Calculators · · 4 min read
How to Calculate PayPal Fees
Use the PayPal Fee Calculator to find what you'll receive after PayPal's cut, or how much to ask for to net a target amount.
To calculate PayPal fees, open the PayPal Fee Calculator, choose What I receive or What to ask for, enter the Amount along with the Percentage fee % and Fixed fee, and read the result — the fee taken, the amount that lands in your account, and the effective rate.
What the PayPal Fee Calculator does
PayPal takes a percentage of every payment plus a small fixed fee, so the amount someone sends and the amount you actually keep aren't the same number. The PayPal Fee Calculator does that math both directions: tell it what's being charged and it shows what you'll receive, or tell it how much you need to receive and it works backward to the amount you should ask for.
How to calculate PayPal fees with Toolbench
- Open the PayPal Fee Calculator.
- In the Calculate selector, choose What I receive (you know the amount charged and want the payout) or What to ask for (you know what you need to receive and want the amount to request).
- Enter the amount — the field is labeled Amount charged in "What I receive" mode, or Amount you want to receive in "What to ask for" mode.
- Enter Percentage fee % (defaults to 3.49) and Fixed fee (defaults to 0.49, i.e. $0.49 per transaction).
- Read the main result, then the rows below it for the fee amount and the effective rate (the fee as a percentage of the relevant amount).
The defaults reflect PayPal's US standard checkout rates. Rates vary by country and payment type, so check PayPal's current fee page and update the Percentage fee % and Fixed fee fields to match your actual account before relying on the numbers.
A real worked example
Charging $100 with the default rate (3.49% + $0.49):
| What I receive | What to ask for (to net $100) | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount charged | 100.00 | 104.12 |
| Fee | 3.98 | 4.12 |
| You receive / To receive | 96.02 | 100.00 |
| Effective rate | 3.98% | 3.96% |
In "What I receive" mode, a $100 charge costs you $3.98 (3.49% of $100, which is $3.49, plus the $0.49 fixed fee), so you receive $96.02. In "What to ask for" mode, if you need to actually net $100 after fees, you'd need to ask for $104.12 — slightly more than $100 plus the fee, because the percentage fee also applies to the extra amount you're asking for to cover itself.
Tips and common mistakes
- The default rates are a starting point, not your actual account. PayPal's pricing differs by country, payment type (goods and services vs. other transaction types, for example) and account setup. Update Percentage fee % and Fixed fee to match your PayPal dashboard before trusting the output.
- "What to ask for" isn't just adding the fee back on. Because the fee itself is a percentage of the amount, the figure you need to request to net a target payout is always a little more than target + fee — the calculator does that division for you so you don't undercharge.
- Effective rate is relative to different bases in each mode. In "What I receive," it's the fee as a percentage of the amount charged. In "What to ask for," it's the fee as a percentage of the amount charged (which is now the higher, solved-for number) — so the same percentage fee setting produces a slightly lower effective rate in "What to ask for" mode.
- Round numbers invite round requests, but fees aren't round. If you want a clean payout like exactly $100, use "What to ask for" rather than guessing and rounding up the amount you request.
Related tools
- Stripe Fee Calculator — the same receive/ask calculation for Stripe's fee structure, with an international card surcharge.
- Margin Calculator — profit margin and markup from cost and price.
- Discount Calculator — sale price after one or two stacked discounts, with optional tax.
- Sales Tax Calculator — add sales tax to a price, or back it out of a total.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate what I'll actually receive after PayPal fees?
Open the PayPal Fee Calculator, leave Calculate on What I receive, enter the amount charged along with your percentage fee and fixed fee, and read the "You receive" result — it's the charge amount minus the percentage fee and the fixed fee.
How much do I need to ask for to net a specific amount after PayPal fees?
Switch Calculate to What to ask for, enter the amount you want to receive in the Amount you want to receive field, and the calculator solves for the amount to request that leaves you with exactly that much after fees are deducted.
What's PayPal's standard fee in this calculator?
The calculator defaults to 3.49% plus a $0.49 fixed fee per transaction, reflecting PayPal's standard US checkout rates. Your actual rate may differ by country or payment type, so adjust the Percentage fee % and Fixed fee fields to match your own PayPal account.
Does this calculator account for currency conversion or cross-border fees?
No — it only applies the percentage and fixed fee you enter. If PayPal charges you additional cross-border or currency conversion fees, factor those in separately or increase the Percentage fee % to approximate them.
Is my data sent to a server?
No. The calculation runs in your browser as you type. If you're signed in, your inputs sync privately to your account; if you're signed out, nothing is saved anywhere.
More guides
- How to Calculate Stripe FeesUse the Stripe Fee Calculator to find what you'll receive after Stripe's cut, or how much to charge to net a target amount, including international cards.
- How to Calculate Months Between Two DatesUse the Month Calculator to find exact calendar months between two dates, or add or subtract months from a date, with a worked example.
- How to Calculate Hours Worked and PayUse the Hours Calculator to turn a start time, end time and break into total hours worked, decimal hours, and pay at an hourly rate.