PayPal
Fee Calculator
PayPal is one of the most widely used online payment platforms. Use this easy calculator to see exactly what PayPal’s processing fees will be, and then create your invoice quickly and effortlessly with Baseqore to send your invoice, hassle-free.
Questions
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PayPal Fee Calculator FAQs.
What is a PayPal fee calculator?
When you receive money through PayPal, the platform deducts a processing fee before the funds hit your account. Those fees can add up quickly, especially if you’re sending multiple invoices each month. The Baseqore PayPal Fee Calculator helps you understand exactly how much PayPal will take from each transaction, so you can set your invoice total to ensure you still walk away with the full amount you intended. It’s a simple way to protect your earnings and plan your pricing with confidence.
Why should I use a PayPal calculator?
Working out PayPal’s fees manually isn’t as straightforward as it seems. You’re not just adding 3.49% plus $0.49 — you also need to calculate the correct invoice total so that once the fee is deducted, you still receive your desired amount.
With Baseqore’s calculator, you can:
With Baseqore’s calculator, you can:
- Save time: instantly calculate fees without the guesswork.
- Avoid errors: prevent undercharging clients because of overlooked percentages.
- Price smarter: know exactly what to bill so you don’t shortchange yourself.
- Instead of pulling out a spreadsheet, just enter the amount you want to receive and let the calculator show you what to charge.
How much does PayPal charge for receiving payments?
For most U.S. transactions, PayPal charges 3.49% of the payment amount plus a fixed $0.49 fee when you’re using checkout or invoicing. International transactions usually come with higher fees (often around 4.49% + a fixed currency charge).
That means:
That means:
- Small payments are impacted more heavily by the fixed $0.49.
- Larger payments scale mostly with the percentage.
For example, a $20 payment will lose a much bigger percentage to the fixed fee than a $500 payment. Understanding this helps you decide whether PayPal is the right choice for certain transactions.
How do I use Baseqore’s PayPal Fee Calculator?
Using the calculator is straightforward:
- Enter the amount you want to net after fees.
- The calculator instantly works out the PayPal processing fee.
- It then tells you the total amount you should invoice, ensuring that when PayPal takes its cut, you still receive your intended payment.
You don’t have to do any manual reverse calculations. Just type in your number and get the invoice-ready total instantly.
How do you calculate the “You should invoice” number?
This is where most people make mistakes trying to calculate fees on their own. If you simply add 3.49% + $0.49 to your invoice, you’ll still come up short because PayPal also takes a percentage of the fee you added.
Baseqore’s calculator handles this for you automatically:
Baseqore’s calculator handles this for you automatically:
- It reverse-engineers the math using PayPal’s exact fee structure.
- It ensures your final invoice amount is correct, so that after deductions, you get exactly what you wanted.
Think of it as building the buffer into your invoice — so you’re never surprised by what arrives in your account.
Are there other types of PayPal fees I should know about?
Yes, depending on the nature of your transactions, PayPal may apply additional charges, such as:
- International payment fees — usually higher than domestic, around 4.49% plus a fixed amount depending on currency.
- Currency conversion fees — applied if the client pays in a different currency than your account’s base currency.
- Micropayment fees — special rates sometimes available if your business frequently processes very small transactions.
While the Baseqore calculator covers the standard fee setup, being aware of these extras helps you avoid surprises when billing global clients.
Can you show me an example calculation?
Let’s say you want to receive $100 from a client:
- PayPal will charge 3.49% ($3.49) plus $0.49, for a total fee of $3.98.
- If you invoice exactly $100, you’ll actually end up with only $96.02 after fees.
- Baseqore’s calculator shows you need to invoice about $103.98 — so after the fee, you’ll still net your $100.
This ensures you never unintentionally undercharge clients and keeps your income predictable.