PayPal Fee Calculator
Calculate PayPal fees for domestic and international payments, see what you'll receive, and find how much to invoice to receive a target amount.
About the PayPal Fee Calculator
This PayPal fee calculator shows exactly how much PayPal deducts from a payment and what lands in your account. Choose the standard domestic rate (2.9% + $0.30), the international rate (4.4% + $0.30) or type a custom percentage and fixed fee to match your country and account type.
It also solves the reverse problem freelancers hit on every invoice: to actually receive a target amount, how much should you ask for? The tool computes that gross-up figure — (amount + fixed fee) ÷ (1 − percentage) — so the fee comes out of the client's payment, not your earnings.
PayPal's fees vary by country, currency, and whether the payment is commercial or personal; goods-and-services rates also change over time (US domestic is currently around 2.99–3.49% + $0.49 for many payment types). Use the custom option with the exact rate from your PayPal fee page for a precise result.
How to Use the PayPal Fee Calculator
- 1Enter the payment amount.
- 2Pick a fee preset — domestic, international — or choose custom and enter your exact rates.
- 3Read the fee and the amount you will actually receive.
- 4Use the third result to see how much to invoice so you receive the full amount after fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does PayPal charge per transaction?
The classic benchmark is 2.9% + $0.30 for domestic commercial payments and around 4.4% + a fixed fee for international ones, and this calculator uses those as presets. Actual rates now vary by country and payment type — for example, many US goods-and-services payments are 2.99% or 3.49% plus $0.49. Check your PayPal fee page and use the custom preset for exact figures.
How do I calculate how much to charge to cover PayPal fees?
Gross up the amount: ask for (target + fixed fee) ÷ (1 − percentage ÷ 100). To pocket $500 at 2.9% + $0.30, invoice (500 + 0.30) ÷ 0.971 = $515.26. Simply adding 2.9% to $500 falls short, because the fee is charged on the larger invoiced amount. The calculator does this reverse computation automatically.
Does PayPal charge the sender or the receiver?
For commercial (goods and services) payments, the receiver pays the fee — the buyer pays the invoice amount and PayPal deducts its cut before crediting you. Personal friends-and-family transfers funded by bank or balance are usually free domestically, with the sender paying any card-funding or international fees. Business transactions cannot legitimately be sent as friends-and-family.
Are there extra fees for currency conversion on PayPal?
Yes, and they are easy to miss. When a payment involves converting currencies, PayPal applies a conversion spread — typically 3–4% above the base exchange rate — on top of the transaction fee. If you invoice international clients regularly, receiving in their currency and converting strategically, or comparing against services like Wise, can meaningfully cut costs.
Can I avoid or reduce PayPal fees legally?
You can reduce them: invoice in a way that passes fees to the client where your jurisdiction allows it, batch small payments into fewer larger ones to dilute the fixed fee, and enquire about merchant rates if you process high volume. Misusing friends-and-family for business payments violates PayPal's terms and removes buyer/seller protection — not worth the risk.