How to use the PayPal fee calculator
- Enter the Transaction amount — the price or payment before the fee.
- Enter the Percentage fee PayPal charges (default 2.9%).
- Enter the Fixed fee per transaction (default $0.30).
- Read the result. The fee, the net you receive and the effective rate update as you type.
Worked example
A $100 payment at 2.9% plus a $0.30 fixed fee costs $3.20 in fees. You receive $96.80, and the $3.20 fee is an effective rate of 3.2% once the fixed fee is included.
The formula
Fee = amount x percentage / 100 + fixed
Net = amount - fee
Effective rate = fee / amount x 100
To charge a target net amount, divide it by (1 minus the percentage as a decimal), then add the fixed fee. To net $100 at 2.9% plus $0.30, charge about $103.31. The fixed fee makes the real percentage a little higher than the headline rate.