💳 Stripe Fee Calculator
Stripe takes its cut before you see a dime. Enter any transaction amount to see the fee, your net, and the effective rate.
How Stripe Fees Work
Stripe's standard US pricing is 2.9% + 30¢ per successful card charge — no monthly fees, no setup. The percentage scales with amount; the fixed 30¢ hits small transactions hardest.
The Formulas
Net = Amount − Fee
Gross-up: Charge = (Target + Fixed) ÷ (1 − Rate)
Watch the add-ons: international cards +1.5%, currency conversion +1%, dispute fee $15. The effective rate (fee ÷ amount) is what matters — on a $5 sale at 2.9% + 30¢ it is 8.9%, but on $500 it is 2.96%. High-volume businesses ($80k+/mo) can negotiate custom rates.
Worked Example
On a $100 domestic charge: fee = $100 × 2.9% + $0.30 = $3.20; you receive $96.80 (3.20% effective). On $2,500: fee = $72.80, net $2,427.20. To net exactly $100, charge ($100 + $0.30) ÷ 0.971 = $103.30.
When the Fixed Fee Dominates
The 30¢ fixed fee is regressive: on a $5 transaction the effective rate is 8.9%, on $500 it's 2.96%. If your average ticket is under ~$10, Stripe's micropayment pricing (5% + 5¢) wins — the breakeven is around $7–$8 per transaction; above that, standard pricing is cheaper. International businesses: the +1.5% cross-border fee plus 1% currency conversion compounds fast — local acquiring (settling in the customer's currency/region) can cut it substantially at scale. Fight disputes preventively: clear descriptors, delivery confirmation, and responsive support beat representment (win rates are low and each dispute costs $15 regardless). Above ~$80,000/month in volume, negotiate — Stripe offers custom rates, and competing quotes from Adyen or Chase give leverage. Always bake fees into pricing: divide target net by (1 − rate) rather than absorbing the cut.
Fee-aware pricing pages: when you raise prices, remember fees scale with the increase — a $10 price hike at 2.9% + 30¢ nets only $9.41. For SaaS, annual plans are fee-efficient: one $1,188 charge costs ~$34.75 in fees versus ~$4.16 × 12 = $49.92 monthly — you save ~$15 per customer per year just on processing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much does Stripe charge per transaction?
2.9% + 30¢ for US domestic cards. International cards add 1.5%; ACH bank debits are 0.8% (capped at $5).
What is Stripe's fee for international payments?
An extra 1.5% on top of the domestic rate (so 4.4% + 30¢ for US businesses), plus 1% if currency conversion is needed.
Does Stripe charge on refunds?
The original processing fee is not returned on refunds (since 2020) — you eat the fee. Disputed payments add a $15 dispute fee.
How can I reduce Stripe fees?
Negotiate volume pricing above ~$80k/month, route small transactions to micropayment pricing or ACH, and use local payment methods where cheaper.
Stripe vs PayPal fees?
Nearly identical headline rates (2.9% + 30¢). Differences show up in international fees, dispute handling, and payout speed — compare on your actual transaction mix.
Last updated: September 2026