Credit Card Processing Fee Calculator — Compare Rates [2026]
Compare credit card processing pricing models: flat rate, interchange-plus, and tiered. Enter your monthly volume and average ticket to see total costs. Free tool.
Monthly Cost Comparison
Annual Cost Projection
| Pricing Model | Monthly | Annual | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat Rate | $875.00 | $10500.00 | 3.50% |
| Interchange-Plus | $575.00 | $6900.00 | 2.30% |
| Tiered Pricing | $525.00 | $6300.00 | 2.10% |
What is Credit Card Processing Fee Calculator?
How to Use Credit Card Processing Fee Calculator
Enter your monthly processing volume and average ticket size. The calculator compares three pricing models: flat rate (like Stripe/Square at 2.9% + $0.30), interchange-plus (interchange + fixed markup), and tiered pricing (qualified/mid/non-qualified rates). See monthly costs side by side to find the most affordable option for your business.
How Credit Card Processing Fee Calculator Works
Common Use Cases
- Comparing Stripe/Square flat-rate pricing against interchange-plus alternatives
- Estimating monthly payment processing costs for a new business
- Evaluating whether to switch from tiered to interchange-plus pricing
- Calculating the impact of average ticket size on processing costs
- Projecting processing costs as your business scales
- Preparing for payment processor negotiations with concrete data
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest credit card processing model?▼
For businesses processing over $10,000/month, interchange-plus is usually cheapest because you pay actual interchange rates plus a small markup. For low-volume businesses, flat-rate pricing (Stripe, Square) is simpler and competitive.
What is interchange-plus pricing?▼
Interchange-plus pricing passes through the actual interchange fee set by card networks, plus a fixed markup from your processor (e.g., 0.3% + $0.10). It's the most transparent model and often the cheapest for higher-volume businesses.
Why is tiered pricing considered expensive?▼
Tiered pricing bundles transactions into qualified, mid-qualified, and non-qualified tiers. Processors often route many transactions to higher-cost tiers, and the lack of transparency makes it hard to verify you're getting fair rates.
Is flat-rate pricing good for small businesses?▼
Yes, flat-rate pricing (like Stripe at 2.9% + $0.30 or Square at 2.6% + $0.10) is ideal for small businesses because it's simple, predictable, and requires no monthly minimums or long-term contracts.
How does average ticket size affect processing costs?▼
Smaller transactions cost more in percentage terms because the fixed per-transaction fee ($0.10-$0.30) is a larger portion of the total. A $10 transaction with a $0.30 fee has an extra 3% cost, vs only 0.3% on a $100 transaction.
Should I negotiate my processing rates?▼
Yes, if you process over $10,000/month you have negotiating leverage. Focus on the processor markup (not interchange, which is non-negotiable). Even small reductions in markup can save hundreds per month at scale.
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