Stripe is the payment processor of choice for over a million businesses — from solo freelancers to Fortune 500 companies. But understanding Stripe's fee structure is crucial before you build it into your pricing. At face value, 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction sounds simple, but international fees, currency conversion, instant payouts, and Radar fraud protection can add layers of complexity that eat into your margins.
What Are Stripe's Standard Fees in 2026?
| Transaction Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Domestic Cards (Credit/Debit) | 2.9% + $0.30 |
| American Express Cards | 3.5% + $0.30 |
| International Cards | + 1.5% additional |
| Currency Conversion | + 1.0% additional |
| ACH Credit Transfer | Free |
| ACH Debit | 0.8% (max $5) |
| Wire Transfer (outbound) | $15 per transfer |
| Instant Payouts (to debit card) | 1.5% (min $0.25, max $15) |
All standard fees are charged on the successful transaction amount. Failed charges and refunds do not incur fees.
How Much Does Stripe Charge Per $100 Sale?
| Sale Type | Calculation | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic Visa/Mastercard ($100) | ($100 × 2.9%) + $0.30 | $3.20 |
| American Express ($100) | ($100 × 3.5%) + $0.30 | $3.80 |
| International Card ($100) | ($100 × 4.4%) + $0.30 | $4.70 |
| International + Currency Conversion ($100) | ($100 × 5.4%) + $0.30 | $5.70 |
When Does Stripe Lower Your Rate with Volume Discounts?
Stripe offers custom pricing for high-volume businesses. Standard rates apply for most small businesses, but volume discounts become available as your business grows:
| Monthly Volume | Rate Negotiation Potential |
|---|---|
| Under $80,000/month | Standard rates (2.9% + $0.30) |
| $80,000–$250,000/month | Potential 0.1–0.2% reduction |
| $250,000–$1M/month | Significant rate reduction possible |
| $1M+/month | Fully custom pricing |
Contact Stripe's sales team if you're approaching $80K/month to negotiate better rates. Even a 0.2% reduction saves you $400 per $200,000 in processed volume.
How Do Stripe Fees Compare to PayPal and Square?
| Provider | Domestic Card | Intl Card | QR Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | 2.9% + $0.30 | + 1.5% | N/A |
| PayPal | 2.99% + $0.30 | + 1.5% | 1.5% + $0.10 |
| Square | 2.6% + $0.10 | 2.9% + $0.30 | 1.85% + $0.10 |
Stripe and PayPal have nearly identical pricing. Square is cheaper for in-person card transactions but lacks Stripe's developer ecosystem. For online-only businesses, Stripe's API superiority often justifies the marginally higher rate. See our full Stripe vs PayPal comparison.
How Much Does Stripe Radar Fraud Protection Cost?
Stripe Radar is Stripe's built-in fraud detection and prevention tool. The pricing depends on your Stripe plan:
- Stripe Standard (Free): Basic fraud protection included — flags high-risk transactions but with standard rules.
- Stripe Radar for Fraud Teams ($0.05–$0.07 per card): Machine learning fraud detection with custom rules and 3D Secure authentication. Cost: $0.05–$0.07 per charged card.
For most businesses, the standard Radar protection is sufficient. If you're processing high-risk categories (digital goods, high-value items), upgrade to Radar for Fraud Teams. The cost per transaction is minimal compared to fraud chargebacks.
How Can You Reduce Your Stripe Fees?
- Accept ACH payments for large invoices: ACH transfers are free on Stripe. For B2B payments over $50, ACH eliminates the 2.9% card fee entirely.
- Use Stripe Atlas or business accounts for payouts: Standard payouts to your bank are free (1–2 business days). Avoid Instant Payouts unless you genuinely need same-day access.
- Enable 3D Secure authentication: While it adds a small step for customers, it shifts liability for fraud-related chargebacks from you to Stripe.
- Negotiate at $80K/month: As mentioned, contact Stripe at this threshold. Even a 0.15% reduction is significant at scale.
- Pass fees to customers (in some cases): B2B SaaS businesses often pass credit card fees to customers who pay with a credit card. Check your terms and local regulations.