Find out exactly how much PayPal takes. Enter an amount and the fee rate to see the fee and the money you actually receive — or how much to send so the other person gets the full amount.
1. Choose whether you are sending money or want the receiver to get a fixed amount. 2. Enter the amount in dollars. 3. Pick the fee type — International, Domestic or Custom — and click Calculate PayPal Fee.
PayPal is one of the most popular ways to send and receive money online, but it is not free: PayPal takes a fee on every payment you receive. Many freelancers, sellers and small businesses are surprised when the money that arrives is less than the amount they charged. This free PayPal fee calculator removes the surprise. Enter the amount and the fee rate, and it shows the exact fee and the exact amount the receiver gets — or, in reverse, how much you must send so the other person receives the full amount.
PayPal fees have two parts: a percentage of the amount and a small fixed fee. For international payments, PayPal commonly charges 4.4 percent plus 0.30 dollars. For domestic payments inside the same country, the common rate is 2.9 percent plus 0.30 dollars. So on a 100 dollar international payment, the fee is 4.40 dollars plus 0.30 dollars, which is 4.70 dollars, and the receiver gets 95.30 dollars. On a small payment the fixed fee matters more: on a 5 dollar payment at 4.4 percent plus 0.30, the fee is 0.52 dollars, which is more than 10 percent of the whole payment. That is why small payments feel expensive on PayPal.
The reverse calculation is just as useful. Suppose a freelancer charges 100 dollars for a job and wants to receive the full 100 dollars. If they simply ask the client to send 100 dollars, they will only get 95.30 dollars. To receive the full amount, the client must send about 104.92 dollars, because PayPal will take about 4.92 dollars from it. Many freelancers use this calculator before sending an invoice, so they can add the fee to the price and receive exactly what they charged. It is a small step that protects your income on every single payment.
Take a 100 dollar international payment at 4.4 percent plus 0.30 dollars. First find the percentage part: 100 times 4.4 divided by 100 is 4.40 dollars. Then add the fixed fee of 0.30 dollars, which gives a total fee of 4.70 dollars. Subtract that from 100 dollars and the receiver gets 95.30 dollars. Try it in the calculator above: choose "I am sending money", enter 100, pick International, and click Calculate. You will see the same answer — a fee of 4.70 dollars and 95.30 dollars received.
Now suppose you want the receiver to get exactly 100 dollars on an international payment. You cannot just send 100 dollars, because PayPal would take 4.70 dollars. Instead, the amount to send is (100 + 0.30) divided by (1 - 0.044), which is 100.30 divided by 0.956, or about 104.92 dollars. PayPal takes 4.4 percent of 104.92, which is about 4.62 dollars, plus 0.30 dollars, which is a total fee of about 4.92 dollars. Subtract that from 104.92 and the receiver gets exactly 100 dollars. Choose "I want the receiver to get a fixed amount" in the calculator, enter 100, and you will see the same answer: send 104.92 dollars.
When you send money, the formula is: Fee = Amount × Rate ÷ 100 + Fixed Fee, and the receiver gets Amount − Fee. When you want the receiver to get a fixed amount, the formula is turned around: Amount to Send = (Amount Wanted + Fixed Fee) ÷ (1 − Rate ÷ 100). The second formula looks harder, but it is just the first formula solved backwards: you need to send enough that, after PayPal takes its percentage and its fixed fee, exactly the wanted amount is left. The calculator does both directions for you, so you never need to do the algebra by hand.
PayPal's real fees can be different from the common rates used here. The exact fee depends on your country, whether the payment is domestic or international, whether currency conversion is involved, and whether you use PayPal's Goods and Services or Friends and Family option. Friends and Family payments often have no fee for domestic transfers, but they offer no buyer or seller protection, so businesses should not use them. Currency conversion adds another fee, usually around 3 to 4 percent on top. Always check the fee shown on PayPal's own website for your country before a large payment, and use this calculator as a quick estimate.
Add the fee to your price. If you charge 100 dollars, ask for 104.92 dollars on international payments so you receive the full 100. Watch small payments. The 0.30 dollar fixed fee hurts most on small amounts — on a 5 dollar payment it is more than 10 percent. Use the right rate. Domestic and international rates are different, so pick the right one or your estimate will be wrong. Check currency conversion. If the payment changes currency, PayPal adds a conversion fee on top of the normal fee. Keep records. PayPal fees are a business cost, so save the fee details for your accounts and tax records.
Forgetting the fixed fee. The 0.30 dollar fixed fee is small, but on small payments it matters a lot. Using the domestic rate for an international payment. International payments cost more, so using the domestic rate will understate the fee. Sending exactly what you charged. If you charge 100 dollars and send 100, you only receive 95.30 — always add the fee. Ignoring currency conversion. A payment in another currency has an extra conversion fee, so the total cost is higher. Using Friends and Family for business. It may be cheaper, but it has no protection, and PayPal can limit your account if you misuse it.
Pro Tip: If you receive many small payments, ask clients to pay in one larger payment instead of several small ones. One 100 dollar payment costs 4.70 dollars in fees, but ten 10 dollar payments cost 7.40 dollars — because the 0.30 dollar fixed fee is charged every single time.
Note: PayPal's fees change from time to time and differ by country. This calculator uses the common rates (4.4% + $0.30 international, 2.9% + $0.30 domestic) — always confirm the current fee on PayPal's website for large payments.
How much does PayPal charge on $100? On an international payment at 4.4% + $0.30, the fee is $4.70 and the receiver gets $95.30. On a domestic payment at 2.9% + $0.30, the fee is $3.20 and the receiver gets $96.80.
How much do I need to send so someone receives $100? On an international payment, send about $104.92 — PayPal takes about $4.92 and the receiver gets exactly $100.
What is PayPal's fee for international payments? The common rate is 4.4% plus a $0.30 fixed fee, but the exact rate depends on your country and whether currency conversion is involved.
Is there a fee for Friends and Family payments? Domestic Friends and Family payments are often free, but international ones may still have a fee, and there is no buyer or seller protection.
Does PayPal charge a fee on small payments? Yes, and the $0.30 fixed fee makes small payments expensive — on a $5 payment it is more than 10% of the total.
Can I avoid PayPal fees? Not completely for business payments, but you can reduce them by receiving fewer, larger payments instead of many small ones, and by asking the sender to cover the fee.
Does PayPal charge for currency conversion? Yes. If a payment changes currency, PayPal adds a conversion fee of around 3% to 4% on top of the normal fee.
Is this PayPal fee calculator accurate? It is accurate for the rates you enter. PayPal's real fees vary by country, so always confirm the current fee on PayPal's website for large payments.
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