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Formula: (net + fixed) / (1 - rate).
Freelancer Invoice Fee Calculator
Platform fees should not come out of your pay. Enter the amount you want to keep and your platform's fee, and get the exact invoice total that leaves you whole.
To pass a platform fee to the invoice, do not just add the fee percentage: divide your target net plus the fixed fee by one minus the fee rate. For a $500 target on PayPal's 3.49% plus $0.49, the invoice is ($500 + $0.49) / (1 - 0.0349) = $518.53. Enter your numbers above and the calculator does it exactly.
-Invoice total
-Platform fee
-You keep
The passthrough formula
Platform fees are charged on the gross invoice, so adding X% to your net undercharges you: the fee is then taken on the bigger number too. The correct gross is (target net + fixed fee) / (1 - fee rate). That one division accounts for the fee-on-fee effect.
Worked example
You want to keep $500 and the client pays via PayPal goods and services (3.49% + $0.49). Invoice = (500 + 0.49) / (1 - 0.0349) = $518.53. PayPal takes $18.53, you keep $500.00. If you had just added 3.49%, you would invoice $517.94 and keep $499.38.
Platform presets
The dropdown covers common freelancer rails: PayPal goods and services, Stripe, Venmo business, Upwork's 10% freelancer fee, and Fiverr's 5.5% plus fixed fee. Rates change, so check your platform's current schedule for large invoices; anything here can be overridden in the custom fields.
Should you pass fees to clients?
Some platforms forbid surcharging in their terms, and some clients push back. The professional alternative is to bake the fee into your rate: compute the gross with this tool, then quote that number as your flat rate with no fee line item. Either way the math is the same.
Fee tools
Check single-transaction costs with the PayPal fee calculator calculator, compare rails with payment processor comparison, and see international PayPal rates on the PayPal fees by country page.
Planning estimate only. Results use the list prices shown and may differ from your actual bill. Terms
Frequently asked questions
Can I just add the fee percentage to my rate?
No. Fees are charged on the gross, so adding 3.49% to your net still leaves you short: the fee is taken on the larger amount too. Divide by (1 - rate) instead.
What is the fee passthrough formula?
Gross = (target net + fixed fee) / (1 - fee rate). For $500 net at 3.49% + $0.49, that is $518.53.
Is it legal to pass payment fees to clients?
It depends on the platform's terms and your contract. Some forbid explicit surcharges. The safe route is to quote the computed gross as your flat rate with no fee line item.
Which platforms have presets?
PayPal goods and services, Stripe, Venmo business, Upwork freelancer fee, and Fiverr are included. Every field is editable, so any platform's schedule works.
Are the preset rates current?
Rates change. The presets are starting points from 2026 schedules; verify against your platform before invoicing large amounts, and override the fields as needed.
Does this include income tax?
This calculator covers payment processing fees. Income tax, self-employment tax, and VAT are separate; set those aside from the net you enter here.
What do I need to enter?
Enter the amount you want to keep, pick your platform or enter a custom fee. All math happens on the page.
Is my data sent anywhere?
No. The calculator runs entirely in your browser. You can disconnect from the internet after the page loads and it still works.