How Much Is the PayPal Fee for Goods and Services?
For a standard US domestic payment marked "goods and services," PayPal takes 3.49% of the total payment, plus a fixed $0.49. That's it, one rate, one fixed fee, no separate schedule by category the way a marketplace like eBay or Etsy runs.
PayPal goods and services fee by payment amount
| Payment received | PayPal fee | You keep |
|---|---|---|
| $10.00 | $0.84 | $9.16 |
| $25.00 | $1.36 | $23.64 |
| $50.00 | $2.24 | $47.76 |
| $100.00 | $3.98 | $96.02 |
| $250.00 | $9.21 | $240.79 |
| $500.00 | $17.94 | $482.06 |
| $1,000.00 | $35.39 | $964.61 |
Standard US domestic goods and services rate, verified 2026-09-12. For your exact total including shipping, use the PayPal fee calculator.
The fee is on the total payment, not just the item
If you invoice a buyer $100 for an item plus $10 shipping as one $110 payment, PayPal's 3.49% applies to the full $110, not $100 alone. Splitting shipping into a second, separate payment doesn't reduce the total fee, it just adds a second $0.49 fixed fee on top of the first.
Why "goods and services" costs more than sending money
This rate only applies to payments marked "goods and services," the option that gives the buyer PayPal Purchase Protection if the item never arrives or doesn't match the listing. That protection is what the fee is funding. A personal payment to a friend or family member, by contrast, is free when funded by a bank account or PayPal balance, see does PayPal charge a fee to send money for the full breakdown by funding source.
For your own sale's exact numbers, including any shipping you charge, use the PayPal fee calculator. If you're the one receiving a payment and wondering why it came in short, see why does PayPal charge a fee to receive money.