How much does Stripe charge per transaction?

Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 per successful domestic card payment in the US. International cards add 1.5% (total 4.4% + $0.30). If a currency conversion is needed, add another 1% (total 5.4% + $0.30). ACH Direct Debit costs 0.8% capped at $5 with no fixed fee.

What is the Stripe fee formula?

The forward formula is Fee = Amount x 0.029 + $0.30 for domestic cards. The reverse (gross-up) formula is Gross = (Target Net + $0.30) / (1 - 0.029). To net $100, charge $103.30 — Stripe takes $3.30 and you receive $100.

How does Stripe compare to PayPal?

Stripe domestic (2.9% + $0.30) is cheaper than PayPal Goods and Services (2.99% + $0.49) for most transactions. On a $100 payment, Stripe charges $3.20 vs PayPal's $3.48. However, PayPal may have higher conversion rates for consumer checkout since buyers trust the PayPal brand.

What is the Stripe ACH fee?

Stripe charges 0.8% for ACH Direct Debit payments, capped at $5.00 per transaction with no fixed fee. This makes ACH dramatically cheaper than cards for large payments — a $1,000 ACH transfer costs $5.00 vs $29.30 for a card payment.

What are Stripe Connect fees?

Stripe Connect adds a 0.5% platform fee on top of the standard card processing rate, bringing the total to 3.4% + $0.30 for domestic cards. This fee covers the platform's ability to route payments to connected accounts, handle onboarding, and manage payouts.

Can I pass Stripe fees on to my customers?

Yes, you can pass Stripe fees to customers by grossing up your prices. Use the formula: Charge = (Desired Net + $0.30) / (1 - 0.029). To receive exactly $500, charge $515.46. Note that adding explicit surcharges may be restricted in some jurisdictions and card network rules.

Stripe Fee Calculator

Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 per successful domestic card charge, with additional surcharges for international cards (+1.5%), currency conversion (+1%), and Connect platform fees (+0.5%). ACH Direct Debit is significantly cheaper at 0.8% capped at $5. Our Stripe fee calculator handles all of these in one place. Enter the transaction amount and pick the payment type — we compute the fee, the net amount you receive, the effective fee percentage, and the gross-up amount (the total you must charge so that after Stripe's cut you receive exactly the target net). This is essential for SaaS businesses, marketplaces, and freelancers who want to pass processing fees through to clients without absorbing them.

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calendar_today Updated: April 2026

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credit_card Transaction Details

Transaction Amount

Payment Type

Target Net (optional, for gross-up)

Leave 0 to use the amount above as the target

Custom rate override

Custom Rate Override

Override the percentage fee (e.g., negotiated rate)

analytics Fee Breakdown

Stripe Fee

$3.20

Effective: 3.20%

You Receive (Net) $96.80

Applied %

2.90%

Fixed Fee

$0.30

Gross-Up (Reverse)

Charge this to net target $103.30

Fee Stripe takes $3.30

Rate Applied

Domestic card — 2.9% + $0.30

Input Values

Transaction Amount

Payment Type

Domestic Card (2.9% + $0.30)

International Card (4.4% + $0.30)

International + Currency (5.4% + $0.30)

Stripe Connect (3.4% + $0.30)

ACH Direct Debit (0.8%, max $5)

Target Net (for gross-up)

How to Use This Calculator

Enter the transaction amount

Input the gross amount of the Stripe payment you expect to process.

Pick the payment type

Choose Domestic Card, International Card, International + Currency, Stripe Connect, or ACH Direct Debit.

Review fee and net

See the Stripe fee, net amount received, and effective fee percentage instantly.

Use gross-up for invoicing

Enter a target net amount to compute the gross you should charge so you receive exactly that net after Stripe fees.

Optional rate override

Use the custom rate override for negotiated volume pricing or future rate changes.

The Formula

Forward: multiply the amount by the percentage rate and add the fixed fee. For ACH, the fee is 0.8% of the amount capped at $5 with no fixed fee. Reverse (gross-up): to net a target amount after Stripe fees, divide (target + fixed fee) by (1 - rate). Example: to net exactly $100 on a domestic card charge, charge $103.30 — Stripe takes 2.9% + $0.30 = $3.30 and you receive $100.00.

Fee = Amount x Rate + Fixed Fee | Net = Amount - Fee | Gross-up = (Target Net + Fixed Fee) / (1 - Rate)

lightbulb Variables Explained

Amount Gross transaction amount (what the payer is charged)
Rate Stripe's percentage fee (0.8% - 5.4% depending on type)
Fixed Fee Flat per-transaction fee ($0.30 for cards, $0 for ACH)
Fee Total Stripe fee deducted from the payment
Net Amount you actually receive after fees
Effective % Fee / Amount x 100 — true all-in rate including the fixed fee
Gross-up Amount to charge so net equals your target (reverse calculation)

tips_and_updates Pro Tips

Always gross-up your invoices using (net + $0.30) / (1 - 0.029) to avoid absorbing the 2.9% + $0.30 fee on every transaction

For high-value ACH payments, the 0.8% fee caps at $5 — making ACH dramatically cheaper than cards for transactions above $625

International cards add 1.5% on top of the 2.9% base — if a currency conversion also occurs, add another 1%, bringing the total to 5.4% + $0.30

Stripe Connect adds a 0.5% platform fee — factor this into your marketplace take rate calculations

Compare Stripe vs PayPal: Stripe domestic (2.9% + $0.30) is slightly cheaper than PayPal Goods and Services (2.99% + $0.49) for most transaction sizes

Negotiate volume discounts with Stripe if you process over $80,000/month — custom rates can drop below 2.5% + $0.25

Stripe Radar (fraud protection) is included free; additional Radar for Fraud Teams costs $0.02 per screened transaction

Use Stripe Billing for recurring subscriptions — the 0.5% Billing fee is in addition to the card processing fee

Understanding Stripe Payment Processing Fees

Stripe, one of the world's largest payment processors handling over $1 trillion in annual transaction volume, charges a standard rate of 2.9% plus $0.30 per successful card transaction for US-based businesses. This per-transaction structure means fees disproportionately affect small transactions — on a $5 sale, fees consume 8.9% ($0.445), while on a $100 sale, they take only 3.2% ($3.20). For international cards, Stripe adds an additional 1.5%, and for currency conversion, another 1%. Businesses processing over $1 million annually can negotiate custom rates through Stripe's enterprise plan. Beyond standard card processing, Stripe charges different rates for ACH direct debit (0.8%, capped at $5), Stripe Invoicing (0.4-0.5% on top of card fees), and subscription billing through Stripe Billing (0.5-0.8% per invoice). Understanding the true cost structure is essential for pricing strategy — many businesses build processing fees into their prices or set minimum transaction amounts to maintain margins. For subscription businesses, even a 0.5% fee difference compounds significantly over thousands of monthly recurring charges.

Understanding Stripe's 2026 fee structure

Stripe's standard US domestic card rate is 2.9% + $0.30 per successful charge. International cards — where the card was issued outside the US — add a 1.5% surcharge (total 4.4% + $0.30). If the charge also requires a currency conversion, Stripe adds another 1% (total 5.4% + $0.30). ACH Direct Debit is priced at 0.8% with a $5 cap and no fixed fee, making it the cheapest option for large payments. Stripe Connect, used by marketplaces and platforms, adds a 0.5% platform fee on top of the base card rate. Our Stripe fee calculator handles all five tiers instantly.

Stripe vs PayPal: which is cheaper?

For a $100 domestic transaction, Stripe charges $3.20 (2.9% + $0.30) while PayPal charges $3.48 (2.99% + $0.49). Stripe wins on both the percentage and fixed fee. The gap widens on larger transactions: on $1,000, Stripe costs $29.30 vs PayPal's $30.39. However, PayPal may convert better for consumer-facing checkout due to brand trust and the ability to pay without entering card details. For B2B invoicing and SaaS subscriptions, Stripe is almost always the better value.

Frequently Asked Questions

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