Source: https://rivet.global/blog/stripe-international-card-fees-us
Published: 2026-09-28 · Updated: 2026-11-04 · By Alexia M.

# Stripe fees on international cards and currency conversion

Stripe's US pricing for international cards: the 1.5% surcharge, the 1% conversion fee, how to avoid conversion, payout options and a worked example.

## Key takeaways

- Stripe's US standard pricing is 2.9% plus 30 cents per card payment.
- International cards add 1.5%, and currency conversion adds 1%, so a converted international charge costs up to 5.4% plus 30 cents.
- Settling foreign currency charges into a bank account in that currency avoids the conversion fee where Stripe supports it.
- Standard payouts are free; instant payouts cost 1.5%.

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](https://www.nacha.org/rules/same-day-ach-moving-payments-faster). 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](/blog/stripe-vs-paypal-international-payments).

## Questions

### 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.