Square processing fees depend on how a customer pays and which Square software plan the seller uses. Under Square's current standard U.S. pricing, the Free plan charges 2.6% plus $0.15 for an in-person card payment and 3.3% plus $0.30 for an online or invoice card payment. Online API payments are listed at 2.9% plus $0.30, manually entered or card-on-file payments at 3.5% plus $0.15, and Afterpay at 6% plus $0.30.
This guide and calculator use Square's official U.S. pricing reviewed July 30, 2026. The calculator models Square Free rates because that is the plan without a monthly subscription. Square Plus and Premium reduce some processing rates while adding a monthly location charge. Custom, account-specific, and non-U.S. rates can differ, so the price shown in the seller's Square Dashboard is the final authority.
What are Square's current processing fees?
For the Square Free plan, a card tapped, dipped, or swiped in person costs 2.6% of the processed amount plus $0.15. A card payment accepted online or through a Square invoice costs 3.3% plus $0.30. A payment built into a web or mobile application through Square's payment APIs costs 2.9% plus $0.30.
Square lists 3.5% plus $0.15 when a card number is manually entered or a saved card is charged. Afterpay is priced separately at 6% plus $0.30. These are U.S. standard rates, not a promise that every account pays the same amount.
- In person on Free: 2.6% + $0.15
- Online or invoice card on Free: 3.3% + $0.30
- Online API: 2.9% + $0.30
- Manual entry or card on file: 3.5% + $0.15
- Afterpay: 6% + $0.30
How do you calculate a Square processing fee?
Multiply the complete amount processed by the percentage rate, round to cents, and add the fixed fee. For a $100 in-person payment on Square Free, 2.6% equals $2.60. Adding $0.15 produces a $2.75 processing fee and a $97.25 balance before other business costs.
The processed amount is the amount submitted to Square. If one charge includes an item, buyer-paid shipping, and collected sales tax, all of those dollars are part of the modeled payment base. Inventory cost, postage, packaging, labor, and rent affect profit, but they do not reduce the amount Square processed.
Why do online and keyed payments cost more?
Card-present payments give the processor stronger physical evidence that the card was used at the business. Online, invoice, keyed, and card-on-file payments carry different fraud and dispute exposure, and Square assigns them different rates. Selecting the flow that actually handled the payment is more accurate than selecting the cheapest label.
An online checkout processed on the Free plan uses 3.3% plus $0.30, while the separately listed Online API rate is 2.9% plus $0.30. A manually keyed card or saved card uses 3.5% plus $0.15. Sellers should confirm how Square classified the transaction on the receipt.
How do Square Free, Plus, and Premium rates differ?
Square's pricing table currently shows lower in-person and online rates on paid plans. The Plus plan lists 2.5% plus $0.15 for in-person payments and 2.9% plus $0.30 online. Premium lists 2.4% plus $0.15 in person and 2.9% plus $0.30 online. Manual entry and Afterpay remain the same in the published comparison.
A lower percentage does not automatically make a paid plan cheaper. Square also lists monthly per-location charges for Plus and Premium. Compare the monthly subscription with the processing savings at your expected volume. This calculator focuses on per-payment economics and lets a seller edit the rate, but it does not allocate subscription cost across transactions.
What does Square charge for invoices and ACH?
A card paid through an invoice is included in Square's online payment category. On Square Free, that means 3.3% plus $0.30 under the current pricing table. The payment method matters: an invoice paid by ACH uses a separate schedule rather than the card rate.
Square currently lists invoice ACH at 1% with a $1 minimum on the Free plan. Plus and Premium add a $10 fee cap. ACH through the Web Payments SDK and Payments API is listed at 1% with a $1 minimum and $5 cap. Because minimums and caps create breakpoints, this calculator does not present ACH as a simple percentage-plus-fixed preset. Use Square's live table for ACH planning.
How does the Square reverse fee calculation work?
Reverse pricing finds the lowest sale price that leaves the requested profit after processing and entered costs. The calculator evaluates complete one-cent prices instead of using a rounded shortcut. That matters because the displayed answer should reach the target, while one cent less should fall below it.
For a payment with one percentage and one fixed charge, the conceptual formula is required processed amount equals required money after fees plus the fixed fee, divided by one minus the fee rate. The tool also separates sales tax from seller revenue and includes buyer-paid shipping in the charge when entered. A reverse result is a planning estimate, not permission to add an undisclosed surcharge.
Three worked Square fee examples
Example one: a $50 in-person payment on Square Free. The percentage portion is $1.30 and the fixed fee is $0.15. Total processing is $1.45, leaving $48.55 before inventory and operating costs.
Example two: a $100 online card payment on Square Free. The percentage portion is $3.30 and the fixed fee is $0.30. Total processing is $3.60, leaving $96.40. The same $100 through the Online API at 2.9% plus $0.30 would cost $3.20.
Example three: a $200 manually entered card. The percentage portion is $7.00 and the fixed fee is $0.15. Total processing is $7.15, leaving $192.85. If the inventory, fulfillment, and packaging costs total $120, modeled profit is $72.85 before overhead and taxes.
Which Square charges are outside this estimate?
Square publishes separate terms for ACH, instant transfers, software subscriptions, hardware financing, gift-card loads, disputes, refunds, Bitcoin payments, and other services. A refund can affect fees differently from a completed sale, and a custom contract can replace the public rates.
Accounts processing more than $250,000 per year may be eligible to discuss custom pricing with Square. Country, business type, product, plan, payment method, promotion, and account history can change the actual charge. Reconcile estimates with the Square transaction report and review the official pricing page whenever Square updates its schedule.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Square charge per transaction?
It depends on the payment method and plan. Square Free currently lists 2.6% plus $0.15 in person and 3.3% plus $0.30 for online or invoice card payments.
What is Square's manually entered card fee?
Square's U.S. pricing currently lists 3.5% plus $0.15 for manual entry or a saved card on file.
Does Square charge more for Afterpay?
Yes. Square's current U.S. table lists Afterpay at 6% plus $0.30 per transaction.
Does Square charge a monthly fee?
Square Free has no monthly software subscription, while Plus and Premium list monthly per-location charges. Optional products can add other fees.
Can Square fees be negotiated?
Square says businesses processing more than $250,000 per year can contact its team about eligibility for custom pricing.