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Payment processing cost calculator

Compare PSP offers on what they really cost — and see why approval rate often matters more than the headline rate.

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Total processing cost per month
$14,763
Effective rate
5.91%
Rate $11,250 · fixed $938 · FX $1,500 · chargebacks $875 · fees $200
Payments declined per month
$83,333
At 75% approval, $333,333 was attempted. Each +5 pp of approval recovers about $16,667 — often worth more than a lower MDR.

Effective rate

The headline MDR is only part of the bill. Fixed per-transaction fees, FX markups on cross-currency payments, chargeback fees and monthly charges together give the effective rate — total cost ÷ approved volume.

Approval rate

A declined payment costs nothing in fees but loses the sale. Raising approval from 75% to 80% on $250k approved volume recovers more than $16k a month — far more than a 0.5 pp cut in MDR.

FAQ

What is MDR?
Merchant discount rate — the percentage the acquirer or PSP charges on each transaction.
What is interchange++?
A pricing model where you pay the card scheme’s actual interchange and scheme fees plus the acquirer’s markup, instead of one blended rate. It is more transparent but harder to predict.
Why are high-risk rates higher?
More chargebacks, fraud and regulatory risk for the acquirer — so higher rates, reserves and stricter monitoring.

Estimates for planning only, not financial or legal advice. Card-scheme thresholds as publicly described in November 2026; your acquirer’s contract and the schemes’ current rules prevail.

More calculators

Payment processing cost calculator: effective rate, FX and declines