Profit and pricing
Square fee calculator
Work out Square's processing fee on a payment, what you receive, what to charge so a set sum is left, and a month of fees on Square Free, Plus and Premium. Starts from Square's published US rates, each editable.
Fee and net
The processing fee on a payment and what you receive.
Amount to charge
What to charge so a set sum is left after the fee.
Monthly fees by plan
A month of payments on Square Free, Plus and Premium.
Square fee calculator
Free to use, no sign-up. Enter one amount to see the fee if a customer pays it, and what to charge to be left with it. The result updates as you type; nothing you type leaves your browser.
Square fee on 100.00
2.75
100.00 × 2.6% = 2.60, plus 0.15, is 2.75.
If a customer pays 100.00, you receive 97.25. The fee is 2.75% of the payment.
To be left with 100.00 after the fee, charge 102.82: (100.00 + 0.15) ÷ (1 - 2.6%), checked to the cent. The fee on 102.82 is 2.82.
At Square's published rates for Tap, dip or swipe, the fee on 100.00 is 2.75 on Square Free, 2.65 on Square Plus, 2.55 on Square Premium.
Formula
fee = amount * (rate + international rate) + fixed fee
you receive = amount - fee
amount to charge = (target + fixed fee) / (1 - rate)Rates as published by Square for the US, checked on . Rates change, and businesses processing over $250,000 a year can ask Square for custom rates, so confirm yours on Square's pricing page or in your Square Dashboard before you rely on a figure. Convertica is not affiliated with Square.
Short answer
A Square fee calculator multiplies a payment by Square's rate and adds the fixed fee: fee = amount × rate + fixed fee. On Square Free's published US rates, an in-person card payment is 2.6% + 15¢, so $100.00 costs $2.75 and leaves $97.25. Online and invoice payments are 3.3% + 30¢; Plus and Premium charge less.
- Square's US processing fee depends on the plan and how the card is taken: in person is 2.6% + 15¢ on Square Free, 2.5% + 15¢ on Plus and 2.4% + 15¢ on Premium.
- Online and invoice payments are 3.3% + 30¢ on Square Free and 2.9% + 30¢ on Plus and Premium. Manual entry or card on file is 3.5% + 15¢ on every plan.
- A card issued outside the US adds 1.5%. Square takes the fee out of the whole payment, tax and tip included.
- To be left with a set amount, divide (target + fixed fee) by (1 - rate). Adding the fee on top leaves you short.
- Plus ($49 a month per location) costs less than Free on in-person processing alone above about $49,000 of card sales a month at one location.
How are Square fees calculated?
Square fees are a percentage of each card payment plus a fixed fee per payment, taken out before the money reaches your bank. Multiply the amount by the rate for your plan and payment type, add the fixed fee and subtract the total. On Square Free, an in-person payment at 2.6% + 15¢ of $100.00 costs $2.75 and leaves $97.25.
fee = amount * rate + fixed fee- Amount: 100.00. Rate: 2.6%, which is 0.026 as a decimal.
- Percentage part: 100.00 × 0.026 = 2.60.
- Add the fixed fee: 2.60 + 0.15 = 2.75.
- You receive 100.00 - 2.75 = $97.25. The fee is 2.75% of the payment, more than the 2.6% headline rate because of the fixed fee.
Square's fees article says the fee is taken out of the total amount of each transaction, including tax and tip, so enter the whole payment. A fee rarely lands on a whole cent: a $37.45 online payment on Square Free works out as 37.45 × 0.033 = 1.23585, plus 0.30 is 1.53585, which this calculator rounds to $1.54. On Plus or Premium the same payment costs $1.39. Square does not publish a rounding rule, so a real fee can differ by a cent.
How to use the Square fee calculator
- Choose your plan. Square Free, Plus or Premium. Some rates are lower on the paid plans.
- Choose the payment type. In person, online or by invoice, online API, manual entry or card on file, ACH, Afterpay or EBT. Pick "Custom rate" for a rate Square has agreed with you.
- Enter one amount. The result shows the fee if a customer pays that amount, and the amount to charge if you want to be left with it.
- Say where the card was issued. A card from outside the US adds Square's international fee.
- Run a month. Further down, the monthly view multiplies the number of payments by the average payment and compares the three plans.
Square processing fees by plan in the US
Square's processing fee depends on the plan and on how the payment is taken. Tap, dip or swipe is 2.6% + 15¢ on Square Free, 2.5% + 15¢ on Plus and 2.4% + 15¢ on Premium; online or invoices is 3.3% + 30¢ on Free and 2.9% + 30¢ on the paid plans. The other payment types cost the same on every plan, except the ACH invoice cap.
| Payment type | Square Free | Square Plus | Square Premium | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tap, dip or swipe (in person) | 2.6% + 15¢ ($2.75 on $100.00) | 2.5% + 15¢ ($2.65 on $100.00) | 2.4% + 15¢ ($2.55 on $100.00) | In-person payments when a card is present. |
| Online or invoices | 3.3% + 30¢ ($3.60 on $100.00) | 2.9% + 30¢ ($3.20 on $100.00) | 2.9% + 30¢ ($3.20 on $100.00) | Card payments made online or through an invoice. |
| Online API | 2.9% + 30¢ ($3.20 on $100.00) | 2.9% + 30¢ ($3.20 on $100.00) | 2.9% + 30¢ ($3.20 on $100.00) | Card payments taken in your own web or mobile app through Square's payments APIs. |
| Manual entry or card on file | 3.5% + 15¢ ($3.65 on $100.00) | 3.5% + 15¢ ($3.65 on $100.00) | 3.5% + 15¢ ($3.65 on $100.00) | A card number typed in, or a saved card on file. |
| ACH bank transfer (via invoice) | 1%, $1 min ($1.00 on $100.00) | 1%, $1 min, $10 fee cap ($1.00 on $100.00) | 1%, $1 min, $10 fee cap ($1.00 on $100.00) | Invoices paid by ACH bank transfer. |
| ACH bank transfer (via API) | 1%, $1 min, $5 fee cap ($1.00 on $100.00) | 1%, $1 min, $5 fee cap ($1.00 on $100.00) | 1%, $1 min, $5 fee cap ($1.00 on $100.00) | ACH transfers through the Web Payments SDK and Payments API. |
| Afterpay | 6% + 30¢ ($6.30 on $100.00) | 6% + 30¢ ($6.30 on $100.00) | 6% + 30¢ ($6.30 on $100.00) | You are paid at once; the customer pays in four installments. |
| EBT (SNAP-eligible items, in person) | 1.8% + 5¢ ($1.85 on $100.00) | 1.8% + 5¢ ($1.85 on $100.00) | 1.8% + 5¢ ($1.85 on $100.00) | In-person payments with an EBT card for SNAP-eligible items. |
| Plan fee | $0 a month | $49 a month per location | $149 a month per location | Square Plus and Premium have a free 30-day trial, Square says |
Sources: Square's pricing page and its support article on fees, read on . The fees on $100.00 are this page's arithmetic, not Square's figures. Accounts still on a legacy plan, such as Square for Restaurants or Square for Retail, have their own list in that article; the calculator's custom rate covers them.
What is the Square fee for online payments and invoices?
Square's fee for a card payment made online or through an invoice is 3.3% + 30¢ on Square Free and 2.9% + 30¢ on Square Plus and Premium. Payments taken in your own app or site through Square's payments APIs are 2.9% + 30¢ on every plan. An invoice paid by ACH bank transfer costs 1%, $1 min on Free and 1%, $1 min, $10 fee cap on the paid plans.
What does Square charge for a manually entered card?
Square charges 3.5% + 15¢ for a card number typed in or a saved card on file, on every plan. Its fees article puts the higher rate down to the greater risk when neither the card nor the cardholder needs to be present. On Square Free that costs $3.65 on $100.00, against $2.75 for the same card tapped in person.
How do the ACH minimum and cap work?
ACH is a percentage with a floor and, on some plans, a ceiling. At 1%, $1 min, any invoice up to $100.00 pays the $1.00 minimum ($1.00 on $50.00). On Plus and Premium the $10.00 cap holds from $1,000.00, so a $2,500.00 invoice costs $10.00 there and $25.00 on Free, where Square prints no cap for invoices. Through the API the $5.00 cap holds from $500.00 on every plan. The same $2,500.00 paid by card online on Free costs $82.80.
How much does Square charge on $100 or $1,000?
On Square Free, Square charges $2.75 on a $100.00 in-person payment, $3.60 online or by invoice and $3.65 keyed in. On $1,000.00 the same three are $26.15, $33.30 and $35.15. In person on Square Plus, $100.00 costs $2.65, and on Premium $2.55.
| Payment | In person (2.6% + 15¢) | Fee as a share | Online or invoice (3.3% + 30¢) | Online API (2.9% + 30¢) | Manual entry (3.5% + 15¢) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5.00 | $0.28 | 5.60% | $0.47 | $0.45 | $0.33 |
| $10.00 | $0.41 | 4.10% | $0.63 | $0.59 | $0.50 |
| $25.00 | $0.80 | 3.20% | $1.13 | $1.03 | $1.03 |
| $50.00 | $1.45 | 2.90% | $1.95 | $1.75 | $1.90 |
| $100.00 | $2.75 | 2.75% | $3.60 | $3.20 | $3.65 |
| $250.00 | $6.65 | 2.66% | $8.55 | $7.55 | $8.90 |
| $500.00 | $13.15 | 2.63% | $16.80 | $14.80 | $17.65 |
| $1,000.00 | $26.15 | 2.61% | $33.30 | $29.30 | $35.15 |
The fixed fee is the same on every payment, so it weighs most on small ones: on a $5.00 in-person sale the fee is $0.28, 5.60% of the sale. A card issued outside the US adds 1.5%: $100.00 in person on Free then costs $4.25, and online $5.10. Square's fees article says the international fee does not apply to Afterpay, ACH, Cash App Pay, Bitcoin or EBT.
How much should I charge to receive a set amount after Square fees?
To receive a set amount after Square fees, add the fixed fee to the amount you want and divide by one minus the rate. To be left with $100.00 from an in-person payment on Square Free, charge $102.82: (100.00 + 0.15) / 0.974 = 102.82341, and the fee on $102.82 is $2.82, which leaves $100.00.
amount to charge = (target + fixed fee) / (1 - rate)Online on Square Free the answer is $103.72. The shortcut that fails is adding the fee to the price: the fee on $100.00 is $2.75, so it is tempting to charge $102.75, but the fee on $102.75 is $2.82 and you are left with $99.93, $0.07 short.
| To be left with | In person | Online or invoice | Manual entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100.00 | $102.82 | $103.72 | $103.78 |
| $500.00 | $513.50 | $517.37 | $518.29 |
| $1,000.00 | $1,026.85 | $1,034.44 | $1,036.42 |
Can I pass the Square fee on to customers?
The sum above is the price that covers the fee: covering it on $100.00 in person takes $102.82, $2.82 on top, not a flat 3%. Whether you may add a separate card surcharge depends on card network rules and the law where you sell, so check both before you add one at the till.
How to estimate Square fees for a month
To estimate Square fees for a month, multiply the fee on your average payment by the number of payments, then add the plan fee for each location. 800 in-person payments of $25.00 on Square Free come to $20,000.00 in sales; the fee on one is $0.80, so the month costs $640.00, 3.20% of sales.
Square fees for a month, by plan
Uses one rate and one average payment for the month, so enter the payment type most of your sales go through.
Square fees on 800 payments
640.00
800 payments × 25.00 = 20,000.00 in sales.
Processing: 800 × 0.80 (the fee on one 25.00 payment at 2.6% + 15¢) = 640.00.
You keep 19,360.00. Fees are 3.20% of sales, 7,680.00 over 12 months at the same pace.
At Square's published rates for Tap, dip or swipe and 1 location, this month costs 640.00 on Square Free, 673.00 on Square Plus, 749.00 on Square Premium, counting processing and plan fees only. Lowest: Square Free.
Formula
month = payments * fee on the average payment + plan fee * locationsReal payments vary in size, and each one's fee is rounded on its own, so a real month will differ a little from this estimate.
Is Square Plus or Premium cheaper than Square Free?
On processing fees alone, a paid plan costs less once its lower rate saves more than its plan fee. In person, Plus saves 0.1% of card sales for $49 a month, so it costs less than Free above about $49,000 a month of card sales at one location. Premium costs less than Plus above about $100,000, and less than Free above about $74,500. Online, Plus saves 0.4% and costs less than Free above about $12,250; Premium charges the same online rate as Plus.
monthly card sales where a plan pays for itself = extra plan fee / (rate on the cheaper plan - rate on the dearer one)The plans also differ in software features, which these sums leave out, so a plan can be worth it below these figures, or not above them. The break-even figures are before rounding; because each payment's fee is rounded to the cent, they move a little with the size of the average payment.
| Card sales a month | Payments | Square Free | Square Plus | Square Premium | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | 250 | $297.50 | $336.50 | $426.50 | Square Free |
| $25,000 | 625 | $743.75 | $767.75 | $842.75 | Square Free |
| $50,000 | 1,250 | $1,487.50 | $1,486.50 | $1,536.50 | Square Plus |
| $75,000 | 1,875 | $2,231.25 | $2,205.25 | $2,230.25 | Square Plus |
| $100,000 | 2,500 | $2,975.00 | $2,924.00 | $2,924.00 | Square Plus |
| $150,000 | 3,750 | $4,462.50 | $4,361.50 | $4,311.50 | Square Premium |
| Online sales a month | Payments | Square Free | Square Plus | Square Premium | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | 100 | $195.00 | $224.00 | $324.00 | Square Free |
| $12,250 | 245 | $477.75 | $477.75 | $577.75 | Square Free |
| $25,000 | 500 | $975.00 | $924.00 | $1,024.00 | Square Plus |
| $50,000 | 1,000 | $1,950.00 | $1,799.00 | $1,899.00 | Square Plus |
Why the same sales can cost more in fees
The percentage part depends only on the total; the fixed part depends on how many payments it took. $20,000 of in-person sales on Square Free costs more in fees as many small payments than as a few large ones, because each payment carries its own 0.15 fixed fee.
| Average payment | Payments | Fixed fees | Total fees | Fees as a share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10.00 | 2,000 | $300.00 | $820.00 | 4.10% |
| $25.00 | 800 | $120.00 | $640.00 | 3.20% |
| $50.00 | 400 | $60.00 | $580.00 | 2.90% |
| $100.00 | 200 | $30.00 | $550.00 | 2.75% |
That is one reason average order value matters to a shop with low prices; the guide to ecommerce metrics covers it beside conversion rate.
Which other Square fees should a business plan for?
Beyond processing, Square's US pages list a fee for instant and same-day transfers, a gift card load fee on Free and Plus, and fixed rates for Afterpay and EBT. Square's fees article lists no fee for chargebacks and dispute management, activation, account inactivity, PCI compliance support or early termination, and none on cash, check or other tender payments.
| Fee | Published amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Standard transfer to your bank | Free | As soon as the next business day |
| Instant or same-day transfer | 1.95% of the amount | Instant: at least $25.00 after Square's fees, at most $10,000 per transfer |
| Gift card load | 2.5% on Free and Plus, 0% on Premium | No fee to redeem a gift card |
| Afterpay | 6% + 30¢ | The same on every plan; no international fee |
| EBT (SNAP-eligible items) | 1.8% + 5¢ | In person |
| International card | 1.5% on top of the processing fee | Cards issued outside the US |
| Chargebacks and disputes | No fee | Square's fees article |
| Amount transferred | Fee | Arrives |
|---|---|---|
| $25.00 | $0.49 | $24.51 |
| $100.00 | $1.95 | $98.05 |
| $500.00 | $9.75 | $490.25 |
| $1,000.00 | $19.50 | $980.50 |
| $5,000.00 | $97.50 | $4,902.50 |
| $10,000.00 | $195.00 | $9,805.00 |
Sources: Square's transfers page, pricing page and fees article, read on . Square says new sellers may be limited to $2,000 a day of instant transfers at first.
What do Square fees cost your profit?
A Square fee comes out of gross profit, not revenue, so it weighs more than its rate suggests. At an illustrative 40% gross margin, a $100.00 in-person sale on Square Free makes $40.00 of gross profit and the $2.75 fee takes 6.88% of it.
| Sale | Gross profit | In-person fee, share of profit | Online fee, share of profit |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10.00 | $4.00 | 10.25% | 15.75% |
| $25.00 | $10.00 | 8.00% | 11.30% |
| $50.00 | $20.00 | 7.25% | 9.75% |
| $100.00 | $40.00 | 6.88% | 9.00% |
| $250.00 | $100.00 | 6.65% | 8.55% |
Use your own margin, not this one: the margin calculator works it out from price and costs, and the profit calculator carries the fees into a month's profit after ads and overheads.
Online sales: fees against conversion rate
The gap between Square's online rates on Free and Plus is 0.4% of sales. On an online store, a change in the share of visitors who buy can move profit by more than that. Convertica's free CRO audit checks a page on your site: the first screen, calls to action, forms, trust, mobile, speed and AI agent readiness, ranked by likely impact.
How can I lower Square fees?
You lower Square fees by taking cards the cheapest way, choosing the plan that fits your volume and avoiding the higher keyed-in rate. Every card payment still carries a processing fee. Each point below comes from Square's published US rates.
- Take the card in person. Tap, dip or swipe is 2.6% + 15¢ on Free, against 3.5% + 15¢ keyed in.
- Avoid typing card numbers. Send an invoice or a payment link instead: 3.3% + 30¢ on Free, 2.9% + 30¢ on the paid plans.
- Offer ACH on large invoices. 1%, $1 min, $10 fee cap on Plus and Premium; 1%, $1 min on Free.
- Do the plan sum. Use the monthly view with your own volume before you upgrade or downgrade.
- Use standard transfers when you can wait. They are free; instant transfers cost 1.95%.
- Ask about custom rates. Square invites businesses processing over $250,000 a year to talk to its team.
How to calculate Square fees in Excel or Google Sheets
To calculate Square fees in Excel or Google Sheets, put the payment in A2, the rate in B2 as a percentage and the fixed fee in C2, then round the fee to the cent. For in-person payments on Square Free, B2 is 2.6% and C2 is 0.15. The same formulas work in both programs.
| To get | Formula | Cells |
|---|---|---|
| Fee | =ROUND(A2*B2+C2,2) | Payment in A2, rate in B2, fixed fee in C2 |
| You receive | =A2-ROUND(A2*B2+C2,2) | |
| Amount to charge | =ROUND((A2+C2)/(1-B2),2) | A2 is the amount you want to be left with; check the fee on the answer |
| ACH fee with a minimum and a cap | =MIN(MAX(ROUND(A2*1%,2),1.00),10.00) | Invoice ACH on Plus or Premium |
| A month | =D2*ROUND(E2*B2+C2,2)+F2 | Payments in D2, average payment in E2, plan fees in F2 |
Related calculators
Square's fee is one cost between the price and the profit. These calculators cover the rest of the sum.
See all free tools and how they fit together.
Square fee calculator FAQ
How does a Square fee calculator work?
A Square fee calculator multiplies the payment by Square's percentage rate for the plan and payment type, adds the fixed fee and subtracts the total: fee = amount × rate + fixed fee. On Square Free, an in-person payment of $100.00 at 2.6% + 15¢ costs $2.75 and leaves $97.25. Run backward, it gives the amount to charge.
How do I calculate fees on Square?
Multiply the payment by the percentage for your plan and payment type, add the fixed fee and round to the cent. A $37.45 online payment on Square Free: 37.45 × 3.3% = 1.23585, plus 0.30 is 1.53585, which rounds to $1.54. Square takes the fee from the total, tax and tip included.
What percentage does Square charge?
On Square's published US rates, Square charges 2.6% plus 15 cents for tap, dip or swipe on Square Free, 2.5% on Plus and 2.4% on Premium. Online and invoices are 3.3% plus 30 cents on Free and 2.9% on Plus and Premium. Manual entry is 3.5% plus 15 cents on every plan.
How much does Square charge on $100?
On Square Free, a $100.00 payment costs $2.75 in person, $3.60 online or by invoice and $3.65 keyed in or from a card on file. In person, Square Plus charges $2.65 and Square Premium $2.55. A card issued outside the US adds 1.5%: $4.25 in person on Free.
How much does Square charge on $1,000?
On Square Free, a $1,000.00 payment costs $26.15 in person, $33.30 online or by invoice and $35.15 by manual entry. In person on Square Plus it is $25.15 and on Square Premium $24.15. Paid by ACH through an invoice, it costs $10.00 on every plan.
How much should I charge to receive a set amount after Square fees?
Add the fixed fee to the amount you want and divide by one minus the rate: amount to charge = (target + fixed fee) / (1 - rate). To be left with $100.00 from an in-person payment on Square Free, charge $102.82. Online on Free, charge $103.72. Adding the fee on top instead leaves you $0.07 short.
How do I charge a 3% fee on Square?
The amount that covers Square's fee is (price + fixed fee) / (1 - rate), not the price plus 3%. On Square Free in person, covering the fee on $100.00 takes $102.82, $2.82 on top. Whether you may add a card surcharge depends on card network rules and the law where you sell, so check both first.
What is the Square invoice fee?
On Square's US pricing page, an invoice paid by card is 3.3% + 30¢ on Square Free and 2.9% + 30¢ on Plus and Premium. Paid by ACH bank transfer, it is 1%, $1 min on Free and 1%, $1 min, $10 fee cap on Plus and Premium. Afterpay on an invoice is 6% + 30¢.
Is Square Plus or Premium worth it for the lower fees?
On processing fees alone, at one location, Square Plus costs less than Square Free above about $49,000 a month of in-person card sales, or $12,250 of online sales. Premium costs less than Plus above about $100,000 in person. The plans also differ in software, which this sum leaves out.
Does Square charge an international card fee?
Yes. Square adds 1.5% to its base processing fee for a credit or debit card issued outside the US, on every plan, in person, online, card not present and through the API. Square's fees article says it does not apply to Afterpay, ACH, Cash App Pay, Bitcoin or EBT. A $100.00 in-person payment on Free then costs $4.25.
How much is the Square instant transfer fee?
Square's transfers page lists instant and same-day transfers at 1.95% of the amount, and a standard transfer as free, as soon as the next business day. An instant transfer of $1,000.00 costs $19.50. Instant transfers need at least $25.00 after Square's fees and move at most $10,000 at a time.
Does Square charge for chargebacks?
No. Square's support article on fees lists chargebacks and dispute management among the things it charges no fee for, with activation, account inactivity, PCI compliance support and early termination. Cash, check and other tender payments recorded in Square also carry no processing fee.
How do I calculate Square fees in Excel or Google Sheets?
With the payment in A2, the rate in B2 (formatted as a percentage) and the fixed fee in C2, the fee is =ROUND(A2*B2+C2,2) and what you receive is =A2-ROUND(A2*B2+C2,2). The amount to charge so that A2 is left is =ROUND((A2+C2)/(1-B2),2). A month is the fee on the average payment times the number of payments.
