Calculation details
Planning estimate only. Platform fees, taxes, payment costs, and policies can change; verify current terms before pricing.
This tool runs in your browser. Your calculator inputs and results are never transmitted to us or to ad/affiliate partners. Ads and sponsored links may set third-party cookies to serve and measure them, but they never receive your calculation values. If you explicitly save a scenario, its permitted fields stay in local browser storage until you clear them. See our Privacy Policy.
Use this result
Share the current inputs or ask ChatGPT to explain the calculation in context.
What does this calculator estimate?
A payment-processing fee calculator shows how much a processor takes from a sale and what you actually keep. It applies a percentage-plus-fixed fee (with common presets for Stripe and PayPal) to your sale amount. Enter the amount and fee to see your net.
- Fee = amount × % + fixed fee
- Stripe ≈ 2.9% + $0.30; PayPal ≈ 3.49% + $0.49
- Net = sale amount − fee
How payment fees work
Payment processors charge a combination of a percentage of the transaction and a fixed per-transaction fee. This is normally absorbed by the seller (merchant), reducing the net you receive for each sale.
Limitations to watch for
Preset rates are standard online rates and can differ by country, card type, volume, and whether the payment is in-person. Stripe and PayPal each have tiered pricing and may add other charges (chargebacks, international). The calculator uses a representative rate — confirm your actual negotiated rate.
How to use it in practice
Price your product so the fee is covered while still netting a profit. Compare processors (the percentage and fixed fee differ) and factor in the total cost of sales. Use the net figure to set a minimum profitable price.
- Enter the sale amount.
- Enter the percentage and fixed fee (or pick a preset).
- Fee = amount × % + fixed fee; net = amount − fee.
How this calculator works
Formula
Processing fee = amount × percentage fee + fixed fee. The calculator applies a percentage and a fixed per-transaction cost (with presets for Stripe and PayPal) to a sale amount, plus any custom fee, to show what the seller nets.
Worked example
A $100 sale at Stripe's 2.9% + $0.30 fee: fee = $2.90 + $0.30 = $3.20, so the seller nets $96.80.
Assumptions to verify
- Fee is a percentage of the sale plus a fixed per-transaction cost.
- Presets reflect standard online rates (Stripe, PayPal) — your actual rate may vary.
- The result is the merchant's net after the processing fee.
Frequently asked questions
How is a payment fee calculated?
Fee = sale amount × percentage fee + fixed fee. Net proceeds = sale amount − fee.
What are Stripe's fees?
Standard online card rate is roughly 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, though it varies by country and volume.
What are PayPal's fees?
Roughly 3.49% + $0.49 for standard commerce transactions, again varying by country and payment method.
Do I pay the fee or the customer?
The merchant (you) pays the processing fee. You can price it into the product so the customer effectively covers it.
What is the fixed fee?
A flat per-transaction charge (e.g. $0.30) added to the percentage. It hits small sales proportionally harder.
Are there other fees?
Possibly — chargebacks, currency conversion, monthly fees, or fees for certain card types. Check your processor's full rate card.
Which processor is cheaper?
It depends on your volume and average sale. Compare true rates (percentage + fixed) against your typical sale amount. Both have tiers.
Cite this tool
BoringToolsKit. “PayPal & Stripe Fee Calculator.” boringtoolskit.com/payment-fee-calculator/ (reviewed 2026-08-25). Free to reference in articles, syllabi, and answer posts with a link.
Privacy: Inputs and results stay in this browser. Any future sponsored recommendation or advertisement will be clearly labeled and kept separate from the calculation.