How card processing fees are calculated
Every card sale costs a percentage of the sale plus a fixed fee, and some plans add a monthly fee. Add the three up over a month, divide by your card sales, and you have your effective rate, the only number worth comparing between processors.
The presets use each processor’s published rate:
- Square: 2.6% + 15¢ in person, 3.3% + 30¢ online (Square).
- Stripe: 2.9% + 30¢ online (Stripe).
- PayPal Checkout: 3.49% + 49¢.
- Clover Starter: 2.6% + 10¢ in person (Clover).
- QuickBooks: 2.99% on invoices, 2.5% in person (QuickBooks).
| 300 card sales of $40 a month | Fees | Fee rate | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks · in person | $300.00 | 2.50% | $11,700.00 |
| Clover Starter · in person | $342.00 | 2.85% | $11,658.00 |
| Square · in person | $357.00 | 2.97% | $11,643.00 |
| Stripe · online | $438.00 | 3.65% | $11,562.00 |
| Square · online | $486.00 | 4.05% | $11,514.00 |
| PayPal · checkout | $567.00 | 4.72% | $11,433.00 |
Credit Card Fee Calculator: Price a Sale So Fees Are Covered
If you want card fees to be your customer’s problem, you have two legal routes in most states: build the fee into your prices, or add a surcharge on credit cards (within card-network rules). To build it in, divide your target by (1 − rate) and add the fixed fee divided the same way. Our credit card surcharge calculator does the exact maths and checks Visa’s 3% cap.
What moves your effective rate
- Ticket size. Fixed fees dominate small sales. If your average sale is under $15, compare fixed fees before percentages.
- Card present vs online. In-person rates are lower almost everywhere; typed-in cards cost the most (3.5% at Clover and QuickBooks).
- Monthly software. A plan fee spread over a slow month can add half a point. Enter it under Options to see the true rate.
Credit Card Processing fees
Checked October 24, 2026
| Fee | Amount | Charged on | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square · in person | 2.6% + 15¢ | Each card sale | Square Free plan, tap, dip or swipesource |
| Square · online | 3.3% + 30¢ | Each card sale | Square Free plan, online checkoutsource |
| Stripe · online card | 2.9% + 30¢ | Each card sale | Standard domestic cardsource |
| PayPal · checkout | 3.49% + 49¢ | Each card sale | PayPal Checkoutsource |
| Clover Starter · in person | 2.6% + 10¢ | Each card sale | Card tapped, swiped or insertedsource |
| QuickBooks · invoice by card | 2.99% | Each card sale | Invoices, recurring payments, payment linkssource |
| QuickBooks · in person | 2.5% | Each card sale | Card reader or Tap to Paysource |
Want the full comparison with context? Read credit card processing fees from six processors.