Stripe Reverse Fee Calculator
What to charge so an exact amount lands.
Processor pricing varies by country, card type and whatever you negotiated, and it changes without much notice. Take the real figures from your own statement — these defaults are a starting point, not your account.
Charge this amount
$103.30
to receive exactly $100.00
Adding 2.9% to $100.00 gives $103.20, which leaves you $0.09 short — because Stripe takes its percentage of what you charged, not of what you wanted. The right form is (target + fixed) ÷ (1 − rate), which is division, not addition. Over 400 orders a month that shortfall is $445 a year.
How the Stripe Reverse Fee Calculator works
To receive exactly £100 after a 2.9% plus 30p fee you charge £103.30, not £103.20. Adding the percentage to the target always falls short, because the processor takes its cut of the larger figure it actually charged — the same reason removing VAT is division rather than subtraction.
Not financial advice. Marketplace fees change, and they vary by country, plan and seller status. Every rate here is an editable default, not a quoted price — check the platform's current fee schedule before you price a product against it. This is not tax or business advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula?
Charge equals (target plus the fixed fee) divided by (1 minus the percentage). At 2.9% plus 30 cents to receive $100: (100 + 0.30) ÷ 0.971 = $103.30.
Why does adding the percentage not work?
Because the percentage applies to what you charged, not to what you wanted. Add 2.9% to $100 and you charge $103.20; Stripe takes 2.9% of $103.20 plus 30 cents, leaving $99.71. You are 29 cents short before you start.
When would I do this?
Invoicing where a contract specifies a net amount, paying out a fixed sum to a contributor, or any arrangement where the customer has agreed to cover the fee. Also for topping up a balance to an exact figure.
Is passing the fee on allowed?
For invoices and B2B arrangements it is usually a matter of agreement. As a card surcharge on consumer sales it is restricted or banned in many places, and card scheme rules cap it separately.