US-Based · Updated July 2026
Stripe Fee Calculator —
Card, ACH & Invoice
This Stripe transaction fee calculator shows your exact Stripe processing fees for card payments, ACH transfers, and invoicing add-ons. Use the reverse calculator to find out how much to invoice to net any target amount.
Updated July 2026: Stripe Billing fee raised from 0.5% to 0.7% (June 30, 2025). New $15 dispute counter fee for contesting chargebacks (June 17, 2025). Standard card rate 2.9% + $0.30 unchanged.
2.9%
+ $0.30 standard US card rate
$5 max
ACH Direct Debit cap (0.8%)
+1.5%
International card surcharge
0.7%
Stripe Billing add-on (subscriptions)
$
USD
International card
Client's card is issued outside the US · adds +1.5%
Currency conversion
Payment currency differs from your USD settlement · adds +1%
Card rate (2.9%)Online card — standard US rate
−$29.00
Fixed feePer-transaction fixed component
−$0.30
International card surcharge+1.5% · client card issued outside US
−$15.00
Currency conversion+1.0% · payment not in USD
−$10.00
Total Stripe fee
−$29.30
Stripe fee
$29.30
Eff. rate 2.93%
You receive
$970.70
After all fees
Gross charged
$1,000.00
Client pays this
$
USD
ACH Direct Debit (0.8%, cap $5)
−$5.00
Stripe Invoicing fee
−$2.00
Total Stripe fee
−$5.00
Total Stripe fees
$5.00
Eff. rate 0.50%
You receive
$995.00
After all fees
ACH vs card — how much you save on larger invoices
Standard online card rate (2.9% + $0.30) vs ACH Direct Debit (0.8%, cap $5).
| Invoice amount | Card fee (2.9% + $0.30) | ACH fee (0.8%, cap $5) | You save |
|---|---|---|---|
| $500 | $14.80 | $4.00 | $10.80 |
| $1,000 | $29.30 | $5.00 | $24.30 |
| $2,500 | $73.05 | $5.00 | $68.05 |
| $5,000 | $145.30 | $5.00 | $140.30 |
Enter the amount you want to receive after fees, and we'll calculate how much to invoice your client.
$
USD
International card
Client's card is issued outside the US · adds +1.5%
Invoice this amount
$1,030.18
Client pays this · Stripe deducts fees · you keep your target
Total Stripe fees
−$30.18
You receive
$1,000.00
Effective rate
3.00%
Formula: ($1,000.00 + $0.30) ÷ (1 − 0.029) = $1,030.18
Passing fees to clients: Adding a processing surcharge is permitted in most US states, but prohibited for consumer cards in the EU and UK (Payment Services Directive 2). Check your state rules before adding a separate fee line — most freelancers simply build the fee into the project price using the above calculation.
How Stripe Fee Stacking Works
Stripe fees for freelancers are not always a single flat rate. For international clients or cross-currency payments, multiple charges stack on top of each other — and most freelancers don't realise until they check their payout.
Base card rate
2.9% + $0.30 for online cards. Always applies on every transaction.
+1.5% international
Added when the client's card is issued outside the US. Covers higher interchange and fraud risk.
+1.0% currency conversion
Added only if payment currency differs from your USD settlement. Separate from the international fee.
+0.4–0.7% invoicing
Optional Stripe Invoicing (0.4%) or Billing (0.7%) add-on for invoice and subscription workflows.
Worst-case scenario: A US freelancer accepting a European card paid in euros via Stripe Invoice pays 2.9% + $0.30 + 1.5% + 1.0% + 0.4% = 5.8% + $0.30. On a $2,000 invoice that's $116.60 in Stripe fees — more than 3× the headline rate. Use the Card Payments tab above to model any combination.
To minimise stacking, request ACH Direct Debit payment from international clients where possible (ACH is US bank-to-bank — no international surcharge applies), or build fees into your rate using the Reverse Calculator tab.
Stripe Fee Reference — All Payment Methods
All rates for US-based Stripe accounts as of July 2026. Rates for non-US accounts vary — see stripe.com/pricing for your country.
| Payment method | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Online card | 2.9% + $0.30 | Standard rate for card-not-present transactions |
| Manually entered card | 3.4% + $0.30 | +0.5% surcharge for typed card numbers (higher fraud risk) |
| In-person / Stripe Terminal | 2.7% + $0.05 | Card-present; lower fraud risk = lower rate |
| International card surcharge | +1.5% | Added when client's card is issued outside your account country |
| Currency conversion | +1.0% | Added if payment currency ≠ settlement currency; stacks with intl fee |
| ACH Direct Debit | 0.8%, cap $5 | US bank-to-bank; best option for invoices over $172 |
| ACH Credit | $1 flat | Client pushes funds to you; no percentage fee |
| Wire transfer | $8 flat | Domestic wire; best for very large one-off payments |
| SEPA Direct Debit | 0.8% + €0.30, cap €6 | EU bank-to-bank; requires EUR settlement account |
| Stripe Invoicing (Starter) | +0.4%, cap $2 | Add-on for one-time invoices; cap applies per invoice |
| Stripe Invoicing (Plus) | +0.5%, cap $2 | Includes advanced features (custom domains, auto-reminders) |
| Stripe Billing | +0.7% | Recurring subscriptions; raised from 0.5% on June 30, 2025 |
| Chargeback / dispute | $15 | Charged when a client disputes a payment with their bank |
| Dispute counter fee | $15 | Charged when you contest a chargeback; refunded if you win (from June 2025) |
The Stripe ACH fee is just 0.8% capped at $5, so ACH Direct Debit becomes cheaper than cards at any invoice amount above $172 (where 0.8% of $172 = $1.38, which is less than the $0.30 fixed fee alone makes cards cost). For all invoices $625 and above, ACH hits its $5 cap and savings grow linearly.
Stripe Invoicing vs Stripe Billing — Which One for Freelancers?
Both products add a fee on top of card processing. Most freelancers only need one of them — or neither, if you use Stripe Checkout without invoice workflows. Switch to the ACH & Invoicing tab above to use this Stripe invoice fee calculator and see the 0.4% Invoicing or 0.7% Billing add-on applied to your own amount.
Stripe Invoicing
One-time invoices
+0.4%
Create, send, and track invoices for individual projects. Starter plan adds 0.4% per paid invoice, capped at $2. On any invoice over $500, you pay the flat $2 cap — so effective rate drops as invoice size grows.
✓ Best for project-based freelancers
Stripe Billing
Recurring subscriptions
+0.7%
Manages automated recurring charges, subscription logic, and dunning. Adds 0.7% on all subscription volume — raised from 0.5% on June 30, 2025. No per-invoice cap; the 0.7% applies to every payment regardless of size.
✓ Best for retainer or subscription clients
Neither product required: If you use Stripe Checkout or the API directly to charge a card, neither Invoicing nor Billing fees apply — you pay only the base card processing rate. The add-on fees only trigger when you use Stripe's invoice or subscription management products.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Stripe fee for freelancers?
Stripe's standard fee for US freelancers is 2.9% + $0.30 per successful online card transaction. If you manually key in a card number the rate rises to 3.4% + $0.30 (an extra 0.5% for higher fraud risk). In-person payments via Stripe Terminal cost 2.7% + $0.05. There are no monthly fees or setup costs — you only pay when you process a transaction.
How do I calculate what to invoice to net a specific amount?
Use the formula: Invoice = (Target net + $0.30) ÷ (1 − 0.029). To net $1,000 you invoice $1,030.18. Stripe deducts $30.18, you receive exactly $1,000. Use the Reverse Calculator tab above for any amount, card type, or international scenario — no mental math needed.
Can I pass Stripe fees to my client?
You can add a processing fee line to invoices in most US states, but surcharging credit cards is legally restricted in some states (historically Connecticut and Massachusetts; laws vary). In the EU and UK, surcharging consumer cards is banned under the Payment Services Directive 2. The most common approach is to build fees into your project price using the Reverse Calculator above — your client pays the rounded invoice amount and you keep your target.
Is ACH cheaper than card payments on Stripe?
Yes, significantly. ACH Direct Debit costs 0.8%, capped at $5. On a $1,000 invoice, cards cost $29.30 while ACH costs $5 — a saving of $24.30. For a $5,000 invoice, the saving is $140.30. The trade-off: ACH settles in 3–5 business days (vs 2 for cards) and your client needs to provide bank account details. For retainer or recurring clients, ACH is almost always the better choice on large invoices.
What's the difference between Stripe Invoicing and Stripe Billing?
Stripe Invoicing is for one-time invoices sent to clients — it adds 0.4% per paid invoice (Starter plan, capped at $2). Stripe Billing is for recurring subscriptions and automated charges — it adds 0.7% of all subscription volume. For project-based freelancers, Invoicing Starter is the relevant product. For freelancers on monthly retainer, Billing applies. If you're not using either product (just Checkout or direct API charges), neither fee applies.
Does Stripe charge extra for international clients?
Yes. When a client pays with a card issued in a different country from your Stripe account, Stripe adds a 1.5% international card fee. If the payment is in a different currency from your settlement currency, Stripe adds a further 1% currency conversion fee. These stack: a US freelancer accepting a European card paid in euros pays 2.9% + $0.30 + 1.5% + 1.0% = 5.4% + $0.30. Use the international toggles in Tab 1 to model your scenario.
What changed with Stripe Billing pricing in 2025?
Stripe raised the Billing fee from 0.5% to 0.7% effective June 30, 2025 — including for customers who were on legacy promotional pricing. On June 17, 2025, Stripe also introduced a new $15 dispute counter fee charged when you contest a chargeback (previously there was no charge to dispute). The counter fee is refunded if you win. Stripe also launched Smart Disputes — an AI option that auto-contests chargebacks for a 30% success fee instead of the counter fee model.
Fee rates sourced from Stripe's pricing pages and support documentation, verified July 2026. Stripe may change rates without notice — always confirm at stripe.com/pricing before building fees into contracts or invoices.