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- A processing fee is usually a percentage of each sale plus a small fixed amount, such as 2.9% + $0.30. Your own rates may differ.
- On a $100 sale at those rates the fee is $3.20, so you keep $96.80.
- To receive the full amount, charge (amount + fixed fee) ÷ (1 − percentage fee). Adding only the percentage on top leaves you short.
- Fixed fees hurt small sales most: the same rates cost 5.9% on a $10 sale.
How to use the payment processing fee calculator
Pick what you want to see
Choose See my fees to find what a sale costs you, or Pass fees on to find the price that lets you receive the full amount.
Enter the sale and your rates
Type the sale amount, the percentage fee and the fixed fee per sale. Use the rates from your processor statement or pricing page.
Add your volume
Enter how many sales you make in a month. The calculator shows your monthly and yearly processing cost.
Add account fees if you have them
Open the advanced option to include a monthly gateway, terminal or software fee in your totals.
How payment processing fees are calculated
Most processors charge a percentage of the sale plus a flat amount per transaction. The percentage grows with the sale, but the flat amount does not, so small sales end up with a higher effective rate.
Payment processing fee
Fee per sale = sale amount × percentage fee + fixed fee
You keep = sale amount − fee per sale
Effective rate = fee per sale ÷ sale amount
Price to receive the full amount = (amount + fixed fee) ÷ (1 − percentage fee)
The last formula works because the fee is charged on the whole price the customer pays, including the part that covers the fee.
Payment processing fee examples
Example 1: A $100 sale at 2.9% + $0.30
This is a common card rate. Check your own statement for the rate you actually pay.
- Percentage fee $2.90
- Fixed fee $0.30
- Fee per sale $3.20
- You keep $96.80
- Effective rate 3.2%
At 300 sales a month, that is $960 in fees a month, or $11,520 a year.
Example 2: Passing the fee to the customer
You want to receive exactly $500 on a sale.
- Price to charge $515.24
- Fee added $15.24
- Added fee as a % of the sale 3.0%
If you add only 2.9% and $0.30 to $500 and charge $514.80, you end up about $0.43 short, because the fee is also taken from the added amount.
Example 3: Why small sales cost more
The same 2.9% + $0.30 on a $10 sale gives a fee of $0.59.
- Fee per sale $0.59
- Effective rate 5.9%
- Price to receive $10.00 $10.61
The $0.30 fixed fee is a small part of a large sale but more than half of the fee on a small one.
Effective fee rate by sale size
These figures use 2.9% + $0.30 per sale.
- $10 sale: 5.9% effective rate
- $25 sale: 4.1% effective rate
- $50 sale: 3.5% effective rate
- $100 sale: 3.2% effective rate
- $500 sale: 3.0% effective rate
- $1,000 sale: 2.9% effective rate
Who uses a payment processing fee calculator
Online sellers
Work out the true cost of card payments before you set prices.
Service businesses
See what invoices paid by card cost you each month.
Freelancers
Decide whether to add a card fee to your invoices.
Market and event sellers
Check how small sales and a fixed fee affect your margin.
Surcharging and adding fees to a price are limited or banned in some places and by some card networks, and you may need to show the fee clearly. Check the rules where you sell and your processor terms. For marketplace fees, see the Etsy fee calculator and the eBay fee calculator. To set a price that covers costs, try the markup calculator. For PayPal’s own rates, use the PayPal fee calculator.
Payment processing fee calculator FAQ
How do I calculate payment processing fees?
Multiply the sale amount by the percentage fee and add the fixed fee. On a $100 sale at 2.9% + $0.30, the fee is $2.90 + $0.30 = $3.20.
How do I charge a customer so I receive the full amount?
Use (amount + fixed fee) ÷ (1 − percentage fee). To receive $500 at 2.9% + $0.30, charge $515.24. Simply adding 2.9% and $0.30 to the price leaves you slightly short.
Why is my effective rate higher than the percentage?
The fixed fee is added on top of the percentage. The smaller the sale, the bigger the share that fixed fee takes.
Are processing fees tax deductible?
Business processing fees are often deductible as a business expense, but the rules depend on where you live. Ask a tax professional about your case.
Can I add a surcharge to card payments?
It depends on your location, the card network and your processor. Some places limit or ban it. Check the rules and your processor terms first.
Do refunds return the processing fee?
This depends on the processor. Some keep the fee on a refund. Check your own terms, since it affects your real cost.