On a $10 charge with a domestic US card, Stripe takes $0.59 (5.9% effective rate): - 2.9% of $10 = $0.29 - Fixed fee = $0.30 - Total fee = $0.59 | You receive = $9.41
For an international card (4.4% + $0.30): $0.74 fee | $9.26 net.
Why small charges have a high effective rate
The $0.30 fixed fee is disproportionately large on small transactions. At $10, it's already 3% before the percentage component is added. This is why Stripe offers a micropayment rate (5% + $0.05) — available to eligible businesses processing primarily small transactions under $10. At $10, the micropayment rate produces: 5% × $10 + $0.05 = $0.55, which is slightly cheaper than the standard rate.
To receive exactly $10 net
If you need to receive exactly $10 from a domestic card, you need to charge $10.62 (the gross-up: ($10 + $0.30) / (1 - 0.029) = $10.617).
Use the calculator above and enable "charge more to receive exactly that amount."