Square fee calculator
Enter the amount and how the card was taken to see Square's fee and what lands in your balance, or flip the mode to find what to charge for an exact payout.
You keep
$116.73
$3.27 fee on a $120.00 charge (2.73%)
How to use it
- Enter the amount on the card. Tax and tip are part of the amount and Square's fee applies to them.
- Pick how the card was taken. The in-person rate applies to the reader, Square Terminal and Square Register; keyed-in is the highest.
- Read what you keep and the effective rate, which is always a little above the percentage because of the fixed part.
- Switch the mode to see what to charge so that an exact amount reaches you.
Worked example
A customer taps their card for $120.00 at a market stall.
Fee: $120.00 × 2.6% + $0.15 = $3.12 + $0.15 = $3.27, a 2.73% effective rate. You keep $116.73.
The same $120.00 keyed in by hand over the phone costs $4.20 + $0.15 = $4.35, and an invoice paid online costs $3.96 + $0.30 = $4.26.
How this is calculated
Square charges a percentage plus a fixed amount on each card payment, and the rate depends on how the card was presented. A card tapped, dipped or swiped on a Square reader is 2.6% plus $0.15. A payment through Square Online, a payment link or an e-commerce API is 2.9% plus $0.30. An invoice paid by card is 3.3% plus $0.30, and a card number typed in by hand is 3.5% plus $0.15, because keyed payments carry more fraud risk. The fee is rounded to the cent and taken before the money reaches your balance. Reverse mode finds the smallest charge that nets your target.
fee = amount × rate + fixed fee
in person: 2.6% + $0.15 · online: 2.9% + $0.30 · invoice: 3.3% + $0.30 · keyed in: 3.5% + $0.15
you keep = amount − fee
reverse mode: amount = (target + fixed fee) ÷ (1 − rate), rounded up to the cent that clears the target.
Rates, sources and limits
- Square (US) rates effective 1 Sep 2024, checked 23 Sep 2026. Source
Standard US rates on the free plan. Paid plans and custom pricing differ.
Rates current as of 2026. Last reviewed 23 Sep 2026 by the CalcRabbit team. Estimates only, not financial, tax or medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
Are there monthly fees?
Not on the free plan. Square's paid plans for retail, restaurants and appointments add a monthly subscription and, on some, a lower in-person rate. This calculator uses the free plan's rates.
Why is the keyed-in rate higher?
A card number typed in without the card present can't be verified by the chip, so the fraud and chargeback risk is higher and the networks charge more. Where you can, send a payment link instead: it's cheaper and the customer enters their own details.
Is the fee charged on tips and sales tax?
Yes. The fee applies to the full amount charged to the card, including any tip added on the reader and any sales tax in the total.
How fast is the money available?
Standard transfers to a bank account arrive the next business day at no charge. Instant transfers to a linked debit card carry a small percentage fee on top of the processing fee.
Does Square offer lower rates for volume?
Businesses processing more than about $250,000 a year can ask for custom pricing. Below that the published rates apply to everyone.