Stripe's basic fee structure

Stripe charges you a percentage of each transaction plus a fixed amount per transaction. For most U.S. businesses accepting cards online or in person, that's 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction. If you accept payments by invoice or recurring billing, Stripe charges 2.2% plus 30 cents. These rates explore whether a customer pays with a credit card, debit card, or digital wallet like Apple Pay.

The percentage and fixed fee are taken from the money you receive. If a customer pays you $100, Stripe removes $3.20 (2.9% of $100 plus 30 cents), and you get $96.80. This happens automatically — Stripe deposits the remainder to your bank account, usually within one to two business days.

These are Stripe's standard rates for U.S. transactions. Rates differ for international cards, ACH bank transfers, and certain industries. Stripe publishes its full pricing page, which lists rates by payment method and country.

Key Takeaways

  • Stripe charges 2.9% plus 30 cents per online or in-person card transaction for most U.S. businesses.
  • The fee is subtracted from the payment before money reaches your bank account, so a $100 payment nets you $96.80.
  • Different payment methods — invoices, bank transfers, international cards — carry different rates.
  • Stripe has no monthly subscription fee, so you pay only when you process a transaction.
  • Chargeback fees and refunds have separate costs beyond the standard transaction fee.

When you pay more than the standard rate

Certain transactions cost more than 2.9% plus 30 cents. If a customer disputes a charge and files a chargeback with their card issuer, Stripe charges you $15 on top of reversing the transaction. You lose both the payment and the $15 fee. If the customer's card is declined, there is no fee — Stripe only charges when a transaction goes through.

International card transactions — a card issued outside the U.S. — cost 3.9% plus 30 cents instead of 2.9% plus 30 cents. ACH bank transfers (direct from a customer's checking account) cost 0.8% plus 30 cents, with a minimum of $0.30 and a maximum of $5 per transaction. Wire transfers have a flat $15 fee.

If you issue a refund, Stripe refunds the transaction fee you paid. If you charged a customer $100 and refunded $60, Stripe returns the portion of the fee tied to that $60 — you keep the fee on the $40 that remained.

Stripe Connect and marketplace fees

If you use Stripe Connect to send payments to other people or businesses — for example, paying contractors or splitting revenue with partners — Stripe charges an additional 0.25% plus $0.25 per transfer. This is separate from the transaction fee. A $1,000 payout to a contractor costs you $2.75 in transfer fees on top of whatever transaction fees you already paid to receive that money.

Some Stripe Connect accounts use a different model where the connected account (the recipient) pays the transaction fee instead of the main account. The fee structure depends on how you set up your integration. If you are building a marketplace or platform, review Stripe's Connect pricing page to understand which party bears each cost.

What Stripe does not charge for

Stripe has no monthly account fee, no setup fee, and no fee to create an account. You do not pay Stripe to store customer payment information, to issue invoices, or to view your transaction history. You pay only when money actually moves through Stripe's system.

Failed transactions — a declined card, an expired payment method, a customer who cancels before payment goes through — do not incur a Stripe fee. The only exception is a chargeback, which costs $15 even though the original transaction is reversed.

How Stripe fees compare to other processors

Square charges 2.6% plus 30 cents for online card transactions and 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions. PayPal charges 2.29% plus 30 cents for online transactions. Authorize.net charges a monthly gateway fee ($25) plus per-transaction fees that vary by card type, typically 2.29% to 3.6% plus 30 cents. Each processor has different rates for international cards, ACH transfers, and other payment methods.

The lowest-cost processor for your business depends on your mix of payment types. If you process mostly U.S. card transactions online, Stripe and Square are often comparable. If you receive many international payments or ACH transfers, the rates differ enough that calculating your expected monthly volume through each processor can reveal which one costs less.

Reducing what you pay in fees

You cannot negotiate Stripe's standard rates — they are the same for all businesses in the same category. However, you can reduce your total fee expense by encouraging lower-cost payment methods. ACH transfers cost 0.8% plus 30 cents instead of 2.9% plus 30 cents, so offering a discount for ACH payments (or invoicing customers for ACH instead of card) lowers your costs.

Minimizing chargebacks also reduces fees. Chargebacks happen when a customer disputes a charge, and each one costs you $15 plus the original transaction amount. Clear product descriptions, transparent billing, and prompt customer service reduce the number of customers who dispute charges. Some businesses use address verification and CVV checks to catch fraudulent transactions before they become chargebacks.

If you process very high volume — hundreds of thousands of dollars per month — Stripe may offer custom pricing. Contact Stripe's sales team to discuss your specific situation. Most small and medium businesses pay the standard rates.

Understanding your Stripe statement

Stripe sends you a statement each month showing every transaction, every fee, and your net deposit. The statement breaks down transaction fees separately from chargeback fees, refunds, and Connect payouts. You can read statements as CSV files or view them in your Stripe dashboard.

Each transaction line shows the gross amount (what the customer paid), the fee Stripe charged, and the net amount (what you received). If you need to report income for taxes or accounting, use the net amount — that is what actually entered your bank account. Your accountant may want to see the full statement to verify the fee calculations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Stripe charge a fee if a customer's card is declined?

No. Stripe only charges when a transaction successfully goes through. A declined card, expired payment method, or insufficient funds result in no fee. The only exception is a chargeback, which costs $15 even though the original transaction is reversed.

What happens to Stripe fees if I refund a customer?

Stripe refunds the portion of the fee tied to the refunded amount. If you charged $100 and refunded $40, Stripe returns the fee on that $40. You keep the fee on the $60 that remained with you.

Can I pass Stripe fees on to my customers?

Yes, you can add a fee to cover processing costs, though some payment processors' terms restrict this. Check your Stripe agreement and your state's laws — some states limit surcharges on credit card transactions. Many businesses build the fee into their prices instead of charging it separately.

Do international customers pay a different rate?

You pay a different rate when processing their card, not them. Cards issued outside the U.S. cost you 3.9% plus 30 cents instead of 2.9% plus 30 cents. The customer pays the same price regardless of where their card was issued.

What is the difference between Stripe and Stripe Connect?

Stripe is the basic payment processor — you accept payments from customers. Stripe Connect adds the ability to send payments to other people or businesses, which incurs an additional 0.25% plus $0.25 per transfer. You use Connect if you run a marketplace, manage contractors, or split revenue with partners.