PayPal Fees 2026: What Sellers Pay by Country
PayPal fees for sellers in 2026 by country: the percentage, fixed fee, international surcharge and currency conversion spread, with worked examples.
By Awais, Founder and editor-in-chiefPublished
In the US, PayPal charges sellers 3.49% + $0.49 for a standard PayPal Checkout payment in US dollars, so you receive $96.02 from a $100 sale. If the buyer is outside the US, PayPal adds 1.5%. If the money is converted to another currency, PayPal’s exchange rate includes a spread of about 3% on top.
Fees are different in every country. The tables below are taken from PayPal’s own merchant fee pages, checked on 22 October 2026. The PayPal fee calculator applies them to any amount, works in reverse to show what to charge, and adds conversion if you need it.
How a PayPal fee is built
You receive = amount − fee (then minus any currency conversion spread)
Three parts:
- A percentage, which depends on the payment type (PayPal Checkout, card payments, invoices, Pay Later).
- A fixed fee per payment, which depends on the currency the buyer pays in. For US accounts it’s $0.49 for US dollars, £0.39 for pounds, €0.39 for euros and so on.
- An international surcharge if the buyer is in another country.
Converting the received money to another currency costs extra, through the exchange rate rather than a separate fee line.
United States
| Payment type | Fee |
|---|---|
| PayPal Checkout and other commercial payments | 3.49% + fixed fee |
| Goods and services payment (send/receive money) | 2.99% (PayPal’s page lists no fixed fee for this row) |
| Standard credit and debit card payments | 2.99% + fixed fee |
| Advanced credit and debit card payments | 2.89% + fixed fee |
| Invoice paid with PayPal or Venmo | 3.49% + fixed fee |
| Invoice paid by card | 2.99% + fixed fee |
| Pay Later | 4.99% + fixed fee |
| International buyer | add 1.5% |
The fixed fee is $0.49 for payments in US dollars.
United Kingdom
| Payment type | Fee |
|---|---|
| PayPal Checkout / goods and services | 2.9% + 30p |
| Card payment from a buyer without a PayPal account | 1.2% + 30p |
| Buy Now Pay Later | 3.9% + 30p |
| Buyer in the EEA | add 1.29% |
| Buyer elsewhere | add 1.99% |
UK sellers can apply for lower tiered rates: 2.4% above £4,000 a month in sales and 2.1% above £8,000.
Germany (EU example)
| Payment type | Fee |
|---|---|
| PayPal Checkout / other commercial payments | 2.99% + €0.39 |
| Goods and services payment | 2.49% + €0.39 |
| Buyer in the UK | add 1.29% |
| Buyer in the US or Canada | add 1.99% |
| Buyer elsewhere | add 1.99% (checkout) or 2.99% (goods and services payments) |
Each euro country has its own PayPal page and rates can differ, so check yours.
Canada and Australia
| Canada | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial transactions | 2.9% + C$0.30 | 2.9% + A$0.30 |
| Advanced card payments | 2.7% + fixed fee | 1.5% + fixed fee |
| International surcharge | +0.8% (US buyers), +1% (others) | +1% |
India
PayPal accounts in India can only receive international payments. The fee for an international commercial payment is 4.4% plus a fixed fee ($0.30 for payments in US dollars). The money is converted to rupees and paid to your Indian bank account, so the conversion spread applies to every payment.
Pakistan and other unsupported countries
PayPal is widely reported as unavailable for receiving money in Pakistan; we could not confirm this on PayPal’s own site. Freelancers there usually use Payoneer or direct bank withdrawals. Our guide to freelancer take-home pay in Pakistan compares the routes.
Worked examples
A $100 US sale through PayPal Checkout. 3.49% × 100 = $3.49, plus $0.49 = $3.98 fee. You receive $96.02.
The same sale to a buyer in Canada. (3.49% + 1.5%) × 100 = $4.99, plus $0.49 = $5.48 fee. You receive $94.52.
A £250 UK sale to a buyer in France. (2.9% + 1.29%) × 250 = £10.48, plus £0.30 = £10.78 fee. You receive £239.22.
An Indian freelancer paid $500. 4.4% × 500 = $22.00, plus $0.30 = $22.30 fee, leaving $477.70. Converting to rupees with a spread of about 3% costs roughly another $14.33. All in, about $36.63, or 7.3%, of the payment goes on fees and conversion.
How much to charge to cover PayPal fees
You can’t just add 3.49% to the price, because the fee is charged on the bigger total. Use:
To receive exactly $100 with 3.49% + $0.49: (100 + 0.49) ÷ (1 − 0.0349) = 100.49 ÷ 0.9651 = $104.12.
Check: 3.49% of $104.12 is $3.63, plus $0.49 is $4.12. $104.12 − $4.12 = $100.00.
Before passing fees to customers, check PayPal’s terms and your local law. Some places restrict surcharges, and adjusting your prices is often simpler than adding a separate fee line.
Ways to pay less
- Compare card processors. For card-heavy shops, a card processor may be cheaper. The Stripe fee calculator compares the numbers.
- Avoid conversion where you can. Keep a balance in the currency you were paid in and spend or withdraw it in that currency, if your account allows.
- Ask about volume pricing. In some countries (the UK, for example), PayPal offers lower rates above a monthly sales level.
- Invoice clearly. A PayPal invoice is charged the same as a checkout payment in the US. For bigger clients, a bank transfer can be much cheaper. The invoice generator lets you list bank details and PayPal side by side.
Friends and family payments
Personal payments (“friends and family”) funded from a PayPal balance or bank account are usually free within one country. Card-funded and international personal payments carry fees, normally paid by the sender. Personal payments are not covered by PayPal’s purchase protection, and PayPal’s rules say they must not be used for buying goods or services. Use goods and services payments for anything you sell.
FAQ
How much does PayPal take from $100?
For a US seller paid through PayPal Checkout in US dollars: $3.98, so you receive $96.02. With an international buyer it’s $5.48. Other countries’ fees differ.
Does PayPal charge to receive money?
Sellers pay a fee on commercial payments they receive. Personal payments from a balance or bank within the same country are usually free to receive.
What is PayPal’s currency conversion fee?
When PayPal converts a payment you receive into another currency, its exchange rate includes a spread of about 3% above its base rate, according to its fee pages.
Are PayPal fees refunded if I refund the buyer?
PayPal’s fee pages set out what happens to fees on refunds; in many countries the fixed fee is kept. Check the “refunds” section of your country’s merchant fee page.
Sources
- PayPal US merchant fees
- PayPal UK merchant fees
- PayPal Germany merchant fees
- PayPal Canada merchant fees
- PayPal Australia merchant fees
- PayPal India merchant fees
Figures checked on 22 October 2026. PayPal changes its fees from time to time, so confirm on your country’s page before setting prices.