PayPal Business fees 2026: the complete rate table
Last fact-checked: April 18, 2026 by RealFeeCalc Editorial Team. Sources verified against official PayPal, Stripe, Bybit and Wise public fee schedules.
Quick answer: A standard PayPal Business account in the US charges 2.9% + $0.30 for domestic card payments, 4.4% + fixed fee for international, 5% + $0.05 on micropayments (<$12), and hidden 3-4% FX spread. Monthly Business account is free; invoicing is free; PayPal Pro is $30/mo.
The full rate table
| Transaction type | Rate | Fixed fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Card / wallet (domestic, US) | 2.9% | $0.30 | Standard |
| Card (international / cross-border) | 4.4% | $0.30 | +3-4% FX if currency conversion |
| Invoice (same as above) | 2.9% or 4.4% | $0.30 | No invoice fee itself |
| Micropayments (<$12) — opt-in | 5.0% | $0.05 | Cheaper for small tickets |
| PayPal Here (in-person swipe) | 2.7% | $0.00 | US POS |
| QR code in person | 1.9% | $0.10 | Lowest PayPal rate |
| Dispute fee (chargeback) | - | $20 | Per dispute |
| Instant bank transfer (to you) | 1.75% | $0.25 cap $25 | Optional |
| ACH withdrawal to bank | 0% | $0 | 2-3 days |
Real examples: how much PayPal Business takes
- $100 domestic payment: -$3.20 fee → you keep $96.80
- $500 international: -$22.30 fee, -$15 FX → -$37.30 total (7.5%)
- $1,000 international: -$74.30 total (7.4%)
- Monthly $5,000 mixed US + intl (70% intl): -$250-350 (5-7%)
- Yearly on $60K invoice load (intl-heavy): -$3,000-4,400
Calculate your exact case → PayPal fee calculator.
Three ways to cut PayPal Business fees
- Qualify for Merchant Rate Discount. Over $3K/month: apply with PayPal rep → 2.2% + $0.30 domestic. Over $100K/year: negotiate further.
- Switch to Micropayments plan if your average ticket is under $12. 5% + $0.05 beats 2.9% + $0.30 below ~$10.
- Route large/intl invoices off PayPal. Wise (0.5%) or USDT on Bybit (~0.1%) save 5-7% per transaction.
PayPal Business vs Stripe for merchants
Same 2.9% + $0.30 domestic. Stripe has cleaner API, Stripe Billing for subscriptions, and 0.5% cheaper international. See our Stripe vs PayPal comparison for the full breakdown.
FAQ
Is PayPal Business account itself free? Yes. No monthly cost, no setup fee. You pay only per-transaction.
Do I get a lower rate as my volume grows? Not automatically. You have to APPLY for Merchant Rate at ~$3K/mo.
Can I pass PayPal fees to customers? In most US states yes (with disclosure). In some states and via some platforms (eBay) no. Check local law.
Does PayPal Business have chargeback protection? Seller Protection covers some cases (physical goods shipped with tracking, services less so). Review their policy.