Payment fees
Square Fee Calculator
Square charges 3.3% + $0.30 for online payments at its current standard rate — raised from 2.9% in January 2026 — and 2.6% + $0.15 for in-person card payments. A $100 online sale therefore costs $3.60 in fees. Pick how the customer pays, enter the amount, and see the exact fee and what you keep.
How much does Square charge per transaction?
Square’s standard processing fee is 3.3% + $0.30 per online transaction and 2.6% + $0.15 per in-person transaction where the card is present. On $100 that is $3.60 online or $2.75 in person. The online rate rose from 2.9% + $0.30 in January 2026, so any Square fee figure published before 2026 is likely out of date.
How it works
Square uses flat-rate pricing: one percentage plus one fixed fee per transaction, with the rate set by how the payment is taken rather than by the card type. Whether you searched for a Square fees calculator, a Square transaction fee calculator or Square processing fees, the current standard maths is:
Square fee (online) = sale amount × 3.3% + $0.30Square fee (in person) = sale amount × 2.6% + $0.15You receive = sale amount − Square feeThe online rate covers payments through a Square Online store, checkout links and invoices. The in-person rate covers chip, contactless and swipe payments taken with the card present. Reverse mode answers the other common question — what to charge so a specific amount survives the fee: charge = (amount you want + fixed fee) ÷ (1 − rate).
Rates used by this calculator
| Payment type | Square rate (2026) | Fee on $100 |
|---|---|---|
| Online payment / invoice / checkout link | 3.3% + $0.30 | $3.60 |
| In person — card present | 2.6% + $0.15 | $2.75 |
Source: Square’s official US pricing page (squareup.com/us/en/pricing). Square raised the standard online rate from 2.9% + $0.30 to 3.3% + $0.30 on 13 January 2026. Last verified: November 2026
Worked examples
Example 1 — a $100 online order
| Sale amount | $100.00 |
| Square fee (3.3% + $0.30) | $3.60 |
| You receive | $96.40 |
| Effective fee rate | 3.60% |
Example 2 — a $75 in-person sale at a market stall
| Sale amount | $75.00 |
| Square fee (2.6% + $0.15) | $2.10 |
| You receive | $72.90 |
| Effective fee rate | 2.80% |
Example 3 — a $10 online sale (why small tickets hurt)
| Sale amount | $10.00 |
| Square fee (3.3% + $0.30) | $0.63 |
| You receive | $9.37 |
| Effective fee rate | 6.30% |
The $0.30 fixed fee is 3% of a $10 sale before the percentage even starts — small online orders are where flat-rate pricing bites hardest.
When these fees apply — and the limitations
This calculator applies Square’s standard US processing rates for the free Square account. It does not include:
- Paid software plans — Square for Retail, Restaurants and Appointments plans carry monthly subscription fees (and some include different processing terms). The processing rate itself is unchanged on most plans.
- Custom pricing — businesses processing very high volumes (Square publicly invites sellers above roughly $250,000 a year to talk) may be on individual rates.
- Keyed-in and higher-risk payments, which can be priced differently from the standard online rate — check Square’s pricing page for the current card-not-present terms.
- Dispute fees and hardware costs, which sit outside per-transaction pricing.
Because Square changed its online rate in January 2026, treat any older Square fee guide with suspicion and confirm the current rate on Square’s own pricing page.
Comparing your options
For Square vs Stripe: online, Stripe’s 2.9% + $0.30 ($3.20 on $100) undercuts Square’s 3.3% + $0.30 ($3.60). In person they are effectively tied — Square’s 2.6% + $0.15 and Stripe Terminal’s 2.7% + $0.05 both come to $2.75 on a $100 sale. Square’s advantage is the free point-of-sale software bundled with the account. Compare your own till and online mix with the Stripe fee calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Square charge for a $1,000 transaction?
Online, a $1,000 payment costs $33.30 in Square fees (3.3% + $0.30), an effective rate of 3.33%, leaving $966.70. In person with the card present it costs $26.15 (2.6% + $0.15), leaving $973.85. As the amount grows, the fixed fee matters less and the effective rate moves closer to the headline percentage.
Why did Square’s fees go up in 2026?
Square raised its standard online processing rate from 2.9% + $0.30 to 3.3% + $0.30 on 13 January 2026. The in-person rate stayed at 2.6% + $0.15. Processors adjust rates periodically as their own card-network costs change; the practical lesson is that fee information dates quickly, which is why this page shows when its rates were last verified.
Is Square cheaper than Stripe?
Online, no: Stripe’s standard 2.9% + $0.30 beats Square’s 3.3% + $0.30 at every amount. In person, they are effectively identical — both work out to $2.75 on a $100 sale. The real choice is usually about the software: Square includes a full point-of-sale system free, while Stripe is stronger for custom online builds.
Does Square charge monthly fees?
The basic Square point-of-sale app and processing account have no monthly fee — you pay only per transaction, which is the rate this calculator uses. Optional paid plans for retail, restaurants and appointments add monthly subscriptions for advanced features like inventory and team management.
Does Square take a cut of cash sales?
No. Square’s processing fee applies only to card and digital payments it processes. Cash sales recorded in the point of sale are not charged a processing fee, though they are still logged in your sales reports.
Read the guide: Stripe vs Square Fees: Which Is Cheaper in 2026? — the two processors compared amount by amount, online and in person.
Related calculators
Estimates only. Platforms can change their fees at any time; always confirm the rate on the platform’s own pricing page before making pricing decisions. ToolFees is not affiliated with the platform named on this page.