Zettle Rates: What Do You Really Pay Per Sale?

What are Zettle rates?

Zettle rates are the charges PayPal Zettle takes each time a customer pays you by card. In most cases the charge is a percentage of the sale, sometimes paired with other fee components depending on how the payment is taken.

The exact figures are set by Zettle and can change over time. They can also differ by country, by payment type, and by whether you sell in person or online. For that reason, the only reliable source for a current number is Zettle's own official pricing page, not a blog post, including this one.

What we can do here is show you how to read those rates, what surrounds them, and how to judge whether they suit your business. If you want a side-by-side look, our breakdown of PayPal Zettle fees vs dual pricing walks through the comparison step by step.

Where do you find the current Zettle rates?

Start on Zettle's official website and look for the pricing or fees page for your country. That page is the single source of truth for what applies to you today.

Write down more than the headline percentage. Note every line item you see: in-person card payments, keyed-in payments, online or invoice payments, QR code payments, and any fixed amount added to each sale. Different payment types are often priced differently, and your business may use several of them in a normal week.

Also check the date or version of the page. Fee schedules get updated, so a screenshot from last year may not match what you are charged now. Your account dashboard and monthly statement show what you were actually charged, and those are worth more than any list price.

Why can your real cost differ from the listed rate?

Because the listed rate describes one type of sale, and your business is a mix of many. A merchant who sells mostly in person at the counter will see a different average cost than one who sends invoices or sells online.

Several things can move your real cost away from the headline figure:

• Payment mix. In-person, keyed-in, and online payments may each carry a different rate.
• Ticket size. If a fee includes a fixed amount per sale, small tickets feel that amount more than large ones.
• Hardware. Readers and accessories are a cost on top of the transaction rate.
• Refunds and disputes. Handling a refund or a chargeback can involve additional charges or lost fees.
• Payout timing. Getting your money faster can have a price, and waiting can affect cash flow.

None of this makes a rate good or bad. It just means the percentage alone cannot tell you what you will pay across a real month.

How do you compare Zettle rates with another processor?

Compare total monthly cost, not the headline percentage. The simplest way is to take one recent month of real sales and price it under each option.

Here is a practical method:

1. Pull one full month of sales from your reports.

2. Split it by payment type: in person, keyed in, online, and invoices.

3. List the number of sales and the total dollar amount in each group.

4. Apply each provider's published rates to each group, including any fixed per-sale amounts.

5. Add monthly fees, hardware costs, and any charges for refunds or disputes.

6. Compare the final totals side by side.

This takes less than an hour, and it replaces guesswork with your own numbers. It also keeps the comparison honest, because a rate that looks lower on a single payment type can come out higher once your full mix is counted.

If a provider quotes you a rate, ask for it in writing and ask what is included. A clear answer to "what else will I be charged?" is a good sign. A vague answer is worth noting.

What is dual pricing, and how does it change the math?

Dual pricing means you show two prices for the same item: one for customers paying with a card, and one for customers paying with cash. The card price and the cash price are displayed separately, so the cost of accepting cards is visible rather than buried in a single price.

Why does that matter? With a single price, you absorb card processing costs out of your own margin on every card sale. With dual pricing, the customer chooses how to pay, and the price they see reflects that choice. Many merchants like this because it puts a basic business cost in the open instead of leaving it as a quiet drain on profit.

MidPay offers dual pricing so the card price and the cash price are shown separately. If you want to see how this compares with a flat per-sale approach, read the PayPal Zettle fees vs dual pricing comparison, which lays out the differences in plain language.

Is dual pricing a good fit for every business?

Not always, and it is worth thinking it through before you switch. Dual pricing tends to work best when your customers are used to seeing clear price signs and when you can explain the two prices simply.

Consider these questions:

• How do your customers pay today? If most of your sales are by card, the way you price card sales matters a great deal to your margin.
• Can you display prices clearly? Signs, menus, receipts, and your website should all show both prices in a way that is easy to understand.
• Do you sell in person, online, or both? Your setup affects how you present each price.
• Do you know the rules where you operate? Card brand rules and local requirements for showing two prices can apply, so check what is required for your location and business type before launching.

A good provider will walk you through the setup and help you present both prices correctly. If a provider cannot explain how the display requirements work, keep asking questions until you get a straight answer.

What should you ask before you change processors?

Ask for the full picture in writing before you commit. A few questions cover most of what trips merchants up:

• What exactly will I be charged per sale, and does the amount change by payment type?
• Are there monthly, annual, or setup fees?
• What does the hardware cost, and do I own it?
• What happens to my money if there is a dispute or a refund?
• How quickly do payouts arrive, and does faster access cost more?
• Is there a contract, and what does it cost to leave?

Write the answers down and compare them with your current statement. If you are leaving a provider, also check how to export your sales history and customer data so you do not lose records during the move.

Switching is easier when you plan the timing. Many merchants run the new system alongside the old one for a short stretch, then move over fully once they are comfortable.

How can you see your rate with MidPay?

The fastest way is to apply and see the rate built for your business. You do not have to guess from a generic table, and you can compare it directly with the Zettle figures you pulled from your own statement.

Bring your recent monthly totals so the comparison is real. Your rate is shown to you when you apply, and you decide whether it makes sense for your business. If you would rather talk it through first, call MidPay at 1-855-464-3576.

Ready to compare? See your rate.

Frequently asked

Do Zettle rates change over time?

Yes, they can. Providers update fee schedules from time to time, and rates can vary by country and payment type. Check the official Zettle pricing page for current figures, and review your monthly statement to confirm what you were actually charged.

Are there costs beyond the per-sale rate?

Often, yes. Hardware, refunds, disputes, and payout speed can all add to your total cost. When you compare options, include every line item from your statement, not only the headline percentage, so the numbers reflect your real month.

Do small sales cost more proportionally?

They can. If a fee includes a fixed amount on each sale, that amount takes a bigger share of a small ticket than of a large one. Businesses with many low-value sales should price a full month of sales before judging a rate.

How long does a fair comparison take?

Usually under an hour. Pull one recent month of sales, split it by payment type, and apply each provider's published rates plus monthly and hardware costs. Comparing the final totals gives a clearer answer than comparing percentages.

What does dual pricing look like to a customer?

The customer sees two prices for the same item, one for paying by card and one for paying with cash. Both are displayed separately and clearly, so the customer can choose how to pay before the sale is completed.

Can I try MidPay without leaving my current provider?

You can apply to see your rate without making any changes first. Many merchants compare the quote with their current statement and decide afterward. Call 1-855-464-3576 if you want to talk through timing before you move.