PayPal Fees Explained (2026): What Sellers Really Pay
By the Profitvana Editorial Team · Updated August 2026
PayPal's fees look small but add up fast, they vary by how the money arrives, and they always come out of the receiver's side. Here is the complete 2026 rate table, worked examples, the reverse math for invoicing, and the traps (friends & family, currency conversion) that cost sellers real money.
The 2026 rate table
PayPal does not have one fee — it has a schedule that depends on how the payment is made. These are the US receiving rates that matter to sellers and freelancers:
| Payment type | Fee (US, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Goods & services — checkout / invoices | 3.49% + $0.49 |
| Goods & services — card payments | 2.99% + $0.49 |
| QR code in person | 2.29% + $0.09 |
| Charity accounts | 1.99% + $0.49 |
| International surcharge | +1.5% |
| Currency conversion | 3–4% above mid-market |
| Friends & family (personal) | Free (bank/balance-funded) |
Worked examples
At the standard 3.49% + $0.49 checkout rate: a $100 payment costs $3.98 (you receive $96.02); a $500 payment costs $17.94 (you receive $482.06); a $1,000 invoice costs $35.39 (you receive $964.61). The flat $0.49 hits small payments hardest — on a $10 payment the effective rate is nearly 8.4%.
Run any amount through the PayPal fee calculator to see your exact net before you accept a payment or set a price.
The receiver always pays
Fees are deducted before the money reaches your balance — the buyer pays the full amount, you get less. Routing commercial payments through 'friends & family' to dodge the fee breaks PayPal's terms, removes all purchase protection for the buyer, and risks your account being limited. Not worth it for a few percent.
Invoicing? Do the reverse math
If you need to receive an exact amount — say $1,000 after fees — you must charge more: charge = (target + $0.49) ÷ (1 − 0.0349). For $1,000, that is $1,036.68. The PayPal fee calculator has a built-in reverse mode that does this for any amount, with a presets table for common invoice sizes.
International clients: the fee behind the fee
Cross-border payments add a 1.5% surcharge — but the bigger cost is usually currency conversion, where PayPal's exchange rate runs 3–4% worse than the mid-market rate you see on Google. On a $1,000 international payment converted to your local currency, the conversion spread alone can exceed every other fee combined.
Benchmark what conversion really costs you against the live mid-market rate in our currency converter, and consider withdrawing in USD where your bank allows it. Comparing processors? See PayPal vs Stripe fees.
Frequently asked questions
How much does PayPal take from $100?
For a standard goods-and-services checkout payment: 3.49% + $0.49 = $3.98, so you receive $96.02. Card-only payments run 2.99% + $0.49 ($3.48).
How much should I invoice to receive $500 after PayPal fees?
About $518.42 at the 3.49% + $0.49 rate — the reverse formula is (500 + 0.49) ÷ (1 − 0.0349). Our calculator's reverse mode computes this for any amount.
Is PayPal friends & family really free?
Yes, when funded by bank or balance — but it is only for personal transfers. Using it for sales violates PayPal's terms, strips buyer protection, and can get accounts limited.
Why did I lose more than 3.49% on an international payment?
Cross-border payments add 1.5%, and if the money was converted to another currency, PayPal's conversion rate sits 3–4% above mid-market — that spread is the hidden cost.
Sources
Related calculators
Written and reviewed by the Profitvana Editorial Team
Last reviewed August 2026
We research marketplace, payment, and finance fees directly against each platform’s official, published rates, re-check every platform monthly, and stamp each calculator with the date it was last verified. We publish exactly how we work — and never let ads change a result.
Published by Valdura LTD, registered in England and Wales — company no. 17217831.