Stripe Fee & Payout Calculator

Calculate Stripe merchant processing fees, net bank take-home payout, and the exact invoice amount needed to receive full payment. Compare Stripe, PayPal, Square, Shopify, and Wise.

Transaction Parameters

Transaction Presets
Calculation Mode
Gross Billed Amount$500
$
Net Payout to Bank
$485.20take-home
2.96% effective fee

Stripe Fee

$14.80

Card Tier

2.9% dom

Fixed Fee

$0.30

Gross Charge

$500.00

Processor Comparison ($500)
GatewayFeeNet PayoutInvoice Needed
Stripe Standardactive-$14.80$485.20$515.24
PayPal Commercial-$17.94$482.06$518.59
Square Online-$14.80$485.20$515.24
Shopify Payments (Basic)-$14.80$485.20$515.24
Wise Business (Bank Debit)-$2.25$497.75$502.26

Confidential Merchant Calculations

Your transaction amounts, fees, and invoice calculations are processed 100% locally in your browser.

Stripe Merchant Fee Mathematics & Reverse Invoicing Formulas

Credit card processing equations calculate either net merchant take-home or the gross required billing amount:

1. Forward Processing Fee & Net Payout Formula
Stripe Fee = (Gross Billed × Rate %) + $0.30  |  Net Payout = Gross Billed - Stripe Fee
2. Reverse Required Invoice (To Keep Exact Target)
Required Invoice =
Desired Net Target ($) + $0.30 Fixed Fee1 - Rate %
Step-by-Step Stripe Fee Breakdown
Step 1: Compute Standard Percentage & Fixed Card Fee
$500 transaction @ 2.9% + $0.30 = $14.80 processor fee (2.96% effective rate).
Step 2: Forward Mode — Net Bank Payout
$500 billed - $14.80 fee = $485.20 deposited to bank.
Step 3: Reverse Mode — Required Invoice to Receive Full $500
Required Invoice=$515.24 (+$15.24 fee passed to client)

2026 Payment Processor Fee Benchmarks

Payment GatewayDomestic Card FeeInternational Card FeeACH / Bank Transfer Fee
Stripe2.9% + $0.30+1.5% (+1% if FX conversion)0.8% (capped at $5.00)
PayPal Checkout3.49% + $0.49+1.50%1.99% + $0.49
Square Online2.9% + $0.30+1.00%1.0% ($1 min)
Wise Business~0.45% avgMid-market rate + 0.4%Free / $0.39 flat

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the standard Stripe processing fee in 2026?
For standard US domestic credit and debit cards, Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 per successful transaction. For international cards, Stripe adds an additional 1.5% cross-border fee (plus an optional 1% currency conversion fee if currency exchange occurs).
How do I calculate how much to invoice to receive an exact net amount?
Use the reverse fee formula: Required Invoice = (Desired Net Payout + Fixed Fee) ÷ (1 - Percentage Rate). For example, to receive exactly $1,000.00 net on Stripe (2.9% + $0.30): ($1,000 + $0.30) ÷ (1 - 0.029) = $1,000.30 ÷ 0.971 = $1,030.18. Charging $1,030.18 results in a $30.18 fee, leaving you with exactly $1,000.00.
Is it legal to pass credit card processing fees to clients or customers?
In most US states, credit card surcharging is legal provided you disclose the fee clearly at checkout before payment and do not surcharge more than your actual processing cost (maximum 3%–4% under card brand rules). Note that debit card surcharging is strictly prohibited under federal law.
How does PayPal compare to Stripe for merchant fees?
PayPal standard commercial checkout rates are higher than Stripe: 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction for online PayPal checkout (vs Stripe's 2.9% + $0.30). On a $500 transaction, PayPal charges $17.94 in fees ($482.06 payout), whereas Stripe charges $14.80 in fees ($485.20 payout).
What is the cheapest way to accept large B2B invoice payments?
For invoices over $2,000, credit card fees (2.9%) can cost hundreds of dollars. The most cost-effective alternatives are Stripe ACH Direct Debit (0.8% capped at $5.00 maximum fee) or Wise Business bank transfers (0.45%), saving up to 90% compared to card processing.
Does Stripe refund processing fees when I issue a customer refund?
No. Like most modern payment processors (including PayPal and Square), Stripe does not return the original transaction processing fee when you issue a full or partial refund to a customer.

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