Credit card processing fees in 2026
Credit card processing fees run $1.50 to $3.50 per $100 of card sales in 2026, and most people pay about $2.50.
What moves the price
- The pricing plan matters, such as flat rate, interchange plus or tiered.
- Cards taken in person cost less than cards keyed in or paid online.
- Monthly sales volume can lower the rate on some plans.
- The kind of card, such as rewards or international, can add cost.
- Extra fees like chargebacks cost $15 to $100 each.
- Where you live. Prices in big cities usually run higher than in small towns.
What is included
The rate covers the card bank fee, the card network fee and the processor fee. Chargebacks, international cards, keyed in cards and hardware can cost extra. Some providers have monthly or setup fees and some do not.
Published rates from big processors
| Processor and method | Rate |
|---|---|
| Square, in person (Free plan) | 2.6% + 15 cents |
| Square, online (Free plan) | 3.3% + 30 cents |
| Square, keyed in | 3.5% + 15 cents |
| Stripe, online cards | 2.9% + 30 cents |
| Stripe, in person terminal | 2.7% + 5 cents |
| Helcim, in person (under $50K a month) | Interchange + 0.40% + 8 cents |
| Helcim, keyed and online (under $50K a month) | Interchange + 0.50% + 25 cents |
Average prices in US dollars. Source: NerdWallet.
Ways to pay less
- Compare quotes from several processors and use them to bargain.
- Ask to waive minimum volume and cancellation fees.
- Interchange plus pricing can cost less for busy shops, while flat rate can suit small sales under $50.
What price guides say
We checked 4 price guides and read every number on their pages. They do not all measure the same thing, so the ranges on this page come from putting them side by side.
- NerdWallet: Credit card processing fees
- Square: Pricing
- Stripe: Pricing
- Helcim: Pricing
Common questions
How much does this cost in 2026?
Credit card processing fees run $1.50 to $3.50 per $100 of card sales in 2026, and most people pay about $2.50. Most people pay about $2.50 per $100 of card sales. The low end is $1.50 and the high end is $3.50.
What changes the price the most?
The biggest factors are: The pricing plan matters, such as flat rate, interchange plus or tiered; Cards taken in person cost less than cards keyed in or paid online; Monthly sales volume can lower the rate on some plans.
How can I pay less?
Compare quotes from several processors and use them to bargain. Ask to waive minimum volume and cancellation fees. Interchange plus pricing can cost less for busy shops, while flat rate can suit small sales under $50.
Where do these numbers come from?
From 4 named price guides: NerdWallet, Square, Stripe, Helcim. Each one is linked on this page with the date we read it.
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