# Credit card fee calculator: absorb the fee or pass it on

Source: https://backpr.com/tools/card-fee-calculator. Last updated: 2026-10-11.

Free calculator at https://backpr.com/tools/card-fee-calculator. It runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent to BackPR.

Enter your registration price, how many registrations you expect and your card rate. See what the fees cost your program if you absorb them, and what families pay if you pass them on.

### How it works
If you absorb the fee, each payment costs you the percentage rate times the price, plus the fixed fee per payment.

If you pass the fee on and still want to receive the full price, the amount you charge has to cover the fee on the added amount too: charge = (price + fixed fee) ÷ (1 − rate). That's why families pay a little more than the fee on the price alone.

**Does BackPR add a fee to card payments?**
Not for nonprofits, and BackPR never adds its own fee to what families pay. Payments are processed by Stripe at Stripe's standard rates, and you choose whether to absorb that fee or pass it on to families.

**Why do families pay a bit more than the original fee?**
The processor takes its percentage from the whole amount charged, including the part you added. To receive the full price, the added amount has to cover that too.

**Can we pass card fees on to families?**
Many programs do. Rules on surcharges and convenience fees differ by state and card network, so check the rules that apply to your organization before you add one.