What is the Stripe Fee Calculator?
The Stripe Fee Calculator is a financial projection tool for e-commerce stores, freelancers, and SaaS startups. Stripe is one of the world's largest payment gateways, and this tool calculates exactly how much profit you will retain from a customer's credit card payment after all mandatory processing fees are deducted.
How to Calculate Stripe Processing Fees (Formulas)
Stripe's standard pricing model in the United States uses a blended rate that charges both a percentage of the total transaction and a flat gateway fee.
- Standard US Domestic Rate: 2.9% of the transaction total + $0.30 flat fee.
- Fee Formula: (Charge Amount * 0.029) + 0.30.
- Net Payout Formula: Charge Amount - Fee.
- Example: If a customer buys a $100 item, Stripe takes $2.90 + $0.30. The fee is $3.20. You receive a net payout of $96.80 to your bank account.
Formula Sources, Review Notes & Disclaimer
Formula source: Stripe public pricing and the percentage-plus-fixed-fee payment processing model. Source.
Last updated: June 19, 2026. Reviewed: June 19, 2026 for formula accuracy, source alignment, and plain-language limitations.
Disclaimer: Processor fees vary by country, account, card type, payment method, dispute, currency conversion, and plan. Confirm current rates in your Stripe account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Stripe charge extra for international credit cards?
Yes. If your US-based business accepts a payment from a credit card issued in another country (like a customer in the UK or Japan), Stripe adds an additional 1.5% fee to the transaction. If currency conversion is also required, they add another 1% on top of that, severely eating into international profit margins.
Why do small transactions lose so much money?
The $0.30 flat fee is brutal for micro-transactions. If you sell a digital sticker for $1.00, Stripe takes 2.9% ($0.03) plus the $0.30 flat fee. Your total fee is $0.33, meaning you instantly lost 33% of your gross revenue to processing fees. This is why many small businesses have a "$5 minimum for credit cards" rule.
Are Stripe fees refunded if I refund the customer?
No. In the past, payment processors returned the fee, but policy changes across the industry ended this. If a customer buys a $100 item, Stripe keeps their $3.20 fee. If the customer demands a refund the next day, you must return the full $100 to the customer, meaning your business actively lost $3.20 on the canceled transaction.