Stripe Fees for High-Volume Merchants

When does Stripe’s public 2.9% + 30¢ stop being the right rate? Custom pricing thresholds, interchange-plus, and what to ask for in negotiations.

At a glance

Custom pricing threshold
$80k+/mo (varies by category)
Interchange-plus model
Interchange + Stripe margin
Typical savings
20–60 bps at scale
Annual fee impact at $1M/mo
$24k–$72k savings

Stripe’s public 2.9% + 30¢ is a blended rate. At higher volumes, interchange-plus pricing (interchange + a small fixed margin to Stripe) is meaningfully cheaper, because actual interchange is typically only 1.5–2.0% on consumer cards and lower for debit. The threshold is usually around $80k/mo in card volume.

Frequently asked questions

When does it make sense to ask Stripe for custom pricing?
Around $80k–$100k/mo in card volume. Below that, the negotiation isn’t worth Stripe’s time and you’re unlikely to get meaningful savings. Above $250k/mo, you should definitely be on a custom contract — public pricing at that scale is leaving 20–60 bps on the table.
What is interchange-plus pricing?
Interchange (the cost the card-issuing bank charges) varies by card type — regulated debit is ~0.05% + $0.21, premium consumer credit can be 1.8–2.0%, corporate cards are 2.5%+. Interchange-plus shows you the actual interchange and a small fixed margin to Stripe. Public 2.9% blended hides the variance — at high volume, interchange-plus passes the savings on regulated debit and government cards through to you.
What metrics should I bring to a Stripe negotiation?
Monthly card volume, transaction count, average ticket size, % international cards, dispute rate, refund rate, mix of debit vs credit. The lower your dispute and refund rates, the better leverage. Bring 6–12 months of historical data.

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