PayPal Fees in 2026: Exactly What You Pay Per Transaction
PayPal charges 3.49% + $0.49 (US goods & services) per payment, more for international and currency conversion. See the real net before you invoice.
Direct answer
PayPal charges 3.49% plus $0.49 per US goods-and-services payment. On a $100 invoice you keep $96.02. International payments and currency conversions cost more. Know the net before you send the invoice.
The problem
Business owners send a PayPal invoice, get paid, and only later notice the fee. Because it's taken automatically, the shortfall shows up at tax time or when cash runs tight. International clients add a second, hidden hit from currency conversion.
Why it happens
PayPal covers card-network costs, fraud screening, and instant transfers, and it charges for that coverage. The flat $0.49 covers the fixed cost of moving money; the 3.49% scales with the amount. Cross-border fees exist because PayPal pays other countries' networks and takes on exchange risk.
The solution
- 1
Memorize the US rate: 3.49% + $0.49
For every goods-and-services payment, expect that cut. On $50 you keep $47.77. On $500 you keep $482.55. Build it into your pricing.
- 2
Add the fee on top when you quote
If you want $100 net, charge about $103.59 (add $0.49, then divide by 0.9651). Most invoicing tools have a 'pass fee to customer' toggle, but check your state's rules on surcharging first.
- 3
Watch international and currency fees
Cross-border payments add roughly 1.5% more, and currency conversion carries about a 3% margin. A $200 payment from a UK client can lose $12 to $15 before you see it.
- 4
Track every fee for taxes
PayPal fees are a deductible business expense. Download your monthly activity statement and drop it into your expense tracker.
Summary
- •US PayPal goods & services: 3.49% + $0.49 per payment.
- •International and currency conversion add notable extra cost.
- •Always calculate your net before you invoice.
- •The fees are deductible — track them all year.