PayPal charges 2.99% to receive a Goods and Services payment in the US, and 3.49% + $0.49 for PayPal Checkout and invoices. International payments add 1.50%. The calculator above shows the fee for each payment type and, in the second mode, how much to ask for so you receive an exact amount.
PayPal fees for receiving money in 2026
PayPal's fee depends on how the buyer paid you, not on what you sold. These are PayPal's US commercial rates from its merchant fee page, last updated October 1, 2026:
| Payment type | Percentage | Fixed fee |
|---|---|---|
| Goods & Services payment (send/receive money) | 2.99% | none |
| PayPal Checkout, Guest Checkout, Pay with Venmo | 3.49% | $0.49 |
| PayPal invoice paid with PayPal or Venmo | 3.49% | $0.49 |
| Standard credit and debit card payments | 2.99% | $0.49 |
| Pay Later options | 4.99% | $0.49 |
| Micropayments (approved accounts) | 4.99% | $0.09 |
| International commercial payment | +1.50% | on top of the above |
Source: PayPal Merchant Fees (US), checked October 4, 2026. The fixed fee for payments received in US dollars is $0.49.
Goods and Services: 2.99% with no fixed fee
The most common way small sellers get paid outside a marketplace is a Goods and Services payment: the buyer uses Send Money and marks it as a purchase. PayPal's current US table lists this as 2.99% and, unlike Checkout and card payments, it shows no fixed fee. Older guides and some calculators still add $0.49 to every Goods and Services payment, which overstates the fee on small payments. On a $20 payment the difference is $0.60 versus $1.09.
Goods and Services payments come with PayPal Seller Protection for eligible sales and Purchase Protection for the buyer. That protection is the reason buyers prefer it, and the reason you should not ask buyers to send money as Friends and Family for a sale.
Worked examples
| Payment | PayPal fee | You receive |
|---|---|---|
| $50 Goods & Services payment | $1.50 | $48.50 |
| $50 paid through PayPal Checkout | $2.24 | $47.76 |
| $200 Checkout payment from another country | $10.47 | $189.53 |
| $500 Goods & Services payment | $14.95 | $485.05 |
The international example shows how fast the extra 1.50% adds up: a $200 Checkout payment from a buyer in another country costs $10.47 instead of $7.47.
How to calculate the amount to request
If you need to end up with an exact amount, divide it plus the fixed fee by one minus the percentage rate. To receive $100 through PayPal Checkout you need to ask for ($100 + $0.49) ÷ (1 − 0.0349) = $104.13. For a Goods and Services payment it is $100 ÷ (1 − 0.0299) = $103.09. The Amount to request mode does this for you and rounds up to the cent so you never come out short.
PayPal fees for artist commissions
Many artists take commission payments through PayPal Goods and Services, and the fee comes out of what you receive. On a $50 headshot, a 2.99% Goods and Services payment costs $1.50, so you receive $48.50. If your price sheet says $50 and you want $50 in your account, ask for $51.55 instead. On a $120 full-body piece you would ask for $123.70.
A few habits keep commission payments clean:
- Always use Goods and Services, not Friends and Family. It gives both you and your client protection for eligible transactions, and it is what PayPal's terms expect for paid work.
- Decide who covers the fee and say it on your commission sheet. Either list prices that already include it, or state that PayPal fees are added at checkout.
- Clients abroad cost more. A payment from another country adds 1.50%, so international commissions are worth pricing separately.
- Use the Amount to request mode above to turn each price on your sheet into the exact amount to invoice.
Other PayPal fees to know
Currency conversion
When a payment involves converting currency, PayPal adds a spread to the exchange rate: 4.00% for paying for goods or services in a currency other than the listing currency, and 3.00% for most other conversions. This is not shown as a separate fee line, so it is easy to miss.
Instant transfers
Standard withdrawals to a linked bank account or debit card are free when no currency conversion is involved. Instant transfers cost 1.50% of the amount, with a $0.50 minimum.
Disputes and chargebacks
PayPal can charge a dispute fee when a buyer opens a claim on a payment made through a PayPal account, and a chargeback fee on card payments. On a standard account, the US dispute fee is $15.
Invoices and Pay by Bank
Sending a PayPal invoice does not change the rate much: an invoice paid through PayPal Checkout, Venmo or Guest Checkout costs 3.49% + $0.49, and one paid by card costs 2.99% + $0.49. The exception is Pay by Bank (ACH), which PayPal lists at 1% of the invoice, capped at $10 per transaction. On a $2,000 invoice that is $10 instead of about $70, so it is worth offering to clients who pay large invoices.
PayPal also offers an optional invoicing subscription at $14.99 a month. It does not lower the per-payment fee, so most small sellers do not need it.
Friends and Family vs. Goods and Services
Sending money to friends and family inside the US is free when it comes from a PayPal balance or a bank account. It looks cheaper, but personal payments are meant for friends and family, are not eligible for PayPal Purchase Protection, and leave both sides with no recourse if something goes wrong. For anything you sell, use Goods and Services and price the 2.99% into your item.
PayPal vs. selling on a marketplace
A direct PayPal payment is far cheaper than a marketplace fee, but you bring your own buyers. On eBay the same $100 sale costs about $14 in fees, and on Etsy about $10. Compare them on the eBay fee calculator, which runs one item through all three, or open the Etsy fee calculator.
Note: rates shown are PayPal's standard US commercial rates. Business accounts on custom pricing, charities and point-of-sale payments use different rates. Check your own fee in your PayPal activity. Method and sources are on How we calculate.
Frequently asked questions
What is the PayPal fee for Goods and Services?
When someone sends you money for goods or services through the Send/Receive Money feature, PayPal's US fee table lists 2.99%. The table updated on October 1, 2026 shows no fixed fee for this payment type, so a $100 payment costs $2.99.
How much does PayPal take from a $100 payment?
It depends on how you were paid: $2.99 for a Goods and Services payment, $3.98 for PayPal Checkout or a PayPal invoice (3.49% + $0.49), and $3.48 for a standard card payment (2.99% + $0.49). Add 1.50% if the buyer is outside the US.
Is Friends and Family free?
Sending to friends and family inside the US is free when it is funded from a PayPal balance or bank account. If the sender pays with a card, the sender pays the fee. Personal payments are meant for friends and family, not for selling, and they do not come with PayPal Purchase Protection.
Do I get PayPal fees back if I refund a payment?
No. PayPal's fee page says there is no fee to make a refund, but the fees you originally paid to receive the payment are not returned to you, for both full and partial refunds.
How much should artists charge to cover PayPal fees on a commission?
Divide your price by 0.9701 for a Goods and Services payment. A $50 commission becomes $51.55 and a $120 commission becomes $123.70, so you still receive the full amount after the 2.99% fee.
How do I make sure I receive an exact amount?
Use the Amount to request mode. Enter what you need to end up with and pick the payment type, and the calculator works out how much to ask for so the fee is covered.