PayPal fees in Lithuania: commissions and currency conversion

A PayPal charge in Lithuania has two parts: a fixed fee per transaction (depending on the currency) and a percentage commission on the amount received. For commercial transactions the percentage typically ranges from ~2.9% on domestic payments to ~3.4–4.4%+ on international ones, and if a currency conversion is involved a separate 2.5–4.5% conversion markup is added on top of the base rate. In short: you actually receive less than the nominal amount, and the more "crossings" a payment makes (different country, different currency), the more percentage points disappear.

This guide explains what makes up a PayPal fee, how domestic and international payments differ, how the currency-conversion markup works, and what you can do to keep more of your money. All figures here are illustrative (2026) — PayPal updates its rates periodically and they depend on account type and country, so always check the current pricing on PayPal's fees page before an important deal.

How PayPal fees work: a fixed fee plus a percentage

When you receive a commercial payment (a sale, a service payment, an invoice), PayPal deducts two parts from the amount:

1. A percentage commission — a set percentage of the total received.
2. A fixed transaction fee — a small constant amount that depends on the receiving currency (for euros this is usually around 0.35 EUR; other currencies have an equivalent).

The formula is simple:

Amount received − (amount × percentage) − fixed fee = money that actually lands in your account.

Example. A client in Lithuania pays 100 EUR for a service. If a ~2.9% commission + 0.35 EUR fixed fee applies, PayPal takes 2.90 + 0.35 = 3.25 EUR, and you receive 96.75 EUR. The fixed fee hurts more on small amounts: on a 5 EUR payment, that same 0.35 EUR is already 7% in the fixed part alone — which is why PayPal is relatively expensive for small, frequent transfers.

It's important to distinguish commercial and personal payments. Sending money to a friend or family member between personal accounts in the same country and currency is often free. But as soon as a payment becomes commercial (goods/service) or crosses a border or currency, the commission kicks in. Never accept business payments as "friends and family" — you lose buyer protection and breach PayPal's rules.

Receiving fees: how domestic and international payments differ

The core rule: the "further away" the payer, the higher the percentage. The PayPal fee depends on the country where the payer's account is registered.

• Domestic (local) payments — when the payer is in Lithuania / the same region. Lower percentage (illustrative ~2.9%).
• International payments — when the money arrives from another country. PayPal adds a cross-border surcharge, so the total percentage rises (illustrative ~3.4% and up, depending on the sender's country group).

So the same 1,000 EUR deal costs differently depending on whether the client is in Vilnius or New York:

| Scenario | Amount | Approx. commission | You'll receive (approx.) | |---|---|---|---| | Domestic, EUR, no conversion | 1,000 EUR | ~2.9% + 0.35 | ~970 EUR | | International, EUR, no conversion | 1,000 EUR | ~3.4–4.4% + fixed | ~956–966 EUR | | International + currency conversion | 1,000 USD | commission + 3–4% conversion | noticeably less |

The table figures are illustrative — the exact percentage depends on your account type, the payer's country and PayPal's current rates. But the direction is clear: an international sale with a currency conversion is the most expensive combination.

The currency-conversion markup and how it adds another percentage

The most overlooked, yet most painful, fee is the currency-conversion markup. If you receive an amount in another currency (e.g. USD or GBP) while your account/bank currency is EUR, PayPal converts the money not at the true market rate but at its own rate with an added markup (illustrative 2.5–4.5%) over the base interbank rate.

The key point: this markup adds to the percentage commission rather than replacing it. So an international payment with conversion can easily eat 5–8% of the total:

• the receiving commission (~3.4–4.4%),
• the currency-conversion markup (~3–4%),
• plus the fixed transaction fee.

Practical tip: if you hold a balance in the same currency (e.g. a USD balance in your PayPal account), you can sometimes receive and keep funds in that currency and convert later in a cheaper way — for instance, by withdrawing to a multi-currency account. But check whether this is possible for your account type and what the real rate will be.

Why you actually receive less than the stated amount

The client sees 100 USD, you see far less in your bank — a common source of frustration. The reason isn't one hidden line but several layers of fees stacking up:

1. The percentage commission on the full amount.
2. The cross-border surcharge if the payer is in another country.
3. The currency-conversion markup if the currency doesn't match.
4. The fixed transaction fee.
5. Withdrawal nuances — transferring to a bank EUR account is usually free, but withdrawing in another currency or via card may add costs.

Because of this stacking, calculating the net amount in your head is hard. So before invoicing an international client, work out how much will actually remain and, if needed, build the PayPal cost into your price or clearly agree who covers it. A seller who ignores this can "accidentally" lose 50–80 EUR of margin on every 1,000 EUR deal.

Alternatives and ways to cut costs

PayPal is convenient for its buyer protection and near-universal adoption, but costs can often be reduced. A few directions (always verify current rates before changing your process):

• Avoid double conversion. Where you can, ask to be paid in EUR rather than USD/GBP — that removes the conversion markup.
• Use a EUR balance and a EUR bank account for withdrawals so PayPal doesn't do an extra conversion at the final step.
• Consider multi-currency accounts (e.g. Wise, Revolut Business, etc.) for international payments — their conversion markup is often lower. Keep PayPal only where clients insist on it.
• For large deals, compare the total cost: PayPal's convenience can be worth the percentage for small payments, but for big transfers a bank transfer or IBAN payment is often cheaper.
• Build the cost into pricing where it's fair and permitted — instead of letting it quietly eat your margin.

Need clarity on bank details for international transfers too? Our IBAN checker helps you confirm an account number is correct before you send.

Calculate how much is left after PayPal fees

The best way to stop guessing is to run the numbers for your specific case. Our PayPal fee calculator lets you enter the amount and currency and flag whether the payment is international, then instantly shows roughly how much remains after the commission. This helps you price services correctly and avoid loss-making international deals.

You'll find more financial and business calculators — from VAT to margin — in our free tools section. A quick reminder: all percentages and amounts in this article are illustrative (2026) and may differ by your account type and PayPal's prevailing rates — for critical decisions always check PayPal's official pricing page.

If you'd rather have invoicing, payment tracking and cost calculation happen automatically instead of by hand every time, book a free consultation — we'll help set up your cash-flow accounting so PayPal and other fees no longer surprise you.