction types. Enter your payment amount and see instant calculations for business payments, personal transfers, and international transactions. The calculator helps you understand what you'll pay or receive before committing to a transaction.
Key Features:
- Business and personal fee calculations
- International transfer cost estimates
- Multiple currency support
- Instant fee breakdowns
Perfect For:
- • Online business owners
- • Freelancers receiving payments
- • Personal money transfers
- • International senders
- • E-commerce fee planning
The calculator is especially useful for businesses that need to factor PayPal fees into their pricing strategy. Understanding the exact cost helps you decide whether to absorb fees or pass them to customers, and how PayPal costs compare to other payment processors.
Comparing PayPal with Other Options
PayPal's fees are higher than many alternatives, especially for business payments and international transfers. While PayPal offers excellent buyer protection and global recognition, the convenience comes at a premium. Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 compared to PayPal's 3.49% + $0.49 for business payments.
PayPal vs Competitors:
PayPal Advantages:
- • Worldwide brand recognition
- • Strong buyer protection
- • Easy setup and integration
- • No monthly fees
- • Large user base
PayPal Disadvantages:
- • Higher fees than alternatives
- • Expensive international transfers
- • Account holds and limitations
- • Poor customer service reputation
- • Limited seller protection
For international transfers, PayPal is particularly expensive due to poor exchange rates and high conversion fees. Services like Wise, Remitly, or traditional money transfer companies often cost 3-5x less than PayPal for international transfers. However, PayPal remains popular for its convenience and buyer protection features.
Tips to Save on PayPal Fees
For Personal Use:
- • Use bank account funding (free for personal transfers)
- • Avoid credit/debit cards for personal transfers
- • Use standard transfer vs instant (3-5 days vs immediate)
For Business:
- • Consider Stripe or Square for lower fees
- • Factor fees into product pricing
- • Use PayPal invoicing for better rates
International Transfers:
For international money transfers, strongly consider alternatives like Wise, Remitly, or Western Union. PayPal's international fees can be 3-5x higher than specialized money transfer services, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars on larger transfers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does PayPal charge for payments?
PayPal charges 3.49% + $0.49 for business payments in the US. Personal transfers between friends and family are free when funded by bank account, but cost 2.9% when funded by credit or debit cards.
Are PayPal personal transfers free?
Yes, personal transfers funded by bank account or PayPal balance are free within the US. However, using a credit card or debit card for personal transfers incurs a 2.9% fee. International personal transfers have additional fees.
What are PayPal international transfer fees?
International PayPal transfers typically cost 5-7% total due to currency conversion fees (2.5-4% above market rate) plus transaction fees. This makes PayPal one of the most expensive options for international money transfers.
Does PayPal charge monthly fees?
PayPal doesn't charge monthly fees for personal or business accounts. You only pay transaction fees when you receive payments, send money internationally, or use instant transfers. There are no account maintenance or setup fees.