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Credit Card Surcharge Calculator

If you add a surcharge to card payments, adding the same percentage as your processing fee leaves you short. Enter your price and your card processing rate to see the surcharge that makes you whole, and what the customer pays. Surcharging is restricted in some places, so read the note on the rules below before you use it.

Runs in your browser — nothing is uploaded.

Results are estimates based on the rates shown. Your actual fees depend on your agreement with the provider.

How to use it

  1. Enter your price, the amount you want to receive from each sale.
  2. Pick a published processing rate as a starting point, or choose Custom and enter your own percentage and fixed fee.
  3. Read the surcharge, the total the customer pays and how much a plain percentage add-on would leave you short.

How the surcharge gross-up works

Your processor takes its percentage from the total the customer pays, including the surcharge. So the surcharge itself is charged a fee too. To net exactly your price, the customer must pay (price + fixed fee) ÷ (1 − percentage fee as a decimal).

Worked example: with a $100.00 price and a 2.9% fee plus $0.30 fixed, the customer pays $103.30. That is a surcharge of $3.30, or 3.30% of the price. After the card fee of $3.30, you keep $100.00.

Adding just 2.9% would be $2.90, so the customer pays $102.90 and you end up $0.38 short of your price.

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal to add a surcharge to credit card payments?

It depends on where you operate and which cards you accept. Card networks set their own limits and some states restrict or prohibit surcharges. Check current rules with your processor and your state before adding one. We do not give legal advice.

Why isn't the surcharge the same as my processing percentage?

Because the processor's percentage applies to the surcharge too. To cover the fee on the total, the surcharge has to be slightly larger than the percentage, plus any fixed fee.

What is the difference between a surcharge and a cash discount?

A surcharge adds a fee for paying by card. A cash discount lowers the price for paying by cash. They are treated differently by card networks and in some states, so check which approach is allowed where you sell.

Which processing rate should I enter?

Use the rate on your processor's agreement. The presets are published rates from Square, Stripe and PayPal, checked on 2026-10-14; your rate may differ.

Does this calculator upload my numbers?

No. It runs entirely in your browser.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Sources

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