PaidRouter

PayPal fee calculator · fees checked 2026-10-29

PayPal takes $35.39 from a $1,000 invoice.

PayPal Checkout charges 3.49% + 49¢ on a US business payment. Type your amount to see the fee, what you keep, and the routes that cost less.

$

At common amounts

Fee and effective rate.

PaymentPayPal CheckoutPayPal, cardPayPal, Pay by BankPayPal goods & services
$100.00$3.98 (3.98%)$3.48 (3.48%)$1.00 (1%)$2.99 (2.99%)
$500.00$17.94 (3.59%)$15.44 (3.09%)$5.00 (1%)$14.95 (2.99%)
$1,000.00$35.39 (3.54%)$30.39 (3.04%)$10.00 (1%)$29.90 (2.99%)
$5,000.00$174.99 (3.5%)$149.99 (3%)$10.00 (0.2%)$149.50 (2.99%)

What costs less on a $1,000 payment

  1. Melio, bank transfer request: $0.00 instead of $35.39, so you keep $35.39 more per $1,000 payment, $1,698.72 a year at 4 a month.
  2. Zelle for business (through your bank): $0.00 instead of $35.39, so you keep $35.39 more per $1,000 payment, $1,698.72 a year at 4 a month.
  3. Wise Business, USD account ($31 once): $0.00 instead of $35.39, so you keep $35.39 more per $1,000 payment, $1,698.72 a year at 4 a month.
  4. Payoneer receiving account, then withdraw: $1.50 instead of $35.39, so you keep $33.89 more per $1,000 payment, $1,626.72 a year at 4 a month.

Ranked by fee only. Each route is set up in your own account; PaidRouter never holds your money.

Questions

How much does PayPal charge to receive $1,000?

PayPal Checkout charges 3.49% + 49¢ for a US business payment: $35.39 on $1,000, so you keep $964.61. PayPal goods and services (money sent to you by a PayPal user) is the same rate.

Can I avoid PayPal fees on a business payment?

Not on PayPal's side: the receiver pays the fee on any goods-and-services or checkout payment. What you can do is offer a route that costs less. A bank-transfer request through Melio, Zelle for business or Wise costs $0 to receive; Stripe ACH is 0.8% capped at $5.

Is PayPal cheaper than Stripe?

No. On a $1,000 online card payment Stripe charges $29.30 (2.9% + 30¢) and PayPal Checkout $35.39 (3.49% + 49¢). The gap grows with the amount.

Sources

PlatformMethodFeeChecked
paypalpaypal checkout3.49% + $0.49source, 2026-10-29
paypalcard online2.99% + $0.49source, 2026-10-29
paypalgoods and services2.99%source, 2026-10-29
paypalach pay by bank1%, cap $10source, 2026-10-29
Have an AI assistant? Connect PaidRouter and it answers this for any amount: paidrouter.com/mcp. Free key, ranked by fee only.

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