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Payment Fee Calculator (2026): Stripe, PayPal & Square Fees

Find out how much a payment processor keeps from every invoice, and how much to charge so you receive the full amount. Compare Stripe, PayPal, Square, Gumroad and Lemon Squeezy, including international card and currency conversion fees.

Data as of November 2026

Calculation mode
$
Transaction type

You receive

$970.70

From a $1,000.00 payment via Stripe

Stripe fee

$29.30

2.9% + $0.30

Effective fee rate

2.93%

of the payment amount
Payment breakdown
Net payout to you: $970.70Stripe processing fee: $29.30
  • Net payout to you$970.7097%
  • Stripe processing fee$29.303%

Same payment on every platform

PlatformFeeYou receive
2.9% + $0.30$29.30$970.70
3.3% + $0.30$33.30$966.70
3.49% + $0.49$35.39$964.61
5% + $0.50$50.50$949.50
10% + $0.50$100.50$899.50

Card processing only. Payout, dispute and add-on product fees are separate.

Standard fees vs. reverse invoicing

In standard mode the processor's fee comes out of the payment you receive. In pass fee to client mode the calculator grosses up the invoice so you still receive 100% of your target after the processor takes its cut.

The gross-up formula is charge = (target + fixed fee) ÷ (1 − percentage rate), rounded up to the next cent and checked against the processor's own fee rounding.

2026 payment platform fee comparison

Domestic card payments, standard published pricing. Ranked by what you keep from a $1,000 payment.

PlatformRateFee on $100Fee on $500Fee on $1,000Fee on $5,000You keep of $1,000
Stripe2.9% + $0.30$3.20$14.80$29.30$145.30$970.70
Square3.3% + $0.30$3.60$16.80$33.30$165.30$966.70
PayPal3.49% + $0.49$3.98$17.94$35.39$174.99$964.61
Lemon Squeezy5% + $0.50$5.50$25.50$50.50$250.50$949.50
Gumroad10% + $0.50$10.50$50.50$100.50$500.50$899.50

Processor or merchant of record?

Stripe, PayPal and Square are payment processors: they move the money, but you remain responsible for collecting and remitting sales tax or VAT. Gumroad and Lemon Squeezy are merchants of record: they sell to your customer on your behalf and handle global tax compliance, which is reflected in their higher fees.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate payment processing fees?

Multiply the payment by the percentage rate and add the fixed per-transaction fee. On a $1,000 Stripe payment at 2.9% + $0.30, the fee is $29.30 and you receive $970.70. International cards and currency conversion add extra percentage points.

How do I make a client pay the processing fee?

Use reverse mode. The invoice amount is (your target + fixed fee) ÷ (1 − percentage rate). Adding the percentage on top is not enough, because the processor also charges its percentage on the extra amount you add.

Which payment platform is cheapest for freelancers?

For US domestic card payments, Stripe and Square have the lowest standard rates in our comparison. For international clients, compare the full cost, including cross-border and conversion fees, and consider bank transfers (ACH or wire) for large B2B invoices.

Are payment processing fees tax deductible?

Yes. Merchant and payment processing fees are ordinary business expenses. Report the gross amount your client paid as income and deduct the fees on Schedule C (or your business return), rather than reporting only the net payout.