ganak.appPayPal Fee Calculator
Calculate PayPal fees for Goods & Services, invoices, QR codes, Venmo, Friends & Family, and international transfers. See exact fees, net amount received, effective fee rate, and what to charge clients. Supports all 2026 PayPal transaction types with real-time calculation.
Selling items or receiving payments for goods and services
Adds 1.5% cross-border fee
To net exactly $96.52, charge $100.00
Fee Breakdown
Visual split of your transaction
Fee Comparison by Transaction Type
All fees for a $100.00 transaction
| Type | Fee | You Receive | Eff. Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goods & Servicesselected | $3.48 | $96.52 | 3.48% |
| PayPal Checkout / Venmo | $3.98 | $96.02 | 3.98% |
| Invoice (Card Payment) | $3.48 | $96.52 | 3.48% |
| Invoice (PayPal/Venmo) | $3.98 | $96.02 | 3.98% |
| QR Code | $2.38 | $97.62 | 2.38% |
| Friends & Family (Domestic) | $0.00 | $100.00 | 0.00% |
| Friends & Family (International) | $4.99 | $100.00 | 4.99% |
| Charity / Nonprofit | $2.48 | $97.52 | 2.48% |
| Micropayment | $5.08 | $94.92 | 5.08% |
| Pay Later | $5.48 | $94.52 | 5.48% |
How PayPal Fees Work
The formula behind every PayPal transaction
PayPal charges a percentage of the transaction amount plus a fixed fee for each payment received. The exact rates depend on the transaction type, whether the payment is domestic or international, and how the buyer pays.
Fee Formula:
PayPal Fee = (Amount × Rate%) + Fixed Fee
You Receive = Amount − PayPal Fee
Example — $100 via Goods & Services:
- Fee = $100 × 2.99% + $0.49 = $3.48
- You receive = $100 − $3.48 = $96.52
- International? Add 1.5% → fee becomes $4.98
PayPal Fee Types Explained
Which rate applies to your transaction
Goods & Services
2.99% + $0.49Standard rate for selling products or services. Includes PayPal Buyer Protection — the go-to for freelancers and online sellers.
Checkout / Venmo
3.49% + $0.49For online checkout integrations, Venmo business payments, and guest checkout. Higher rate reflects the added payment infrastructure.
Invoice
3.49% + $0.49Same rate as checkout for invoiced payments. Useful for freelancers billing clients directly through PayPal's invoicing tool.
QR Code
2.29% + $0.09The cheapest commercial rate. For in-person payments scanned via PayPal or Venmo QR codes. Lower fixed fee makes it great for small transactions.
Friends & Family
Free (domestic) · 5% sender (intl)Domestic: free from bank or PayPal balance, receiver gets full amount. International: sender pays 5% (min $0.99, max $4.99 USD), receiver gets full amount. No buyer protection.
Charity
1.99% + $0.49Discounted rate for verified 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Requires PayPal Giving Fund or charity account approval.
How to Use This Calculator
Step-by-step guide
Choose your direction
"What I Receive" calculates fees on an incoming payment. "What to Charge" tells you the exact invoice amount so you net your target after fees — no guesswork.
Enter your amount
Type the payment amount in USD. In receiving mode, enter the amount the buyer is sending. In charging mode, enter what you want to end up with.
Select transaction type
Pick the PayPal payment method (G&S, Invoice, QR Code, etc.) to apply the correct 2026 fee rate. When in doubt, use Goods & Services for business payments.
Toggle international if needed
Enable the International switch if the buyer is outside your country. Adds a 1.5% cross-border surcharge on top of the base rate. Not applicable to Friends & Family (its own international rate applies).
Compare & decide
Scroll to the comparison table to see fees across all transaction types side-by-side. QR codes are usually cheapest; Friends & Family is free but offers no protection.
Common Mistakes When Calculating PayPal Fees
Avoid these costly pitfalls
Use "What to Charge" mode
Adding 2.99% to your price doesn't cover the fee — the percentage applies to the new higher total too. Use the reverse calculator to get the exact charge amount.
QR codes save money
For in-person payments, QR codes cost 2.29% + $0.09 vs. 2.99% + $0.49 for G&S. On a $50 sale that's $0.81 saved per transaction.
Cross-border fees stack up
International transactions add 1.5% surcharge. A 2.99% domestic rate becomes 4.49% internationally. Plus PayPal's currency conversion adds another 3–4% markup.
Don't use F&F for business
Friends & Family payments have no buyer protection and PayPal may freeze accounts misusing this for business. Always use Goods & Services for commercial transactions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PayPal fees