Stripe Payment Processing Fee Calculator
Calculate the exact Stripe fee and net amount you receive for any payment, including standard, international, and manual entry transactions.
The Stripe pricing stack (US, 2024)
Stripe’s pricing looks deceptively simple — 2.9% + $0.30 — but it stacks several surcharges that catch new merchants off-guard.
| Charge type | Rate |
|---|---|
| Standard domestic card | 2.9% + $0.30 |
| International card | + 1.5% (total: 4.4% + $0.30) |
| Currency conversion | + 1.0% |
| Manually entered card (no chip / no card-on-file) | + 0.5% |
| Amex card | + 0.5% |
| ACH direct debit (US) | 0.8% capped at $5 per charge |
| Wire / SEPA / wire transfer (per region) | Flat fee structure |
| Disputed charge | $15 per dispute (refunded if you win) |
| Refund | Original processing fee not returned (Stripe keeps it) |
The math
fee = (amount × rate) + $0.30 net = amount − fee
A standard $100 domestic charge: $100 × 0.029 + $0.30 = $3.20 fee, net $96.80. An international Amex with currency conversion on the same $100: rate becomes 4.4% + 0.5% + 1.0% = 5.9% + $0.30 = $6.20 fee, net $93.80.
The $0.30 destroys small transactions
The fixed $0.30 isn’t proportional, so it hits small transactions disproportionately:
| Amount | Standard fee | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|
| $1 | $0.33 | 33% |
| $5 | $0.45 | 9% |
| $10 | $0.59 | 5.9% |
| $25 | $1.03 | 4.1% |
| $50 | $1.75 | 3.5% |
| $100 | $3.20 | 3.2% |
| $1,000 | $29.30 | 2.93% |
| $10,000 | $290.30 | 2.90% |
If your business runs many small transactions (tips, micro-purchases, $5 digital downloads), the fixed component crushes margins. Stripe offers a “micropayment” pricing tier (5% + $0.05) for businesses with average transaction values under $10 — apply for it directly.
Passing the fee to the customer
Many small businesses gross up the charge so they receive the target amount net:
charge = (target amount + $0.30) ÷ (1 − rate)
To receive exactly $100 from a domestic card: charge = ($100 + $0.30) ÷ 0.971 = $103.30 Stripe takes $3.30, you net $100.
Legal note: surcharging is permitted in most US states but prohibited in several (Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine — though some of these are loosening). Even where legal, you must disclose the surcharge upfront. Some Stripe-connected platforms (Shopify, Squarespace) have built-in surcharge support; others require a workaround in the cart.
Stripe vs the alternatives
| Processor | Standard rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stripe | 2.9% + $0.30 | Best developer experience |
| Square | 2.6% + $0.10 (online: 2.9% + $0.30) | Strong for in-person retail |
| PayPal | 2.99% + $0.49 | Higher fee, but buyer trust + dispute coverage |
| Adyen | 0.6 to 3.95% (interchange++) | Cheaper at high volume; minimum $1k+/month |
| Braintree (PayPal) | 2.59% + $0.49 | Owned by PayPal; competitive for $1M+ volume |
| Authorize.net | 2.9% + $0.30 + $25/month | Older processor; cheaper for some merchants |
At low volume (under $50,000/year), Stripe is the simple winner — no monthly fee, great API, good support. At high volume (>$1M/year), interchange-plus pricing (Adyen, Braintree, or a negotiated Stripe deal) typically saves 0.3 to 0.8% — meaningful at scale.
Disputes and chargebacks
A disputed charge costs $15. Win the dispute and Stripe refunds the $15. Lose it and you also forfeit the original transaction amount. Stripe’s chargeback rate threshold is roughly 0.75%; above that, you risk account freezes or termination. High-risk industries (adult content, supplements, regulated services) are often refused outright by Stripe’s automated underwriting.
Refunds — the asymmetry that surprises
Refunds are free at face value, but Stripe does not return the original processing fee. Refund a $100 charge and the customer gets $100 back — you eat the $3.20 fee. Builds up across many refunds in industries with high return rates (clothing). Factor 1 to 3% of revenue as a “fee leakage” budget.
Payout timing
Default: 2-day rolling payout (US bank account). Faster options: same-day or instant payouts via Stripe Instant Payouts (1% fee, minimum $0.50). New accounts often start at 7-day rolling until trust is established. Build cash flow forecasts around 2-day payouts unless paying for instant.