Square fees for sellers 2026
On Square Free, a card payment online or through an invoice costs 3.3% + $0.30 ($1.13 on a $25 sale, $3.60 on $100), and tap, dip or swipe in person costs 2.6% + $0.15 ($0.80 and $2.75). Square Plus ($49 a month per location) and Square Premium ($149) charge 2.9% + $0.30 online and 2.5% + $0.15 or 2.4% + $0.15 in person.
Rates are from Square Support: Square fees, Square Payments: Our fees and Square: Processing fees, plans and software pricing, checked Oct 23, 2026. Square announced these three plans on Oct 6, 2025. Square Free has no monthly subscription, and Square lists no fee for chargebacks.
Rates verified on
- Online or invoice, $25 (Square Free)
- $1.13
- In person, $25 (Square Free)
- $0.80
- Card typed in or on file
- 3.5% + $0.15
- Instant transfer
- 1.95%
The rules, in Square's words
"Payment processing fees are taken out of the total amount of each transaction, including tax and tip."
Shipping you charge on the same payment is part of that total too. A $25 item plus $5 shipping paid online on Square Free costs $1.29 in fees, not $1.13.
"Applies to card payments made online or through an invoice."
An invoice or payment link paid by card is priced as an online payment: 3.3% + $0.30 on Square Free.
"Chargebacks and Dispute management"
That line sits under Square's "There are no fees for:" list. A lost chargeback still costs you the sale, but Square adds no dispute fee on top.
"When you refund a payment, the processing fees for the payment aren’t refunded back to you."
That is from Square's current refunds help article. Square's announcement said "processing fees will no longer be returned when sellers issue a full or partial refund to their buyers", in effect Apr 11, 2023 for existing US sellers (from Mar 1, 2023 for new ones). Refund a $25 online sale on Square Free in full and you are out the $1.13 fee. On automatic nightly transfers, Square covers a refund from your Square balance and debits your bank account for whatever the balance doesn't cover. You can refund through Square for up to 1 year from the sale.
"Instant transfers cost a 1.95% fee per transfer"
That is on top of the processing fee, and Square requires at least $25 in the balance to send one. $1.95 on $100; the standard next-business-day transfer is free.
Square fees on a $10, $25, $50, $100 and $200 sale
Each cell is the fee, then what you keep before shipping costs. Charge shipping on the same payment and the fee is on that too.
| How you get paid | Rate | $10 | $25 | $50 | $100 | $200 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online or invoice, Square Free | 3.3% + $0.30 | $0.63 keep $9.37 | $1.13 keep $23.87 | $1.95 keep $48.05 | $3.60 keep $96.40 | $6.90 keep $193.10 |
| Online or invoice, Square Plus or Premium | 2.9% + $0.30 | $0.59 keep $9.41 | $1.03 keep $23.97 | $1.75 keep $48.25 | $3.20 keep $96.80 | $6.10 keep $193.90 |
| In person, Square Free | 2.6% + $0.15 | $0.41 keep $9.59 | $0.80 keep $24.20 | $1.45 keep $48.55 | $2.75 keep $97.25 | $5.35 keep $194.65 |
| In person, Square Plus | 2.5% + $0.15 | $0.40 keep $9.60 | $0.78 keep $24.22 | $1.40 keep $48.60 | $2.65 keep $97.35 | $5.15 keep $194.85 |
| In person, Square Premium | 2.4% + $0.15 | $0.39 keep $9.61 | $0.75 keep $24.25 | $1.35 keep $48.65 | $2.55 keep $97.45 | $4.95 keep $195.05 |
| Manual entry or card on file | 3.5% + $0.15 | $0.50 keep $9.50 | $1.03 keep $23.97 | $1.90 keep $48.10 | $3.65 keep $96.35 | $7.15 keep $192.85 |
| Invoice by ACH, Square Free | 1%, $1.00 min | $1.00 keep $9.00 | $1.00 keep $24.00 | $1.00 keep $49.00 | $1.00 keep $99.00 | $2.00 keep $198.00 |
| Invoice by ACH, Plus or Premium | 1%, $1.00 min, $10.00 cap | $1.00 keep $9.00 | $1.00 keep $24.00 | $1.00 keep $49.00 | $1.00 keep $99.00 | $2.00 keep $198.00 |
| Afterpay | 6% + $0.30 | $0.90 keep $9.10 | $1.80 keep $23.20 | $3.30 keep $46.70 | $6.30 keep $93.70 | $12.30 keep $187.70 |
| Transfer | Rate | $10 | $25 | $50 | $100 | $200 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instant transfer | 1.95% | $0.20 | $0.49 | $0.98 | $1.95 | $3.90 |
Square fee calculator
Enter the sale, including any shipping you charge on the same payment.
Online or invoice, Square Free: fee on $25: $1.13. You keep $23.87.
Edge cases that change the fee
- Card typed in by hand or charged from a saved card: 3.5% + $0.15 on every plan, $3.65 on $100.
- "Online API" payments: Square's fee article lists a separate "Online API" rate of 2.9% + $0.30 on all three plans, apart from "Online or invoices" (3.3% + $0.30 on Square Free). On Square Free that is $3.20 against $3.60 on $100. Your Pricing & subscriptions page in Square Dashboard shows which rates apply to your payments.
- Card from another country: add 1.5%. A $100 online payment on Square Free then costs $5.10. Square says the international fee doesn't apply to Afterpay, ACH or Cash App Pay.
- Invoice paid by bank (ACH): 1%, $1.00 min on Square Free and 1%, $1.00 min, $10.00 cap on Plus and Premium; Square lists $0 for ACH payments deposited into Square Checking. On a $2,000 invoice: $20.00 or $10.00.
- Afterpay: 6% + $0.30 on every plan, $6.30 on $100. Square says you get paid the full amount at the time of purchase, minus that fee, with no fee on the buyer's remaining installments or late payments.
- Cash and checks: Square says you won't pay any fees for cash, check and other tender payments, so a cash sale you record in Square costs $0.00 to process.
- Is Plus worth $49 a month? Its online rate saves $0.40 per $100, so it pays for itself on online card sales over $12,250 a month per location; in person (0.1% less) the line is $49,000. Premium at $149: $37,250 a month online or $74,500 in person. Plan features aren't counted here.
- Same-day transfer: "Same-day transfer: Send funds to either your linked bank account or debit card for a 1.95% fee per transfer." The money goes out 15 minutes after your close of day, with a $1 minimum balance.
- When the free transfer arrives: Square says payments taken before 5 PM PT (8 PM ET) are in your bank account the next business day, and later ones by the second business day; next-business-day transfers aren't sent on Saturdays.
- Legacy plans: on an older Square plan, Square's help page lists Square Payment Links and Square Invoices at 3.3% + 30¢ and says to check the Pricing & subscriptions page in Square Dashboard for your plan's rates. "Once you switch to a new subscription plan (Square Free, Square Plus, or Square Premium), you will not be able to switch back to any of your prior subscriptions."
What to do
- Take cards in person when you can: $1.45 on a $50 sale against $1.95 online on Square Free.
- Compare an invoice with typing the card number in. On Square Free a typed-in card (3.5% + $0.15) costs less up to $74.71, $1.03 against $1.13 on $25; from about $75 up the invoice (3.3% + $0.30) costs the same or less, $6.90 against $7.15 on $200.
- Build the fee into the price you quote. To keep $50 on an online payment (Square Free), charge $52.02.
- Stay on Square Free unless your online card sales run past $12,250 a month; use the standard transfer unless you need the money today (instant and same-day cost 1.95%).
Form 1099-K
The IRS says: "If your customers or clients pay you directly by credit, debit or gift card, you'll get a Form 1099-K from your payment card processor no matter how many payments you got or how much they were for." Payment apps and online marketplaces work differently: "A payment app or online marketplace is required to send you a Form 1099-K if the payments you received for goods or services total over $20,000 in more than 200 transactions." (IRS: Understanding your Form 1099-K, Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 28-Jun-2026).
The IRS adds: "Whether or not you receive a Form 1099-K, you must still report any income on your tax return." and "Use Form 1099-K with other records to help you figure and report your taxable income when you file your tax return."
Thresholds, what counts and what to do with the form: 1099-K for resellers. This is general information, not tax advice; check with a tax professional about your own return.
Questions
What does Square charge per transaction in 2026?
On Square Free: 2.6% + $0.15 in person, 3.3% + $0.30 online or by invoice, 3.5% + $0.15 for a typed-in card or card on file (Square Support: Square fees). Plus: 2.5% + $0.15 in person, 2.9% + $0.30 online. Premium: 2.4% + $0.15 in person, 2.9% + $0.30 online.
Does Square take its fee on sales tax and shipping?
Yes. Square says "Payment processing fees are taken out of the total amount of each transaction, including tax and tip." Whatever is in the payment, sales tax and shipping included, is in the fee.
Does Square give back its fee when I refund a buyer?
No. Square's refunds help article says: "When you refund a payment, the processing fees for the payment aren’t refunded back to you." (Square Support: Manage customer refunds, "About refunds"). Its announcement of the policy says "processing fees will no longer be returned when sellers issue a full or partial refund to their buyers", from Apr 11, 2023 for existing US sellers (Square press release: Square Policy and Pricing Updates). On a $100 online sale on Square Free that's $3.60 you don't get back.
Does Square charge a chargeback fee?
No. Square's fee article lists "Chargebacks and Dispute management" under "There are no fees for" (Square Support: Square fees).
When does Square Plus pay for itself?
On processing fees alone, past $12,250 a month of online card sales or $49,000 in person, per location: the plan is $49 a month (Square: Processing fees, plans and software pricing) and saves 0.4% online or 0.1% in person.
How much is a Square instant transfer?
1.95% of the transfer, on top of the processing fee: $0.49 on $25 and $1.95 on $100. Square requires a balance of at least $25 (Square Support: Transfer options with Square).
How much does Square charge for a card from another country?
An extra 1.5% on top of the normal rate, on every plan (Square Support: Square fees).
Will Square send me a Form 1099-K?
For card payments, the IRS says you'll get one from your payment card processor no matter how many payments or how much (IRS: Understanding your Form 1099-K). More in 1099-K for resellers.
Sources
Rates verified on from each official page below.
- Square Payments: Our fees
- Square Support: Square fees
- Square Support: Transfer options with Square
- Square: Processing fees, plans and software pricing
- Square press release: New Unified Plans & Pricing (Oct 06, 2025)
- Square Support: Switch to the new Square subscription plans
- Square press release: Square Policy and Pricing Updates (Mar 01, 2023)
- Square Support: Manage customer refunds
- IRS: Understanding your Form 1099-K (Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 28-Jun-2026)
Free 1-page Reseller Cheat Sheet: fees on 8 platforms, Media Mail and stamp prices
What each platform takes from a $10, $25 and $50 sale, Media Mail 1-10 lb, Ground Advantage to Zones 1, 5 and 8, and the Forever stamp, on one printable page. The link appears as soon as you sign up.