Business
Payment Fee Calculator
Combine percentage and fixed fees to see what you keep from a payment.
What do payment fees cost?
Card networks and payment service providers charge a percentage, a fixed pence fee, or both. On low-ticket sales the fixed fee dominates; on high-ticket sales the percentage does. This calculator shows the fee amount and the net you keep from a sale so you can price accordingly or compare providers using rates you were quoted. Marketplace commission is a cousin — see marketplace fee — and product-level cash sits on product profit. Refunds often do not return the full fee; check your provider before you model promo-heavy weeks. FX markups and chargeback penalties are outside the simple model. Illustrative maths from your inputs — not a payment-services recommendation. Raising prices by the fee percentage does not always restore margin when competitors absorb fees or when VAT interacts with the ticket. Run your true average order value, not a flattering headline sale, when you compare two rate cards.
Worked example
A £40 sale at 1.5% + 20p costs 0.015 × 40 + 0.20 = £0.80 in fees; you keep £39.20. The same structure on a £5 sale costs £0.275 (5.5% effective). Blended ‘2%’ marketing copy hides that pain on small tickets.
Limits and assumptions
Uses the percent and fixed fee you enter. Interchange++ mid-market schemes vary by card type. Chargebacks, payout delays and FX markups are omitted.
Frequently asked questions
Why do small sales hurt more?
Fixed pence fees are a larger share of a low ticket, raising the effective percentage.
Should I pass fees to customers?
Some sectors allow surcharging within rules; others absorb fees in the price. Check current UK rules for your case.
How do I compare two providers?
Run the same average ticket through both rate cards, including monthly plan fees allocated per sale if needed.
Do refunds return the fee?
Often only part of it — read the provider’s refund policy.
What about American Express?
Use the Amex rate you were quoted; it is often higher than consumer debit.