Core formulas
The formulas to keep straight
Square fee = payment x percentage fee + fixed feeNet payout = payment - Square feeAmount to charge = (target net + fixed fee) / (1 - percentage fee)Profit after Square = net payout - product or service costHow do Square fees work?
Square fees depend on payment method and plan. Verified July 4, 2026, Square's US fee page lists tap, dip, or swipe card-present payments at 2.6% + $0.15 in the first plan column. Online, manual entry, ACH, and Afterpay have separate fee lines.
The fixed fee is small but real. On a $35 craft fair sale, 2.6% is $0.91 and the $0.15 fixed fee brings the total fee to $1.06.
Selected Square US fee lines, verified July 4, 2026
| Payment method | Listed rate | Use when |
|---|---|---|
| Tap, dip, or swipe | 2.6% + $0.15 | Card is present in person |
| Online | 3.3% + $0.30 in the first plan column | Online checkout or invoice card payment |
| Online API | 2.9% + $0.30 | Card payment through Square APIs |
| Manual entry or card on file | 3.5% + $0.15 | Seller keys the card or charges saved card |
| ACH via invoice | 1%, $1 minimum in the first plan column | Invoice paid by ACH bank transfer |
| ACH via API | 1%, $1 minimum, $5 cap | ACH through Square's API |
| Afterpay | 6% + $0.30 | Customer pays over time through Afterpay |
| Cash or check | Free | No card processing fee |
Which Square rate should I use?
Use the rate for the way the customer pays, not the rate you remember from another sale. In-person card-present payments, online payments, keyed-in cards, ACH transfers, and Afterpay are different fee lines.
A fast way to remember it: if the card is tapped, dipped, or swiped, start with card-present pricing. If the number is typed, stored, invoiced, or paid online, check the matching Square line before quoting.
Square examples by payment method
| Sale | Rate used | Fee | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| $35 in-person card | 2.6% + $0.15 | $1.06 | $33.94 |
| $100 online | 3.3% + $0.30 | $3.60 | $96.40 |
| $100 manual entry | 3.5% + $0.15 | $3.65 | $96.35 |
| $100 ACH invoice | 1%, $1 minimum | $1.00 | $99.00 |
Should craft fair sellers build Square fees into prices?
Yes, usually. Card acceptance often protects sales volume, but the processing cost still belongs in the booth math. A $35 card sale at 2.6% + $0.15 loses $1.06 to Square before product cost, booth cost, packaging, and sales tax handling.
Do not make every customer do fee math at the table. Price the product so normal card fees are already covered, then use cash discounts only if they fit your local rules and brand.
- Use the Square fee calculator for the per-sale fee.
- Use the craft fair break-even calculator for booth cost and inventory planning.
- Check keyed-in rates before taking phone orders or manual invoices.
Decision table
Square payment method choices
| Payment path | Use this rate style | Main risk |
|---|---|---|
| Card tapped, dipped, or swiped | Card-present | Forgetting booth or product cost. |
| Online invoice by card | Online | Using the in-person rate by mistake. |
| Manual entry | Manual or card on file | Higher fee than card-present. |
| ACH invoice | ACH | Minimum and cap rules matter. |
| Afterpay | Afterpay | Much higher percentage fee. |
Worked examples
Examples you can compare against your own numbers
Example: $35 craft fair card payment
A seller takes a $35 in-person card payment through Square. The card is tapped, dipped, or swiped.
| Customer pays | $35.00 | Gross card payment. |
|---|---|---|
| Percentage fee | $0.91 | $35 x 2.6%. |
| Fixed fee | $0.15 | Card-present fixed fee. |
| Square fee | $1.06 | Rounded to cents. |
| Net payout | $33.94 | Before product cost and booth cost. |
Takeaway: On a $35 card-present sale, the effective Square fee is 3.0% because the fixed fee is included.
Open this Square exampleExample: online invoice paid by card
A client pays a $100 invoice online by card. The seller uses the first Square online rate line, 3.3% + $0.30.
| Customer pays | $100.00 | Gross invoice payment. |
|---|---|---|
| Square fee | $3.60 | $100 x 3.3% + $0.30. |
| Net payout | $96.40 | Before project costs. |
| Effective rate | 3.6% | Fee divided by payment. |
Takeaway: Online card payments can cost more than in-person card-present payments, so quote them with the right rate.
Action checklist
Before you use this number in the real business
- 1Identify the Square payment method before choosing a rate.
- 2Enter the matching percentage and fixed fee.
- 3Use reverse mode before quoting a target net payment.
- 4Add product, service, booth, or delivery cost before judging profit.
- 5Review Square's fee page when your plan, payment method, or pricing changes.
Common mistakes
Mistakes that make the answer look better than reality
FAQs
Questions people ask before making the decision
What is Square's fee for in-person card payments?
Verified July 4, 2026, Square's US fee page lists tap, dip, or swipe card-present payments at 2.6% + $0.15 in the first plan column. Other plan columns and custom pricing can differ.
How much does Square take from $35?
At 2.6% + $0.15, Square takes $1.06 from a $35 in-person card sale. The seller receives $33.94 before product cost, booth cost, tax handling, refunds, or disputes.
Are Square online fees higher than in-person fees?
Often, yes. Square's US fee page checked July 4, 2026 lists online card payments at 3.3% + $0.30 in the first plan column, compared with 2.6% + $0.15 for tap, dip, or swipe.
What is Square's manual entry fee?
Verified July 4, 2026, Square lists manual entry or card-on-file payments at 3.5% + $0.15. Use that when the card is keyed or charged from a saved card.
Does this calculator include Square hardware or software plans?
No. It calculates transaction fees and user-entered product or service cost. Add Square hardware, monthly software, instant transfer, dispute, refund, and tax costs separately.
Can I charge customers extra for Square fees?
Check card network rules, Square terms, and local law before adding a card surcharge. For most product pricing, the cleaner move is to build normal processing fees into the listed price.
Sources and notes
Where the assumptions come from
Official Square US processing fee page checked July 4, 2026.
The general profit formula used after marketplace or payment fees are known.
How FeeProofed checks calculator formulas, source notes, examples, and update cadence.