This PayPal fee calculator shows what you receive from a payment to a US PayPal account, and what to charge to end up with a set amount. Pick how you’re paid and enter the amount, and it works out PayPal’s fee and any instant transfer fee.
Your results
Updates as you type. Fees are rounded to the nearest cent.
| Amount the buyer pays | |
| PayPal fee | |
| In your PayPal balance | |
| Instant transfer fee | |
| In your bank |
Standard transfers to your bank are free. Currency conversion, chargebacks and dispute fees aren't included.
What should I charge?
Enter the amount you want to end up with. We work out what to ask the buyer for, with the payment type and transfer above.
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PayPal fees for receiving payments (US) in 2026
| Fee | Fee |
|---|---|
| Goods and services payment (PayPal app or PayPal.me) | 2.99% |
| PayPal Checkout, Pay with Venmo, or an invoice paid with PayPal | 3.49% + $0.49 |
| Standard card payment, or an invoice paid by card | 2.99% + $0.49 |
| Advanced card payment | 2.89% + $0.29 |
| Pay Later | 4.99% + $0.49 |
| QR code payment | 2.29% + $0.09 |
| Buyer outside the US | Add 1.5% |
| Friends and family payment | No fee to receive |
| Standard transfer to your bank | Free |
| Instant transfer, personal account | 1.75% (from $0.25 to $25.00) |
| Instant transfer, business account | 1.5% (at least $0.50) |
SellerCounter isn't affiliated with PayPal. Your PayPal sale receipt is the final word on fees. Spotted a wrong fee? Tell us.
How much does PayPal take?
It depends on how you’re paid. A goods and services payment sent to you in the PayPal app costs 2.99%, with no fixed fee. PayPal Checkout on a website, Pay with Venmo and invoices paid with PayPal cost 3.49% + $0.49. Card payments cost 2.99% + $0.49. The buyer doesn’t pay a fee on any of these.
On a $100 goods and services payment, PayPal keeps $2.99 and you receive $97.01. The same $100 through PayPal Checkout costs you $3.98.
PayPal fees for receiving payments
- Goods and services payment (PayPal app or PayPal.me): 2.99%
- PayPal Checkout, Pay with Venmo, or an invoice paid with PayPal: 3.49% + $0.49
- Standard card payment, or an invoice paid by card: 2.99% + $0.49
- Advanced card payment: 2.89% + $0.29
- Pay Later: 4.99% + $0.49
- QR code payment, in person: 2.29% + $0.09
- Buyer outside the US: add 1.5% to any of these
Goods and services or friends and family?
When you’re selling something, goods and services is the right choice. It costs you 2.99%, but the buyer gets PayPal’s Purchase Protection and you can qualify for Seller Protection. Friends and family payments are free to receive, but PayPal says they shouldn’t be used to pay for goods and services, and if anything goes wrong, neither of you is covered.
Instant transfers to your bank
A standard transfer from your PayPal balance to your bank is free. An instant transfer costs 1.75% on a personal account (at least $0.25 and at most $25.00), or 1.5% on a business account (at least $0.50, with no maximum).
How the calculator works
- PayPal fee = the rate for your payment type (plus the international fee, if the buyer is abroad) × the amount, plus the fixed fee.
- You receive = the amount − the PayPal fee.
- Instant transfer fee = its percentage of what you move, kept between the minimum and maximum.
- What to charge = the smallest amount, to the cent, that leaves you the amount you want.
Each fee is rounded to the nearest cent. Rates come from PayPal’s US business fees and consumer fees pages. Currency conversion, chargeback and dispute fees aren’t included.
PayPal fee examples
These examples use the fees as of 1 November 2026.
A $100 goods and services payment
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Payment | $100.00 |
| PayPal fee (2.99%) | −$2.99 |
| You receive | $97.01 |
$100 through PayPal Checkout, from a buyer abroad
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Payment | $100.00 |
| PayPal fee (4.99% + $0.49) | −$5.48 |
| You receive | $94.52 |
A $250 invoice paid by card, moved to the bank instantly (business account)
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Payment | $250.00 |
| PayPal fee (2.99% + $0.49) | −$7.97 |
| In your PayPal balance | $242.03 |
| Instant transfer fee (1.5%) | −$3.63 |
| In your bank | $238.40 |
PayPal fee questions
How much does PayPal charge for goods and services?
2.99% of the payment for a seller in the US, with no fixed fee. On $100, that’s $2.99. A buyer outside the US adds 1.5%.
Who pays the PayPal fee?
The person receiving the payment. The buyer doesn’t pay a fee for a normal PayPal purchase.
How can I cut what PayPal takes?
Use “What should I charge?” above to build the fee into your price, and use free standard transfers unless you need the money the same day. On a sale, don’t ask buyers to send friends and family payments: it breaks PayPal’s rules and leaves you both unprotected.
Is this calculator from PayPal?
No. SellerCounter is independent and isn’t affiliated with PayPal. We check these fees against PayPal’s own fee pages and update this page when they change. Your PayPal activity is always the final word.