Free pricing & profit tool
Credit Card Processing Fee Calculator: Monthly and Annual Cost
Card processing fees are your monthly volume times the percent rate, plus the per-transaction fee times the number of transactions. At $50,000 a month, a 2.9% rate and $0.30 per transaction on $250 sales, that is $1,450 + $60 = $1,510 a month, or $18,120 a year. Enter the rates you were quoted to see your effective rate, and compare a second quote.
Prepared by Prospyr · Reviewed October 11, 2026 · Free, no sign-up, runs in your browser
Total card sales in a month, from a processing statement.
Used to count transactions.
Monthly processing fees
$1,510.00
Effective rate
3.02%
fees ÷ volume
Annual cost
$18,120
12 × monthly
Transactions
200
per month, from average sale
Percent part
$1,450.00
per-transaction part $60.00
Arithmetic on the rates you enter. The numbers shown by default are placeholders, not any processor's rates. Monthly fees, chargeback fees and equipment costs are not included.
Taking card payments at checkout? See payment links, embedded card forms and an integrated card terminal at checkout →
The formulas
- Transactions = monthly volume ÷ average sale.
- Monthly fees = volume × rate % ÷ 100 + transactions × per-transaction fee.
- Effective rate = monthly fees ÷ volume × 100.
- Annual cost = monthly fees × 12.
Worked example with placeholder numbers
Quote A is 2.9% + $0.30 and quote B is 2.6% + $0.10, on $50,000 a month and $250 sales (200 transactions). A costs $1,450 + $60 = $1,510 and B costs $1,300 + $20 = $1,320, so B is $190 a month or $2,280 a year cheaper. These rates are inputs for the arithmetic, not quotes from any processor.
Next steps
Fees are a cost of every sale, so include them when you price: see the treatment pricing calculator and the margin calculator. Prospyr's point of sale takes payments by payment link, embedded card form or an integrated card terminal.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate credit card processing fees?
Multiply monthly card volume by the percent rate, then add the per-transaction fee times the number of transactions. Transactions are volume divided by your average sale. Multiply by 12 for the annual cost.
What is an effective rate?
Your total fees divided by your total card volume. It folds the percent rate and the per-transaction fee into one number, so you can compare quotes that are built differently. At $1,510 of fees on $50,000, the effective rate is 3.02%.
Why does my average sale matter?
The per-transaction fee is charged on every sale, so smaller sales make it a larger share of the total. The same $0.30 fee is 0.12% of a $250 sale and 0.3% of a $100 sale.
What does this calculator not include?
Monthly or annual account fees, statement fees, chargeback fees, equipment costs and any early termination charges. If a quote includes them, add them to the monthly total yourself. The default numbers are placeholders, not rates from any processor.
How do I compare two processing quotes?
Turn on the comparison and enter each quote's percent rate and per-transaction fee with the same volume and average sale. The calculator shows both monthly totals, both effective rates and the difference per month and per year.
Where do I find my monthly volume and average sale?
On your processing statement or in your payment reports: total card sales and the number of transactions for a month. Divide the first by the second for your average sale.
Sources and scope
Arithmetic on the rates you enter. It makes no claim about what any processor charges, and the default numbers are placeholders. Check every quote for fees this calculator does not include.