Stripe fees on international cards and currency conversion
A US Stripe account pays 2.9% plus 30 cents on cards, plus 1.5% if the card is international and 1% if currency converts. Pricing in the buyer's currency and settling into a matching account avoids the 1%.
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US merchants selling abroad see three Stripe fees stack on a single sale. Figures are from Stripe's pricing page, read on 4 November 2026.
The stack
| Fee | Rate |
|---|---|
| Card payment | 2.9% + 30¢ |
| International card | +1.5% |
| Currency conversion | +1% |
| Manually entered card | +0.5% |
| Instant payout | 1.5% (min 50¢) |
A €1,000 sale priced in euros
About $1,080 at the time: 2.9% plus 30 cents is $31.62, international adds $16.20, conversion adds $10.80. About $58.62, or 5.4%.
Removing the 1%
If your Stripe account can settle euros into a euro bank account, the euro charge is paid out in euros with no conversion fee. You keep 1% and decide when, or whether, to convert.
For B2B
ACH Direct Debit on Stripe costs 0.8% capped at $5. For a $20,000 invoice, that is $5 instead of about $580 by card. For non-US customers, local bank details in their currency are cheaper still.
Paying into the United States: the local rail
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Local rail | ACH for batch payments; RTP and FedNow for instant transfers |
| Run by | Nacha for ACH; The Clearing House for RTP; the Federal Reserve for FedNow |
| Settlement | Same-day ACH within the business day, standard ACH the next; RTP and FedNow in seconds, 24/7, where both banks take part |
Source: Nacha: Same Day ACH. Checked when this guide was last updated; the scheme's own page has the current figures.
Where Rivet fits
Rivet gives registered companies USD details on Starter and EUR and GBP details on Growth, in the company's name, so Stripe can settle each currency into a matching balance. Convert when you choose at a rate shown first. Rivet is not a bank; regulated partner institutions hold the funds. See Stripe vs PayPal for international payments.
Questions people ask
How much does Stripe charge for international cards?
On US standard pricing, 1.5% on top of 2.9% plus 30 cents, plus 1% if currency conversion is needed.
How do I avoid Stripe's conversion fee?
Charge in a currency you can settle into a matching bank account, where Stripe supports that currency for your account.
Does Stripe charge for payouts?
Standard payouts are free. Instant payouts cost 1.5%, minimum 50 cents.
Is ACH cheaper on Stripe?
ACH Direct Debit costs 0.8%, capped at $5, on US pricing, which is much cheaper for large B2B payments.
Sources
Alexia compares the accounts, cards and payment tools companies weigh before they switch, and writes Rivet's market guides for founders in a specific country. Prices in Alexia's comparisons come from each provider's own pricing page on the date given in the article, rules come from the regulator or tax authority that sets them, and every source is listed at the end.
More from Alexia M. →This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and fees change; check the sources above and the provider’s current terms before you act on them.
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