Free tool · Sellers & food
Square fee calculator
On Square's Free plan, tap, dip or swipe payments cost 2.6% + 15¢, online and invoice card payments 3.3% + 30¢, and manually keyed or card-on-file payments 3.5% + 15¢. Choose how you were paid to see the fee and your deposit, or reverse it to price a job so you net a set amount.
You receive
$97.25
Square keeps $2.75 of $100.00.
- Percentage fee
- 2.60% → $2.60
- Fixed fee
- $0.15
- Total fee
- $2.75
- Effective rate
- 2.75%
Square US Free plan rates, checked 2026-10. Paid plans can lower in-person rates.
Square Free plan, US (checked Oct 2026)
- In person (tap, dip, swipe): Fee = Amount × 2.6% + $0.15
- Online or invoice: Fee = Amount × 3.3% + $0.30
- Keyed in or card on file: Fee = Amount × 3.5% + $0.15
- Net = Amount − Fee
- Amount to charge = (Target net + Fixed fee) ÷ (1 − Rate)
Worked example: a coffee cart and a contractor
A coffee cart sells a $6 latte with a tap. Fee = $0.156 + $0.15 = $0.31, so the cart keeps $5.69 — the fixed 15¢ makes the effective rate 5.1% on a small ticket.
A handyman sends a $250 invoice that the customer pays by card online: $8.25 + $0.30 = $8.55 in fees. If he types the customer's card into the app instead, the keyed rate applies: $8.75 + $0.15 = $8.90.
Square plans and other payment types
Square Plus and Premium have monthly fees and lower rates (2.5% and 2.4% + 15¢ in person; 2.9% + 30¢ online). They only pay off once card volume is high enough that the rate savings exceed the subscription — run your monthly sales through this calculator at both rates to check.
Cash and checks are free. ACH bank transfers on invoices cost 1% with a $1 minimum, which can be far cheaper than a card for large jobs.
Lowering what Square costs you
- Take cards in person whenever you can; keyed entry is the most expensive way to get paid.
- Offer ACH on large invoices — 1% beats 3.3% on a $3,000 job by $69 before fixed fees.
- Set minimums or bundle very small purchases, because the 15¢ fixed fee hurts low-priced items.
- Price your menu or rate card with the fee already built in, using reverse mode.
Frequently asked questions
What is Square's fee for card payments?
On the Square Free plan: 2.6% + 15¢ for in-person tap, dip or swipe, 3.3% + 30¢ for online and invoice card payments, and 3.5% + 15¢ for keyed-in or card-on-file payments.
How much does Square take from $100?
$2.75 for an in-person card payment, $3.60 online, and $3.65 keyed in.
Does Square charge a monthly fee?
The Square Free plan has no monthly fee; you pay only processing fees. Square Plus and Premium charge a monthly fee per location in exchange for lower rates and more features.
Does Square charge for American Express?
Square says all major cards — Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover — are processed at the same rate for each payment type.