Square charges a 2.6% + $0.15 fee per transaction for tapped or inserted in-person payments, the lowest rate of any payment type.
Due to increased fraud risk, the processing fee for online payments is 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.
Manually entered payments have the greatest risk of fraud and chargebacks and come with the highest Square fees: 3.5% + $0.15 per transaction.
When using Square to accept payments, understanding how much you’ll pay in fees (and how much you’ll actually take home!) is essential.
That’s where our Square Fee Calculator (above) comes in. Just enter the transaction amount, and you’ll instantly see how much Square will deduct and what you’ll take home.
After using the calculator, read on to understand how Square’s fees work and why calculating them is important for your business. If you want a bigger picture of what your Square POS overall pricing will cost you, use the Square POS pricing calculator below.
Square POS Cost Calculator
How Square Fees Work
Square uses a flat-rate fee structure, where the rate is deducted before the funds are transferred to your linked bank account. The rates vary based on the plan and the method of payment accepted.
| Transaction Type | Square Free Rate | Square Plus Rate | Square Premium Rate |
| In-Person (Tap, Dip, or Swipe) | 2.6% + 15¢ | 2.5% + 15¢ | 2.4% + 15¢ |
| Online (via Square Online) | 3.3% + 30¢ | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2.9% + 30¢ |
| Manually Keyed-In or Card on File | 3.5% + 15¢ | 3.5% + 15¢ | 3.5% + 15¢ |
Other Payment Method Rates:
- ACH Bank Transfers (via Invoice): 1% (Min. $1)
- Cash App Afterpay: 6% + 30¢ per transaction (You get paid the full amount upfront).
- Cash or Check: Free (No processing fee).
Calculating Square Fees
To determine the fee for a specific transaction, you can use the following formula:
- Square Fee = (Transaction Amount × Percentage Fee) + Fixed Fee
- For a $100 in-person transaction: Fee = ($100 × 2.6%) + $0.15 = $2.60 + $0.15 = $2.75
- Square will deduct $2.75 ($2.60 + $0.10), leaving you with $97.25
Square Fees are automatically deducted before deposits are made into your account, so knowing how much you’ll receive upfront helps with pricing and financial planning.
Check out our guide about Square POS pricing here to learn more about their subscriptions, hardware, processing, and more. You can also use the calculator below to determine how much you use with your current payment processor.
Find out how much you’re spending.
Square POS Subscription Overview
Square offers a few main plans. The core POS software is included for free in every plan, but the paid plans offer discounted processing rates and advanced business features.
| Plan Name | Monthly Subscription Fee | Key Feature Notes |
| Square Free | $0/month per location | Includes essential features like the POS app for any payment, online site builder, item library, invoicing, and basic booking tools. You only pay the transaction fees. |
| Square Plus | $49/month per location | Offers a full suite of features built specifically for food, retail, and appointment-based businesses, along with lower processing fees than the Free plan. Includes advanced POS features and staff management. |
| Square Premium | $149/month per location | Square’s most advanced plan, built to streamline operations and scale. Includes everything in Plus, along with the lowest processing fees, 24/7 priority support, advanced reporting, and no gift card load fees. |
Why Use a Square Fee Calculator?
Using a fee calculator simplifies your workflow and helps you:
- Quickly determine net earnings: No need for manual math. Just input the transaction amount and see the exact fee.
- Price products and services effectively: Set prices that account for processing fees while maintaining profit margins.
- Compare fees across payment methods: Decide whether it’s worth offering online payments or if in-person transactions are more cost-effective.
Other Factors to Consider
While Square’s standard fees are straightforward, a few additional factors can impact what you take home:
- Refunds – Square does not refund processing fees when a customer is reimbursed.
- Chargebacks – If a customer disputes a transaction, you may lose the amount unless you successfully challenge the claim.
- Square for Retail or Square for Restaurants – These upgraded plans have different pricing structures that could affect your fees.
Consider KORONA POS for Payment Processing Flexibility
KORONA POS is an excellent alternative for retailers like liquor stores, vape shops, and convenience stores seeking greater control over payment processing fees.
Unlike Square, which uses built-in payment processing with fixed rates, KORONA POS is payment processor-agnostic, allowing businesses to shop around for the most competitive rates from various providers.
This flexibility can significantly reduce transaction costs, especially for high-volume or high-risk retail businesses. It also offers robust inventory management and 24/7 customer support to streamline operations.
Use the Square Fee Calculator above to see exactly what you’ll receive after fees. If you’re looking for Square POS Alternatives that allow more control over payment processing, consider alternatives like KORONA POS. Sign up for a free demo by clicking below.
