Credit & debit cards fees
Card · Global
Accepting Credit & debit cards typically costs merchants 2.5%-3.5% + $0.10-$0.49. Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover are the default online and in-person rails. The merchant cost is interchange (set by the card networks, paid to the issuing bank) + scheme fees (paid to Visa/Mastercard) + the processor's markup. Flat-rate processors bundle all three into one number like 2.9% + $0.30; interchange-plus processors show them separately.
Source: Processor pricing pages. Data as of June 2026.
Note: These are general estimates, not a quote or offer. Your real rate depends on your card mix, volume, region, risk profile and the contract you sign.
Credit & debit cards at a glance
| Type | Card |
|---|---|
| Typical merchant fee | 2.5%-3.5% + $0.10-$0.49 |
| Region | Global |
| Settlement | 1-2 business days |
| Chargebacks / disputes | Yes — cardholder disputes; $15-$25 fee typical |
| Cheapest for | Most online and retail sales; debit is the cheapest card type. |
Snapshot June 2026 — processors change pricing; verify on the provider's pricing page before relying on a figure.
What drives the cost
- Card type (debit < credit < rewards/corporate)
- Card-present vs card-not-present
- Domestic vs international card
- Merchant category code (MCC)
Processors that support Cards
Flat rate · 2.90% + $0.30
SquareFlat rate · 2.90% + $0.30
HelcimInterchange-plus · 2.30% + $0.08
AdyenInterchange-plus · Interchange-plus
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost merchants to accept credit & debit cards?
2.5%-3.5% + $0.10-$0.49. Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover are the default online and in-person rails. The merchant cost is interchange (set by the card networks, paid to the issuing bank) + scheme fees (paid to Visa/Mastercard) + the processor's markup. Flat-rate processors bundle all three into one number like 2.9% + $0.30; interchange-plus processors show them separately. Snapshot June 2026 — processors change pricing; verify on the provider's pricing page before relying on a figure.
What drives the cost of Cards for a merchant?
Key cost drivers: Card type (debit < credit < rewards/corporate); Card-present vs card-not-present; Domestic vs international card; Merchant category code (MCC). These are general estimates, not a quote or offer. Your real rate depends on your card mix, volume, region, risk profile and the contract you sign.
Does Cards have chargebacks?
Yes — cardholder disputes; $15-$25 fee typical
Which processors support Cards?
Among the processors we track, Stripe, Square, Helcim, Adyen support Cards. Compare their full fee schedules on each processor page.
Keep exploring
Last updated: 2026-06-29