Question 1

What are standard Stripe processing fees in 2026?

Accepted Answer

In 2026, standard US Stripe processing fees are 2.9% plus $0.30 per successful credit or debit card charge. International cards incur an additional +1.50% cross-border fee (totaling 4.4% + $0.30), and an extra 1.00% fee if currency conversion is required.

Question 2

How do you calculate the reverse invoice gross-up to cover Stripe fees?

Accepted Answer

To receive an exact net amount after Stripe fees, use the gross-up formula: Invoice Amount = (Target Net + Fixed Fee) / (1 - Percentage Fee). For example, to net exactly $1,000 on a 2.9% + $0.30 transaction: ($1,000 + $0.30) / (1 - 0.029) = $1,000.30 / 0.971 = $1,030.18.

Question 3

Are Stripe fees refunded when I issue a customer refund?

Accepted Answer

No. Stripe does not return the original processing fees (2.9% + $0.30) when you refund a customer charge. As the merchant, you bear the cost of the processing fee upon a full or partial refund.

Question 4

How do Stripe ACH Direct Debit fees compare to credit cards?

Accepted Answer

Stripe ACH Direct Debit charges 0.80% per transaction with a maximum fee cap of $5.00. For invoices over $200, ACH is substantially cheaper than credit cards—saving $24.30 on a $1,000 invoice and $140.30 on a $5,000 invoice.

Question 5

Can I legally pass credit card processing fees to clients?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in most US jurisdictions you can pass credit card processing fees to clients either through a compliant credit card surcharge (capped at 3% or actual merchant cost, excluding debit cards) or by factoring transaction overhead into your gross invoice pricing or cash discount programs.

Platform	Domestic Online Card	In-Person / POS	Bank Transfer / ACH	International Card
Stripe	2.9% + $0.30	2.7% + $0.05	0.8% ($5 cap)	+1.5% surcharge
PayPal	3.49% + $0.49	2.29% + $0.09	N/A (Standard)	+1.50% surcharge
Square	2.9% + $0.30	2.6% + $0.10	1.0% ($1 min)	No added %
Authorize.Net	2.9% + $0.30 + $25/mo	Custom Merchant	0.75% ($25/mo)	Varies

Stripe Fee & Reverse Gross-Up Calculator

How Stripe Fees Are Calculated: Standard vs. Reverse Gross-Up

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