Typical US PayPal fees
PayPal adjusts fees from time to time and some business accounts get different rates, so confirm on PayPal’s fee page.
How to charge enough to cover the fee
Because the percentage applies to the whole payment, you can’t just add the fee on top. Solve for the charge instead:
To receive $100 on a goods-and-services payment, ask for $103.59: (100 + 0.49) ÷ (1 − 0.0299).
Tips to pay less in fees
- Small payments are hit hardest by the fixed fee — combine invoices where you can.
- Bank transfers (ACH) or other processors may be cheaper for large B2B invoices.
- Never use friends & family for purchases: it’s against PayPal’s terms and removes buyer and seller protection.
Related Freelance & Merchant Fee Tools
Factoring digital payment processor fees into client invoices ensures you receive full compensation. Calculate estimated self-employment quarterly taxes with our Freelancer Tax Calculator, track corporate operating margins via the Business Profit Calculator, model foreign currency exchange using the Currency Converter, and find required sales volume with our Break Even Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays the PayPal fee?
For goods and services, the seller (recipient) pays. For friends & family payments funded by a card, the sender pays.
Are PayPal fees refunded if I refund a buyer?
For most commercial transactions, PayPal keeps the fixed fee and returns the percentage portion when you issue a refund.
Can I pass the fee on to customers?
It depends on your local laws and card network rules; some places restrict surcharging. Many sellers simply build the fee into their prices instead.