PayPal Fee Calculator
Figure out exactly how much PayPal will take from your transaction—or how much to invoice so you get the full amount.
How PayPal fees work (and why they're confusing)
PayPal's fee structure is one of those things that seems simple until you actually try to figure out exactly how much money you'll end up with after a transaction. The standard domestic rate for goods and services is 2.99% of the transaction amount plus a $0.49 fixed fee. International transactions bump the percentage up to 4.99%. Friends and family payments sent from a PayPal balance or bank account are free within the same country, which is why people love using it for splitting dinner tabs and rent.
The tricky part is that PayPal deducts the fee from the recipient, not the sender. So if someone sends you $100 for a freelance job, you don't get $100—you get about $96.52 after PayPal takes its cut. This calculator handles both scenarios: figuring out what the recipient actually gets, and the reverse math of how much to invoice so you end up with the exact amount you need.
When to use "I'm Sending" vs "I Want to Receive"
Use "I'm Sending" when you want to know the impact of fees on a specific payment. If you send $500 to a contractor, this mode tells you they'll receive about $484.56 after PayPal's domestic fee. The other mode—"I Want to Receive"—is what freelancers and sellers should use. Need exactly $500 in your pocket? This mode calculates that you need to invoice $515.87 so that after PayPal takes its 2.99% + $0.49, you're left with your target amount.
Tips for minimizing PayPal fees
If you're just sending money to a friend and neither of you is buying or selling anything, always use the Friends & Family option—it's free when funded from your PayPal balance or bank account. For business transactions, PayPal's fees are pretty much non-negotiable for most users, but high-volume merchants can sometimes qualify for discounted rates. Also, keep in mind that currency conversion adds another 3-4% on top of the transaction fee, so if possible, try to transact in the same currency to avoid that hidden surcharge.
One more thing: the fees shown here are PayPal's standard published rates as of 2024, but PayPal occasionally adjusts them. Always double-check the current rate on PayPal's official fee page for your specific country and account type. Micropayments, charity donations, and PayPal.me links may have slightly different fee structures. This calculator gives you a solid estimate for the most common transaction types, but your exact fee may vary by a few cents depending on rounding and regional rules.