Payments Updated 2026-07-15
PayPal Fee Calculator for Beginners
Use our free paypal fee calculator for beginners to calculate PayPal's merchant transaction fees to see exactly how much money you will receive after a sale.
The formula
How the calculation works
Fee = (Amount × Rate) + Fixed Fee
- Multiply the transaction amount by the percentage rate (e.g., 3.49%).
- Add the fixed fee (e.g., $0.49) to get the total PayPal fee.
- Subtract the total fee from the original amount to see your net payout.
Worked examples
Real-world scenarios
Standard US Checkout
A $100 payment using standard US commercial rates (3.49% + $0.49).
$96.02 net payout
Pro tips
Get more from this calculator
- Invoicing a client? You can use a reverse calculator to figure out how much to charge to receive an exact amount.
- International payments incur additional cross-border fees (typically +1.5%).
Explore Other Scenarios
- PayPal Fee Calculator
- PayPal Fee Calculator for Small Business
- PayPal Fee Calculator for Beginners
- PayPal Fee Calculator in the UK
- PayPal Fee Calculator in Canada
- PayPal Fee Calculator in Australia
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FAQ
Common questions
What is the standard PayPal fee?
For US commercial transactions, it is typically 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction.
Who pays the PayPal fee?
The seller or receiver of the funds typically pays the PayPal processing fee.