PayPal fees for sending money overseas explained

Sending money abroad with PayPal can be expensive - discover how much it could cost you.

Promoted
Xe logo

The fast & trusted way to send money

  • Send money to 130+ countries
  • Exchange rates that can beat the banks
  • Move money fast with transparent delivery times
Go to site

There are many variables when it comes to using PayPal to send money overseas. Where your recipient is located and the currency you are converting to can all change the cost of your transfer. Take a look at our guide to PayPal fees to help you make sense of it all.

What are PayPay’s fees to send and receive money within the UK?

If you are sending money to friends and family in the UK in pounds sterling, then there are no fees to send or receive money.

It’s also free for you if you’re sending money to buy goods and services. For example, if you buy something from eBay – the seller will pay the PayPal fees.

What are PayPal’s fees to send money overseas from the UK?

Things become a little more complicated – and expensive – if you plan to use PayPal to send money to friends and family abroad.

There are two separate costs you need to take into account:

  1. International personal transactions fees. Basically the PayPal fees for sending money overseas.
  2. Foreign currency conversion fees. These are the fees for converting the currency and if there is any currency exchange involved.

International personal transaction fees

These are always paid by the sender and depend on the country you’re sending money to from the UK and how much you’re sending.

Here’s how they work:

RateMinimum feeMaximum fee
5.00% of the transaction amount£0.99£2.99

Foreign currency conversion fees

The foreign currency conversion fee can either be paid by the sender or the receiver, depending on which currency the sender uses.

For example, if your money is in pound sterling but you are sending it to a recipient in New Zealand, you can:

  • Send it in the receiver’s currency. You’ll pay both the international personal transaction fee and currency conversion fee in the recipient’s currency (in this case NZD).
  • Send it in your currency. You’ll send the money in pound sterling and it will be converted into NZD, with a fixed 2.5% currency conversion fee.

Here’s how PayPal fees work for all other transactions involving currency conversion:

CurrencyFee
Australian dollar (AUD)4%
Brazilian real (BRL)4%
Canadian dollar (CAD)3.75%
Czech koruna (CZK)3.75%
Danish krone (DKK)3.75%
Euro (EUR)3.75%
Hong Kong dollar (HKD)4%
Hungarian forint (HUF)3.75%
Israeli New shekel (ILS)4%
Japanese yen (JPY)4%
Malaysian ringgit (MYR)4%
Mexican peso (MXN)4%
CurrencyFee
New Taiwan dollar (TWD)4%
New Zealand dollar (NZD)4%
Norwegian krone (NOK)3.75%
Philippine peso (PHP)4%
Polish zloty (PLN)3.75%
Russian ruble (RUB)3.75%
Singapore dollar (SGD)4%
Swedish krona (SEK)3.75%
Swiss franc (CHE)3.75%
Thai baht (THB)4%
UK pound sterling (GBP)3.75%
US dollar (USD)3.75%

It is worth seeing how PayPal’s fees stack up against other money transfer providers. You can use our comparison table to compare them with other services you can use to send money abroad.

What fees does PayPal charge for commercial cross-border payments?

Things work slightly differently if you are sending or receiving money for commercial purposes.

If you’re receiving money from buyers outside the UK, you’ll be required to add a cross-border commercial payment fee. This comes in two parts:

  1. A percentage based cross-border fee.
  2. A fixed fee element based on the currency received.

Cross-border fee

Sender’s countryCross-border fee
Northern Europe*0.5%
Europe I **0.5%
US/Canada2%
Europe II***2%
Rest of the world2%

* Northern Europe: Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland (including Aland Islands), Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden.

** Europe I: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, France (including French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion and Mayotte), Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, United Kingdom (including Channel Islands and Isle of Man), Vatican City State.

*** Europe II: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine.

Fixed fee based on currency received

If you’re accepting payments in other currencies, the percentage will be the same as stated in the table above, but the fixed fee will vary according to the currency you’re receiving.

Moreover, a 2.5% currency exchange fee for converting money back to pounds will apply.

CurrencyFee
Australian dollar0.30 AUD
Brazilian real0.06 BRL
Canadian dollar0.30 CAD
Czech koruna10 CZK
Danish krone2.60 DKK
Euro0.35 EUR
Hong Kong dollar2.35 HKD
Hungarian forint90 HUF
Israeli shekel1.20 ILS
Japanese yen40 JPY
Malaysian ringgit2 MYR
Mexican peso4 MXN
CurrencyFee
New Zealand dollar0.45 NZD
Norwegian krone2.80 NOK
Philippine peso15 PHP
Polish zloty1.35 PLN
Russian ruble10 RUB
Singapore dollar0.50 SGD
Swedish krona3.25 SEK
Swiss franc0.55 CHF
Taiwan new dollar10 TWD
Thai baht11 THB
UK pound sterling0.30 GBP
US dollar0.30 USD

How to check PayPal’s international money transfer exchange rates

Like other international money transfer services, PayPal applies a margin to the mid-market exchange rate. To check what PayPal’s exchange rates are for your chosen currency, you just need to complete the following steps:

  1. Log in to your PayPal account.
  2. Click Wallet, which should be near the top of your screen.
  3. Click Currencies Calculator, which is under your PayPal balance.
  4. Select the currencies you want to convert to see rates.

Compare money transfer services

Our table below lets you compare services you can use to send money abroad. Compare fees, exchange rates and discounts from different money transfer services, and when you have made your choice, click Go to site.
1 - 20 of 21
Name Product Filter values Ratings Pay by Receiving options Fastest transfer Fee (pay by bank transfer) Key benefits
OFFER
TorFX
Finder rating
★★★★★
Debit card, Bank transfer
Bank account
24 hours
£0
Rate improver guarantee: TorFX will match and beat any rate you're offered by a competitor. T&Cs apply. Get a £50 Amazon voucher for each friend you refer who transfers £5,000 or more. T&Cs apply.
Key Currency
Not rated yet
Bank transfer
Bank account
24 hours
£0
OFFER
Wise (TransferWise)
Finder rating
★★★★★
Credit card, Debit card, Bank transfer
Bank account
4 hours
From £3.75
Refer 3 friends to receive up to £50 referral bonus
Equals Business Expense Card
Equals Business Expense Card
Not rated yet
Bank transfer
Bank account
24 hours
1.5%
OFX
Finder rating
★★★★★
Credit card, Debit card, Bank transfer
Bank account, Mobile wallet
24 hours
£0
CurrencyTransfer
Not rated yet
Bank transfer
Bank account
24 hours
£0
OFFER
Currencies Direct
Finder rating
★★★★★
Bank transfer
Bank account, Mobile wallet
24 hours
£0
Get a £50 Amazon voucher for each friend you refer who transfers £5,000 or more. T&Cs apply.
OFFER
Xe
Finder rating
★★★★★
Credit card, Debit card, Bank transfer
Cash pickup location, Bank account
Within minutes
£2
Refer a friend and you'll each get a £25 Amazon voucher when they transfer over £1,000. T&Cs apply.
DISCOUNT
PassTo
Finder rating
★★★★★
Credit card, Debit card, Bank transfer
Cash pickup location, Bank account, Mobile wallet
Within minutes
From £0.99
No fees on your first transfer. Refer 3 friends to PassTo and earn £50 once they each make a transfer of at least £200. They'll earn £5 too. T&Cs apply.
OFFER
Atlantic Money
Not rated yet
Bank transfer
Bank account
Within minutes
£3
Pay no fees on your first Atlantic Money transaction with this link.
Remitly
Finder rating
★★★★★
Credit card, Debit card, Bank transfer
Cash pickup location, Bank account, Mobile wallet, Home delivery
Within minutes
From £1.49
OFFER
CurrencyFair
Finder rating
★★★★★
Bank transfer
Bank account
24 hours
£2.50
New customers get unlimited fee-free transfers for their first 3 months. T&Cs apply.
OFFER
Revolut
Not rated yet
Bank transfer
Bank account
Within minutes
From £0
Sign up and get 3 months of Revolut Premium for free. T&Cs apply.
OFFER
WorldRemit
Finder rating
★★★★★
Credit card, Debit card, Bank transfer
Cash pickup location, Bank account, Mobile wallet, Prepaid phone credit
Within minutes
From £1.99
Use promo code 3FREE and pay no fees on your first 3 transfers. Conditions apply.
OFX
Finder rating
★★★★★
Credit card, Debit card, Bank transfer
Bank account, Mobile wallet
24 hours
£0
OFFER
TorFX Business
Finder rating
★★★★★
Bank transfer
Bank account
24 hours
£0
Rate improver guarantee: TorFX will match and beat any rate you're offered by a competitor. T&Cs apply.
Currencies Direct Business
Finder rating
★★★★★
Debit card, Bank transfer
Bank account, Mobile wallet
24 hours
£0
OFX Business
Not rated yet
Credit card, Debit card, Bank transfer
Bank account, Mobile wallet
24 hours
£0
CurrencyFair Business
Not rated yet
Bank transfer
Bank account
24 hours
£2.50
Zero fees on your first 10 transfers. T&Cs apply.
WorldFirst Business
Not rated yet
Debit card, Bank transfer
Bank account, Mobile wallet
24 hours
£0
loading

Frequently asked questions

More guides on Finder

  • Alternatives to Atlantic Money

    Compare money transfer providers like Atlantic Money that offer online transfers, cash pickups, spot contracts and more.

  • British pound exchange rate predictions

    Our panel of experts shares its predictions on the course of the pound against the dollar and the euro.

  • Remote working statistics 2023

    Working abroad is growing more popular for Brits, with the US, France and Germany as popular destinations.

  • UK remittance statistics

    The UK’s yearly remittance has gone up by 24.6% since 2010. Where is this money going?

  • Starling Bank international payments

    Find out if digital-first bank Starling’s overseas transfer service is your best option when sending money abroad.

  • Wise vs Xoom

    PayPal’s native international transfers service goes up against the UK’s own Wise.

  • Western Union vs Wise

    Wise beats Western Union on exchange rate but has a way to go to match Western Union’s features (you can’t send cash) and global coverage.

  • Apps like Ria

    Find iPhone and Android alternatives to the popular Ria app for overseas transfers.

  • OFX vs Wise

    Compare live quotes and forex features from these two trusted global transfer specialists.

  • Apps like Xoom

    Find alternatives to PayPal’s Xoom and compare costs on your next overseas transfer.

Ask an Expert

You are about to post a question on finder.com:

  • Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
  • finder.com is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
  • We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
  • Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked

Finder.com provides guides and information on a range of products and services. Because our content is not financial advice, we suggest talking with a professional before you make any decision.

By submitting your comment or question, you agree to our Privacy and Cookies Policy and Terms of Use.

Questions and responses on finder.com are not provided, paid for or otherwise endorsed by any bank or brand. These banks and brands are not responsible for ensuring that comments are answered or accurate.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

4 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    NaomiMarch 7, 2019

    Hello,

    I would like to send 135 dollars to the USA and my account is in pounds. How much in pounds will that come to with all the charges?

      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      JeniMarch 8, 2019Staff

      Hi Naomi,

      Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.

      If you consider using Paypal to send USD, you may do so even if you’re having GBP in your account. The currency conversion fee from GBP to USD is 3.5% of the transaction value. In addition, you may convert currencies in your Paypal account. To convert your PayPal balance to a different currency – from GBP to USD. Simply log in on your Paypal account then click PayPal balance at the left side of the page then click on Manage currencies. Kindly enter the amount you want to convert under the Currency Exchange column then choose the new currency. If you need further assistance on your Paypal account, please click the Help tab at the top of Paypal page.

      I hope this helps.

      Thank you and have a wonderful day!

      Cheers,
      Jeni

    Default Gravatar
    DawnFebruary 4, 2019

    If I pay for goods not via friends and family how much will I get charged and how much will the person I am buying off get charged. The amount I want to send is £140. Thank you.

      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      ValFebruary 15, 2019Staff

      Hi Dawn,

      Thank you for leaving a question. For PayPal fees. If you are the buyer, you will not be charged for anything. Otherwise, if you are the seller of an item and receiving payment, this will depend on the currency involved. PayPal gets a fee for the transactions as payment for the services provided. Usually it is 1.9% to 3.4% of the amount paid, if it is cross border then there is an additional fee as well.

      Hope this helps.

      Cheers,
      Val

Go to site