Stripe payouts & fees explained
A clear breakdown of Stripe's transaction fees, payout schedule, and how to read your Stripe dashboard balance.
One of the most common questions we hear from business owners is: "Stripe shows I made $500 — so why did only $480 reach my bank?" This guide explains Stripe's fees and payout process so there are no surprises.
Quick summary
Stripe deducts a small fee from each payment before paying you out. In the US, the standard rate is 2.9% plus 30 cents per successful card transaction. Payouts arrive in your bank account on a rolling two-business-day schedule by default. The Stripe Dashboard shows exactly what was earned, what was deducted, and when the next payout is due.
How Stripe fees work
Stripe's pricing model is called pay-as-you-go — you pay only when you make a sale. There is no monthly fee, no setup fee, and no minimum volume.
Standard US card fee
For most businesses in the US:
- 2.9% + $0.30 per successful card transaction
So on a $100 sale, Stripe deducts $3.20 (2.9% of $100 = $2.90, plus $0.30), and you receive $96.80.
Rates may differ for your situation
The rate above is Stripe's publicly listed standard rate as of the time of writing. Rates can vary for international cards, certain payment methods, manually entered cards, and high-volume accounts. Always check your Stripe Dashboard or Stripe's pricing page for the current rates that apply to your account.
Other fees to know
| Situation | Additional charge |
|---|---|
| International cards | +1.5% for cards issued outside the US |
| Currency conversion | +1% when Stripe converts currencies |
| Manually keyed-in cards | Slightly higher rate than cards entered by the customer |
| Instant payouts | 1% of the payout amount (minimum $0.50) |
| Disputed charges (chargebacks) | A dispute fee is charged when a customer disputes a charge |
| Refunds | No fee to issue a refund, but the original transaction fee is not returned |
How the payout schedule works
Stripe does not send you each individual payment as it arrives. Instead, it batches your earnings and sends them on a rolling schedule.
Default schedule (US): Stripe initiates a payout every two business days. After Stripe initiates the transfer, it typically takes one to two additional business days to appear in your bank account.
What this means in practice: A payment made on Monday may arrive in your bank on Wednesday or Thursday.
New accounts
New Stripe accounts may have a longer initial payout schedule — often 7 days — while Stripe assesses account risk. This typically normalizes after the first few successful payouts.
Instant payouts
If you need funds sooner, Stripe offers instant payouts (usually within 30 minutes) to eligible debit cards or bank accounts, for an additional fee of 1% of the payout amount.
Reading your Stripe Dashboard balance
When you log in to the Stripe Dashboard, you will see several balance figures. Here is what each one means:
| Label | What it means |
|---|---|
| Available | Funds that have settled and are ready to be paid out |
| Pending | Recent payments that are still in the settlement period |
| In transit | Payouts already initiated that are on their way to your bank |
| Upcoming payout | The estimated amount and date of your next bank transfer |
You can see a full history of individual payouts under the Payouts section of your dashboard.
How to read a payout
Each payout in the dashboard shows:
- The total gross amount collected
- Fees deducted
- Refunds issued
- The net amount sent to your bank
Stripe also provides monthly and annual summaries for accounting and tax purposes. You can download these as CSV or PDF reports.
What happens with refunds?
When you issue a refund, Stripe returns the money to the customer's card. However, the original processing fee is not refunded to you. If you refund a $100 sale, you effectively absorb the $3.20 fee.
For partial refunds, the fee is not pro-rated — you simply receive less than the original net amount.
See Refunds: best practices for guidance on handling refunds well.
Common questions
Related guides
- Stripe basics for business owners
- What we need to set up Stripe
- Payment fees explained
- Payouts & bank transfers
- Refunds: best practices
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