PayPal international fees 2026: rates and worked examples
The layers of PayPal international fees
- Commercial transaction fee (US, USD): PayPal Checkout, Venmo and guest checkout 3.49% + a fixed fee; standard cards 2.99% + a fixed fee. The fixed fee is $0.49 for USD and depends on the currency.
- Cross-border surcharge: +1.50% for international commercial payments. Checkout becomes 4.99% and standard cards 4.49%, each plus the fixed fee.
- Currency conversion fee: 3.00% or 4.00%, depending on the transaction (PayPal's page lists which one applies). It is added only when PayPal converts the payment. It is published on the fee page, so you can include it in your quote before you invoice.
- Withdrawals: not covered on this page. See PayPal's fee page for current withdrawal terms.
Worked examples: $100 to $10,000
| Invoice | Checkout fee (4.99% + $0.49) | Card fee (4.49% + $0.49) | Conversion at 3.00% | Checkout + conversion | You keep (Checkout + conversion) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | $5.48 | $4.98 | $3.00 | $8.48 (8.5%) | $91.52 |
| $500 | $25.44 | $22.94 | $15.00 | $40.44 (8.1%) | $459.56 |
| $1,000 | $50.39 | $45.39 | $30.00 | $80.39 (8.0%) | $919.61 |
| $5,000 | $249.99 | $224.99 | $150.00 | $399.99 (8.0%) | $4,600.01 |
| $10,000 | $499.49 | $449.49 | $300.00 | $799.49 (8.0%) | $9,200.51 |
How the numbers are built: fee = amount × rate + $0.49, for example $1,000 × 4.99% = $49.90, plus $0.49 = $50.39. The conversion column applies only if PayPal converts the payment; for simplicity we apply the percentage to the full invoice amount. At a 4.00% conversion fee add $1 per $100, so $1,000 costs $90.39 with Checkout. Assumptions: US business account, USD fixed fee, buyer abroad.
Run your own case in the PayPal fee calculator.
How to lower the bill
- Avoid the conversion line. If you invoice in a currency you already hold, PayPal has nothing to convert on your side. That removes the 3.00% or 4.00% line ($30 to $40 per $1,000). Your buyer may still face their own conversion, so agree on the invoice currency first.
- Compare card processors. Stripe's US page lists 2.9% + 30¢ for domestic cards, +1.5% for international cards (2.9% + 1.5% = 4.4%, plus 30¢) and +1% if currency conversion is required.
- Compare bank-style routes. Wise, Payoneer and bank transfers depend on the currency pair, country and funding method. Use each provider's own calculator (Wise pricing, Payoneer pricing); we have not verified their numbers.
- USDT is a separate route, not a single percentage. Network fees, exchange fees, the P2P spread and the cash-out path all differ by country. See PayPal vs USDT fees and how to cash out USDT, and check legality and tax rules where you live.
The same $5,000 payment from abroad (US account, USD)
| Route | Fee before conversion | If the payment is also converted |
|---|---|---|
| PayPal Checkout (4.99% + $0.49) | $249.99 | $399.99 at 3.00%, $449.99 at 4.00% |
| PayPal standard card (4.49% + $0.49) | $224.99 | $374.99 at 3.00%, $424.99 at 4.00% |
| Stripe international card (4.4% + $0.30) | $220.30 | $270.30 (+1%) |
| Wise, bank transfer, Payoneer, USDT | Depends on the currency pair, country and method: use the provider's own calculator | |
Check that Stripe supports sellers in your country before you plan around it. Card routes and bank routes also differ in speed and in who starts the payment, so compare the whole flow, not only the percentage.
FAQ
Is the conversion fee published? Yes. PayPal's US fee page lists it (3.00% or 4.00%). It applies when PayPal converts the payment, so add it to your quote when currencies differ.
Can I get a lower rate? We could not confirm volume-based or negotiated rates on PayPal's US fee page on 2026-10-19, so we quote none. Ask PayPal about your account.
What if my client insists on PayPal? Price the invoice so that you net your target: see how much to charge to cover PayPal fees or use the reverse fee calculator.
Is Wise cheaper than PayPal? It depends on the currency, the amount and how the client pays, and the client must be willing to send a bank-style transfer. Wise's pricing page says its fee varies by currency, so look up yours and compare it with the PayPal numbers above. See Wise vs PayPal.
PayPal, US business fees (the page shows "Last Updated: October 1, 2026"): paypal.com/us/business/paypal-business-fees
Stripe, pricing for the United States: stripe.com/pricing
Checked on 2026-10-19: PayPal Checkout 3.49% + $0.49, standard cards 2.99% + $0.49, +1.50% for international commercial payments, conversion 4.00% or 3.00%; Stripe 2.9% + 30¢ for domestic cards, +1.5% for international cards, +1% for currency conversion. The examples are our arithmetic from these rates. Wise, Payoneer and USDT figures were not checked.