Getting-paid tools

PayPal receiving fee calculatorEnter the amount and the fees to see exactly what PayPal takes and what actually lands with you.

Most people remember PayPal's percentage fee but forget the fixed fee, and cross-border payments usually stack a currency-conversion markup on top. Together, a $1,000 invoice can arrive $60–70 lighter. Every fee field below is editable, so put in the numbers your own account shows; the tool just does the arithmetic right.

US$

The boxes start with typical rates, just as a starting point. Swap in the rates your account and region actually charge, then read the result.

Estimated take-home US$0.00

Total taken US$0.00 · 0.0% of the amount

Where the three deductions come from

PayPal business payments usually settle as a "percentage fee + fixed fee": the percentage scales with the amount, while the fixed fee is charged no matter the size, so the smaller the payment, the heavier the fixed fee weighs. If your client pays in a different currency from the one you receive, PayPal adds a conversion markup on top of the market rate when it converts, and this one is the easiest to overlook, especially cross-border. Count all three and you get your real take-home.

To pay less, two directions: agree on the same currency with your client to avoid repeated conversions, or build the cost into your quote, using the quote gross-up calculator to back out what to charge. Still deciding on a channel? See Wise vs Payoneer and the four channels compared.

FAQ

Why do small payments feel hit so hard?

Because the fixed fee doesn't shrink with the amount. You pay the same fixed fee on $20 as on $2,000, so on small amounts its share is high. Keep the fixed-fee field in to see the real percentage.

Is the number here accurate?

It works from the numbers you enter, so it's as accurate as they are. PayPal's fees and conversion markup vary by country and change over time; find the rate actually taken on PayPal's merchant fees page or in a transaction's details in your account, and enter that.

How do I pay less of that conversion fee?

Receive and get paid in the same currency where you can, to cut conversions; or compare channels with more transparent rates. Before switching, look up both platforms' rates on their fee pages and compare.

Updated 2026-06-19. PayPal's receiving fees and conversion markup are listed on its merchant fees page and differ by country; enter the figures from your country's page to get close to what you'll actually keep. Not investment, tax or legal advice.