PayPal fees in the US for 2026
PayPal charges the person receiving a commercial payment. The rate depends on how the buyer pays you. These are PayPal's standard US rates for receiving US dollars from a US buyer.
| How you get paid | Fee |
|---|---|
| Goods and services (someone sends you money for an item) | 2.99%, no fixed fee |
| PayPal Checkout on your website, including Pay with Venmo | 3.49% + $0.49 |
| Invoice paid with PayPal or Venmo | 3.49% + $0.49 |
| Invoice or standard checkout paid by credit or debit card | 2.99% + $0.49 |
| Pay Later (Pay in 4 and similar) | 4.99% + $0.49 |
| QR code payment in person | 2.29% + $0.09 |
| Buyer is outside the US | add 1.50% |
Many calculators still apply 3.49% + $0.49 to goods and services payments. That is the Checkout rate. A plain goods and services payment between two PayPal accounts costs 2.99% with no fixed fee.
How the PayPal fee is worked out
The fee is a percentage of the payment, plus a fixed fee for most payment types. On a $100.00 goods and services payment the fee is $2.99, so you receive $97.01. The same $100.00 through PayPal Checkout costs $3.98, leaving $96.02.
If the buyer is in another country, PayPal adds 1.50% on top. A $100.00 goods and services payment from abroad costs $4.49 in total.
How much to ask for so the fee is covered
You cannot just add 2.99% to the price, because the fee is also charged on the extra you add. Divide instead: the amount to ask for is the amount you want, plus any fixed fee, divided by one minus the rate.
To receive $100.00 by goods and services, ask for $103.08. Through Checkout, ask for $104.12. The box under the result does this for any amount. Check that adding a surcharge is allowed where you sell before you pass the fee on.
Other PayPal fees to know
- Friends and family: free in the US when paid from a PayPal balance or bank. The sender pays 2.90% + $0.30 when it is paid by card. Do not use it for sales: there is no purchase protection for either side.
- Instant transfer to your bank: 1.75% for personal accounts (minimum $0.25, maximum $25). Business accounts pay 1.50% with a $0.50 minimum. The standard transfer is free.
- Currency conversion: PayPal adds a 3% to 4% margin to the exchange rate when it converts money for you.
- Disputes and refunds: a dispute costs $15 ($30 for high volume accounts), a chargeback on a card payment made outside a PayPal account costs $20, and refunding a buyer does not get the original fee back.
Have a UK PayPal account? Use the PayPal UK fee calculator.
PayPal fee questions
How much does PayPal charge for goods and services?
In the US it is 2.99% of the payment with no fixed fee, paid by the person receiving the money. On $100.00 that is $2.99.
What is the PayPal fee on $50?
$1.50 for a goods and services payment, or $2.24 if the buyer pays through PayPal Checkout on a website.
Does PayPal charge for friends and family payments?
Not in the US when the sender pays from a PayPal balance or linked bank. If the sender uses a card, they pay 2.90% + $0.30. Sending to another country adds 5%, with a $0.99 minimum and $4.99 maximum.
Who pays the PayPal fee, the buyer or the seller?
The person receiving a goods and services or commercial payment pays it. It is taken out before the money lands in your balance.
How much is the PayPal instant transfer fee?
Personal accounts pay 1.75% of the amount, at least $0.25 and at most $25. Business accounts pay 1.50% with a $0.50 minimum. A standard bank transfer is free and usually takes one to three business days.
Does PayPal charge more for international payments?
Yes. On top of the normal rate, a commercial payment from a buyer outside the US costs another 1.50%. If PayPal also converts the currency, it adds a 3% to 4% margin to the exchange rate.
Sources: PayPal US merchant fees · PayPal consumer fees