CalculatorFree · runs in your browser

Card processing fee calculator

Type in your provider's percentage and fixed fee to see what one card sale really costs, and what that adds up to in a month.

2 sources ↓
$
%
$

Result (example values pre-filled — change any field)

Fee on this payment
$1.75
You receive
$48.25
Effective fee rate
3.50%
Fees per month
$700.00

Quick answer

A card processing fee is usually a percentage of the sale plus a fixed amount per payment. Fee = sale × percentage + fixed fee. Divide the fee by the sale to get the effective rate, which is always higher than the headline percentage when there is a fixed fee.

A card reader built into a supermarket checkout
Photo: “LaCuCa card reader - payment terminal at supermarket register” by Syced, CC0 1.0 (edited: cropped, colour-graded)

#How is the fee calculated?

Most card acceptance prices quoted to small merchants have two parts: a percentage of the sale and a fixed fee per payment. The calculator adds them: fee = sale amount × percentage ÷ 100 + fixed fee. It then shows what you keep (sale minus fee), the effective rate (fee ÷ sale × 100) and the monthly total (fee × number of payments). The pre-filled numbers are example values only, not any provider's real price list.

Behind that single price sit several costs you do not see separately: the interchange fee paid to the cardholder's bank, card network fees and the provider's own margin. Interchange is capped in some places. In the EU, consumer debit card interchange is capped at 0.2% and consumer credit card interchange at 0.3% of the transaction value⁠[1]. In the US, large issuers' debit interchange is limited to 21 cents plus 0.05% of the transaction⁠[2]. Read how card payments work and interchange fees explained for the full picture.

How to use the calculator

  1. Enter the sale amount

    Use a typical ticket size for your business, for example your average order value.

  2. Enter your provider's fees

    Copy the percentage and the fixed fee from your contract or price page.

  3. Enter monthly volume

    The number of card payments in a normal month gives you the monthly cost.

  4. Compare effective rates

    Small sales with a fixed fee have a much higher effective rate than big sales.

#Why is the effective rate higher than the percentage?

Because the fixed fee does not shrink with the sale. With the example values (2.9% plus 0.30 on a 50 sale), the fee is 1.75 and the effective rate is 3.50%. On a 5 sale the same price gives a fee of 0.445, an effective rate of 8.9%. That is why many small shops set a minimum card spend where the law allows it, or choose a pricing plan with no fixed fee. Our glossary entries on acquirers and interchange explain who receives each part.

The bottom line

Card fees are simple arithmetic once you split them into a percentage and a fixed part. The effective rate is the number to compare between providers, especially if your sales are small.

Frequently asked questions

Is the fixed fee charged on refunds?

It depends on your provider's terms; many do not return the original fee when you refund. Check the contract.

Why do some cards cost more to accept?

Interchange differs by card type and region; for example, EU caps apply only to consumer cards, not to commercial cards⁠[1].

Does my data leave the page?

No. The calculation runs in your browser and nothing you type is sent anywhere.

Sources

  1. Antitrust: Regulation on Interchange Fees (fact sheet MEMO/16/2162) — European Commission, 2016 Primary
  2. 12 CFR 235.3 — Reasonable and proportional interchange transaction fees — eCFR (US Code of Federal Regulations), 2025 Primary

Read next