Maximize Your Margins. Know Exactly What Stripe Takes.
Stripe Fee Calculator
You just closed a $1,000 deal. Great! But after the Stripe fee, the international card surcharge, and the currency conversion cost, how much of that $1,000 will actually hit your bank account?
Stripe is the backbone of the internet economy, but its fee structure is dynamic. While the standard “2.9% + 30¢” is famous, the real cost often includes hidden variables that eat into your profit.
Our Stripe Fee Calculator eliminates the guesswork. Whether you are a SaaS founder, an eCommerce merchant, or a freelancer sending invoices, use this tool to calculate your true processing costs and net profit instantly.
Stripe Processing Fees at a Glance
Stripe operates on a “pay-as-you-go” model with no monthly fees for standard accounts. However, the fee per transaction changes significantly based on the payment method and card location.
| Transaction Type | Fee Rate | Best For |
| Standard Card (Online) | 2.9% + $0.30 | Most eCommerce and digital transactions (Visa, Mastercard, Discover). |
| In-Person (Terminal) | 2.7% + $0.05 | Retail stores using a Stripe Terminal card reader. |
| International Cards | + 1.5% | Added to the standard fee if the buyer’s card is from outside your country. |
| Currency Conversion | + 1.0% | Added if the transaction requires converting currency (e.g., USD to EUR). |
| ACH Direct Debit | 0.8% (Cap: $5.00) | Best for B2B. Fees are capped at $5.00, even on $10,000+ transactions. |
| Manual Entry | 3.4% + $0.30 | Typing card details manually into the Stripe Dashboard (higher fraud risk). |
Deep Dive: How to Calculate Your Stripe Costs
Understanding the math helps you price your products to protect your margins. Here is the breakdown for the most common scenarios.
1. The Standard Domestic Transaction
- The Formula:
(Transaction Amount × 2.9%) + $0.30 - The Scenario: You sell a digital product for $100.00 to a customer in the US.
- The Math:
- Percentage: $100 × 0.029 = $2.90
- Fixed Fee: $0.30
- Total Fee: $3.20
- You Keep: $96.80
2. The “International” Double-Whammy
- The Formula:
(Amount × (2.9% + 1.5% + 1%)) + $0.30 - The Scenario: You sell a $100.00 item to a customer in Europe (International card) and need the funds converted to USD (Currency conversion).
- The Math:
- Base Rate (2.9%) + Intl (1.5%) + Conversion (1%) = 5.4% Total Rate
- Percentage: $100 × 0.054 = $5.40
- Fixed Fee: $0.30
- Total Fee: $5.70
- You Keep: $94.30
- Insight: International sales cost nearly double the fees of domestic ones.
3. The B2B Secret Weapon: ACH Direct Debit
- The Formula:
0.8%(Capped at $5.00) - The Scenario: You invoice a client for $5,000.00.
- Card Cost: ($5,000 × 2.9%) + $0.30 = $145.30 fee.
- ACH Cost: ($5,000 × 0.8%) = $40.00 -> Capped at $5.00.
- The Savings: By asking your client to pay via Bank Account (ACH) instead of Credit Card, you save $140.30 on a single transaction.
Hidden Costs & “Gotchas” to Watch Out For
Stripe is transparent, but these additional costs can surprise new merchants.
1. Instant Payout Fees
Standard payouts take roughly 2 business days and are free. If you use Instant Payouts to push funds to your debit card immediately, Stripe charges a fee.
- US Rate: 1.5% of the payout amount (min $0.50).
- Rest of World: Typically 1%.
2. Stripe Billing & Invoicing
If you use Stripe’s Recurring Billing or Invoicing tools (Starter plan):
- Fee: 0.4% per paid invoice.
- This is on top of the payment processing fee.
- Example: A $100 invoice costs $3.20 (processing) + $0.40 (billing fee) = $3.60 total.
3. Refund “Clawbacks”
If you refund a customer, Stripe does not return the processing fee.
- If you charge $100, you pay $3.20 in fees.
- If you refund the customer $100, that $3.20 comes out of your own pocket. This is standard industry practice (PayPal and Square do the same).
4. Dispute & Chargeback Fees
If a customer files a dispute (chargeback):
- Fee: $15.00 (non-refundable).
- Impact: You lose the disputed amount + the $15 fee. If you win the dispute, you get the disputed amount back, but rarely the $15 fee.
Stripe vs. PayPal vs. Square
| Feature | Stripe | PayPal | Square |
| Online Rate | 2.9% + 30¢ | 3.49% + 49¢ | 2.9% + 30¢ |
| In-Person | 2.7% + 5¢ | 2.29% + 9¢ | 2.6% + 10¢ |
| Customizability | Excellent (Developer First) | Moderate | Low (Simple) |
| Best For | SaaS, eCommerce, Custom Apps | Marketplaces, eBay | Retail, Coffee Shops |
Verdict: Stripe matches Square on price but beats PayPal significantly for online transactions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is there a monthly fee for Stripe?
No. Stripe does not charge a monthly subscription fee for its standard “Pay-as-you-go” plan. You only pay when you make a sale. However, premium features like Stripe Radar (Fraud protection) or Stripe Tax may incur small usage fees.
How do I avoid Stripe fees?
You cannot avoid them entirely, but you can minimize them:
- Use ACH: For large B2B payments, use ACH Direct Debit to cap fees at $5.00.
- Avoid Manual Entry: Never type card numbers in manually (3.4% fee) if you can send a payment link instead (2.9% fee).
- Pass on the Fee: In some jurisdictions, you can legally add a “surcharge” to cover credit card fees. Check your local laws carefully.
Does Stripe charge for failed transactions?
Generally, no. You are only charged processing fees for successful charges. However, there are small fees for failed ACH Direct Debit payments (typically $4.00) or failed 3D Secure authentication attempts on custom plans.
Why is my Stripe fee higher than 2.9%?
If your fee looks higher, check two things:
- Was the card International? (+1.5% fee).
- Was currency conversion required? (+1.0% fee).
- Did you force 3D Secure or use Radar for Fraud Teams? These add small per-transaction costs.
Ready to Calculate Your Net Revenue?
Don’t let processing fees eat your profit. Scroll up to the Stripe Fee Calculator to run your numbers and see exactly what lands in your bank account.