PayPal Fee Calculator
Find PayPal fees for received payments or calculate the amount to request so you receive your target net amount.
Disclaimer: This tool is for educational purposes. Results are estimates and should not be taken as professional advice.
When clients pay through PayPal, the amount you receive can be lower than expected because percentage and fixed fees are deducted. This PayPal Fee Calculator helps freelancers, agencies, creators, and online sellers do two critical checks: (1) fee on a known payment amount and (2) amount to request to receive a target net value.
How to Use This Calculator
- Choose the mode: calculate fee from gross amount, or reverse-calculate gross from target net.
- Enter the applicable PayPal fee rate and fixed fee for your transaction type.
- Input the payment amount (or target net amount).
- Review fee deduction, total charged, and net received.
- Re-run with domestic vs international fee assumptions when needed.
Formula Options
A) Fee from known gross amount
- Fee = (Gross × Rate) + Fixed Fee
- Net Received = Gross - Fee
B) Gross needed for target net (reverse calculation)
- Gross Needed = (Target Net + Fixed Fee) / (1 - Rate)
(Use rate as decimal in formulas, e.g., 3.49% = 0.0349.)
Example: How Much to Invoice
You want to receive $500 net, and your fee assumption is 3.49% + $0.49.
Gross Needed = (500 + 0.49) / (1 - 0.0349) = 500.49 / 0.9651 = $518.59
If you invoice $500 instead, you would receive less than target after fees.
Practical Guidance
- Keep separate presets for domestic and cross-border clients.
- Add currency conversion spread when payment currency differs from your withdrawal currency.
- State in contracts whether listed prices are fee-inclusive or fee-exclusive.
FAQ
Why does my actual received amount differ slightly?
Rounding, currency conversion, micropayment plans, and account-specific fee structures can cause differences.
Is this useful for donation buttons and digital products?
Yes. It helps forecast net revenue per transaction so you can set sustainable pricing.
Can I pass PayPal fees to customers?
That depends on local regulations and platform rules. Check your jurisdiction and payment terms.
Should I include refunds in planning?
Yes. If refunds are common, include a refund-rate buffer in your pricing model.
Does this include taxes?
No. Add tax treatment separately if your invoices include VAT/GST/sales tax.