Formula
The fee is the percent of the gross plus a fixed fee, rounded to the cent. To keep a target, the gross is (target + fixed fee) / (1 − rate), then rounded to the cent, and the fee is recomputed on that gross.
fee = round(gross × rate + fixed)
gross-up = round((net + fixed) / (1 − rate))
Goods & Services uses 2.99% and a fixed fee of zero, because the rate cell does not say “+ fixed fee.” Checkout is 3.49% plus $0.49. Standard credit and debit cards are 2.99% plus $0.49. International commercial payments add 1.50%.
Worked examples
$100 Goods & Services, domestic. 2.99% of $100 is $2.99. No fixed fee. You keep $97.01.
$100 PayPal Checkout, domestic. 3.49% + $0.49 = $3.98. You keep $96.02.
A card payment from outside the US on $100. 2.99% + 1.50% = 4.49%, plus $0.49, so the fee is $4.98.
Reference
US commercial rates read from PayPal on 2026-10-17. The page itself says last updated 2026-10-01. Fixed fee is the US dollar row.
| Product | Domestic | International |
|---|---|---|
| PayPal Checkout | 3.49% + $0.49 | 4.99% + $0.49 |
| Goods & Services | 2.99% | 4.49% |
| Standard cards | 2.99% + $0.49 | 4.49% + $0.49 |
Questions
What does PayPal charge on Goods and Services?
On the US commercial fee page, last updated 2026-10-01 and read here on 2026-10-17, Send/Receive Money for Goods and Services is 2.99%. That line does not add a fixed fee. Checkout is 3.49% plus the fixed fee, and standard cards are 2.99% plus the fixed fee. The US dollar fixed fee is $0.49.
How do I charge enough to net a number?
Gross is (the amount you want plus the fixed fee) divided by (1 minus the rate), then rounded to the cent. On Goods and Services the fixed fee is zero, so a $100 net is $100 / 0.9701.
What is the international add-on?
The commercial page adds 1.50% when the other party’s country is not the United States. It is added to Checkout, Goods and Services, and cards. This page does not model micropayments, QR codes, or charity rates.
Sources
- PayPal merchant fees — commercial rate table, “Last Updated: October 1, 2026,” read 2026-10-17. Checkout 3.49% + fixed fee. Goods and Services 2.99% with no fixed fee in that cell. Standard cards 2.99% + fixed fee. International commercial +1.50%. US dollar fixed fee $0.49.