Stripe's fee structure and what you pay per transaction

Stripe charges a percentage of each transaction plus a fixed per-transaction fee. For most U.S. businesses accepting credit and debit cards online, that's 2.9% plus 30 cents per successful charge. If a customer pays you $100, Stripe takes $3.20 and you receive $96.80.

The percentage and fixed fee change depending on how you accept payments. In-person card readers cost 2.7% plus 5 cents. ACH bank transfers (when a customer pays directly from their bank account) cost 1% with a $0.80 minimum and $5 maximum per transaction. International cards and some payment methods carry higher rates.

Stripe does not charge monthly subscription fees, setup fees, or fees just for having an account. You only pay when money actually moves through their system and a transaction succeeds. Failed charges and refunds do not trigger fees.

Key Takeaways

  • Online card payments cost 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction; in-person payments cost 2.7% plus 5 cents.
  • ACH bank transfers cost 1% of the transaction amount, with a minimum of 80 cents and maximum of $5 per transfer.
  • You pay fees only on successful transactions, not on failed charges, refunds, or disputes you win.
  • Stripe publishes rates publicly and does not negotiate lower fees based on volume or business type.
  • International cards, digital wallets, and certain payment methods may have different fee rates than standard domestic cards.

How Stripe's fees compare to other payment processors

Stripe's 2.9% plus 30 cents is in the middle of the market for online payments. Square and PayPal both charge 2.9% plus 30 cents for online card transactions. Authorize.net charges 2.9% plus 30 cents as well. The differences show up in what else you pay for: some processors charge monthly gateway fees, PCI compliance fees, or batch fees that Stripe does not.

For in-person payments, Stripe at 2.7% plus 5 cents is slightly lower than Square's standard 2.9% plus 10 cents, though Square offers a 2.6% plus 10 cents rate for certain business types. ACH transfers through Stripe are cheaper than most alternatives — many processors charge a flat $1 to $3 per ACH transaction instead of a percentage.

The real comparison depends on your mix of payment types. A business taking mostly online card payments will see similar costs across Stripe, Square, and PayPal. A business taking many ACH transfers or in-person payments may save money with Stripe.

Fees you might not expect: disputes, chargebacks, and refunds

When a customer disputes a charge with their bank or credit card company, Stripe charges you $15 for the chargeback itself. If you lose the dispute, you also lose the original transaction amount — so a $100 charge that gets reversed costs you $100 plus $15. Winning a dispute does not refund the $15 chargeback fee.

Refunds you issue yourself do not cost extra. If you refund a $100 payment to a customer, Stripe returns the 2.9% plus 30 cents they took, so you get back $96.80. The customer receives $100. Stripe does not charge a separate refund fee.

Failed charges (when a card is declined or a payment cannot go through) do not trigger any Stripe fee. You only pay when the transaction succeeds. This means testing payments or accidental duplicate charges that fail will not cost you money, but they also will not process.

International payments and currency conversion

If a customer in another country pays you with a card issued in that country, Stripe charges an additional 1% on top of the standard 2.9% plus 30 cents. So a €100 payment from Germany costs you 3.9% plus 30 cents (converted to your local currency). Some payment methods like certain digital wallets or local payment schemes in specific countries have their own rates, which Stripe publishes on their pricing page.

When Stripe converts currency, they use their own exchange rate, which includes a small markup. The exact markup varies by currency pair and changes daily. You can see the conversion rate Stripe applied by looking at the transaction details in your Stripe dashboard.

How to see exactly what you paid in fees

Log into your Stripe dashboard and go to the Payments section. Each transaction shows the amount charged, the fee Stripe took, and the net amount you received. You can filter by date range, payment method, or status to see fees for a specific period.

The Reporting section also shows a summary: total volume, total fees, and average fee percentage for any date range you choose. This is useful for understanding your costs over a month or year. You can export this data as a CSV file for your accounting records.

If you use Stripe's API or connect Stripe to accounting software like QuickBooks or Xero, the fees are usually pulled in automatically so you do not have to enter them by hand.

When Stripe fees increase or change

Stripe has not raised their standard rates (2.9% plus 30 cents for online cards) since they launched. However, they do periodically add new payment methods with their own rates, and they have adjusted fees for specific use cases — for example, nonprofit organizations in the U.S. pay 1.2% plus 30 cents instead of the standard rate.

Stripe notifies customers of any fee changes by email and through the dashboard. Changes typically take effect 30 days after notice. You can review Stripe's pricing page anytime to see current rates for all payment methods they support.

Reducing your payment processing costs

Offering ACH bank transfers as a payment option can lower your costs if customers use it. At 1% with a $0.80 to $5 range, ACH is cheaper than card payments for most transaction sizes. Some customers prefer it because it does not require sharing card details.

Encouraging customers to use debit cards instead of credit cards does not change Stripe's fee — both cost 2.9% plus 30 cents. However, some credit cards carry higher interchange rates that the customer's bank charges, which Stripe passes through. You cannot control this, but you can be aware that premium credit cards may result in slightly higher fees on individual transactions.

Minimizing chargebacks also reduces costs. Clear product descriptions, fast shipping, responsive customer service, and easy refund policies reduce the number of disputes customers file. Each chargeback you avoid saves you $15 plus the transaction amount.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Stripe charge a fee if a payment fails?

No. Stripe only charges fees on successful transactions. If a card is declined or a payment cannot process, you pay nothing. This applies to failed ACH transfers and failed in-person card reads as well.

What happens to Stripe fees when I refund a customer?

Stripe refunds the fee they charged on the original transaction. If you refunded a $100 payment that cost you $3.20 in fees, Stripe returns the $3.20. You do not pay an additional refund fee.

Do I pay Stripe fees on tips or gratuity?

Yes. If a customer adds a tip after the initial charge, Stripe charges their standard fee on the tip amount as well. A $5 tip gets charged 2.9% plus 30 cents, just like any other transaction.

Can I negotiate lower Stripe fees?

Stripe publishes the same rates for all businesses in the same category. They do not negotiate rates based on volume or offer custom pricing. Nonprofit organizations and some other specific categories have published lower rates, but standard for-profit businesses pay the published rate.

What is Stripe's fee for accepting PayPal or Apple Pay?

Stripe charges the same 2.9% plus 30 cents whether the customer pays with a card directly, through PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or other digital wallets. The payment method does not change the fee.