Costs and rates
Credit card processing cost, by the numbers
Last updated November 2026. Published by Avendo.
Credit card processing for an online store usually costs interchange of 1.5% to 2.5% per credit transaction, plus network assessments and the processor's markup.
How much does credit card processing cost?
Interchange is the largest layer, typically between 1.5% and 2.5% of a credit transaction, and assessments add roughly 0.13% to 0.15% of volume plus small per-transaction fees, according to PHP Point of Sale. The processor's markup is the layer that differs most between providers, which is the layer Avendo routing compares on every sale.
This page, from the Avendo Industry Payments Guide, collects published 2026 figures on rates for credit card processing and lets you calculate your own effective rate. Avendo does not publish a merchant price because it does not bill or charge merchants directly; its compensation is handled between Avendo and payment processors.
What makes up a credit card processing fee?
| Layer | Paid to | Typical size | What moves it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interchange | Cardholder’s issuing bank | Typically 1.5% to 2.5% of a credit transaction, depending on the card and how it was accepted | Card type, how the card was accepted |
| Assessments | Card networks | Roughly 0.13% to 0.15% of volume plus small per-transaction network fees | Volume and number of transactions |
| Processor markup | Payment processor | Varies by processor and pricing model | Which processor handles the sale and its pricing model |
Credit card processing cost, by the numbers
Published industry figures that explain what online stores pay to accept cards. These are third-party market numbers, not Avendo results, and each links to its source.
1.5% to 2.5%
Interchange, the largest fee layer, typically runs between 1.5% and 2.5% of a credit transaction depending on the card and how it was accepted. It goes to the cardholder’s issuing bank.
Source: PHP Point of Sale, Credit Card Processing Fees Explained for Retailers (2026)
0.13% to 0.15%
Card network assessments are roughly 0.13% to 0.15% of volume, plus small per-transaction network fees.
Source: PHP Point of Sale, Credit Card Processing Fees Explained for Retailers (2026)
2.6% vs 3.1%
A store that believes it is paying around 2.6% can easily be at 3.1%.
Source: PHP Point of Sale, Credit Card Processing Fees Explained for Retailers (2026)
$3,000 a year
On $50,000 a month in card sales, a half point difference in rate is $3,000 a year.
Source: PHP Point of Sale, Credit Card Processing Fees Explained for Retailers (2026)
68%
In fashion retail, home delivery remains the volume driver, with 68% of shoppers buying online for home delivery.
Source: ACI Worldwide, Omnichannel payments in fashion retail: 2026 trends
41% vs 28%
In fashion retail, women lead hybrid behavior: click and collect is at 41% for women vs. 28% of men.
Source: ACI Worldwide, Omnichannel payments in fashion retail: 2026 trends
Rate gap calculator: what is your effective rate costing you?
Enter one month of card sales and total card fees from your statement, then a rate to compare against. The calculator shows your effective rate and the yearly difference at that volume. It runs in your browser and sends nothing anywhere.
What raises card processing cost in each sector?
- Fashion card processing costsReturns and refunds, seasonal peaks
- Food and beverage card processing costsSmall orders where fixed per-transaction fees weigh more
- Pet care card processing costsRepeat and subscription reorders over a long customer life
- Entertainment card processing costsOn-sale spikes and refunds after event changes
Credit card processing cost questions
See all credit card processing questions- How much does credit card processing cost?
Most of the cost is interchange, which goes to the cardholder’s issuing bank and is typically between 1.5% and 2.5% of a credit transaction depending on the card and how it was accepted, according to PHP Point of Sale’s 2026 retailer fee guide. Network assessments add roughly 0.13% to 0.15% of volume plus small per-transaction network fees, and the processor adds its own markup.
Read in the full FAQ- What are typical rates for credit card processing?
There is no single rate, because the total is built from layers. Interchange is typically between 1.5% and 2.5% of a credit transaction, network assessments are roughly 0.13% to 0.15% of volume plus small per-transaction fees, and the processor adds a markup. Those interchange and assessment ranges come from PHP Point of Sale’s 2026 guide for retailers.
Read in the full FAQ- Why is my effective rate higher than I expected?
Extra fees, card mix, and how transactions are accepted all push the blended number up. PHP Point of Sale’s 2026 guide notes that a store that believes it is paying around 2.6% can easily be at 3.1%. Dividing total monthly fees by total monthly card volume gives your real effective rate, which is the number worth comparing.
Read in the full FAQ- How much does half a percentage point cost a small online store?
On $50,000 a month in card sales, a half point difference is $3,000 a year, according to PHP Point of Sale’s 2026 fee guide for retailers. The same math scales with volume: half a point is always 0.5% of your annual card sales. The calculator on this site’s processing costs page lets you run the numbers for your own store.
Read in the full FAQ- How much does Avendo charge?
Avendo says it does not bill or charge merchants directly. Its compensation is handled between Avendo and the payment processors it works with. Card processing fees still exist, because processors and card networks charge them, but Avendo’s role is to route each transaction to the processor offering the best available rate. Ask Avendo for specifics that apply to your volume.
Read in the full FAQ- What is the cheapest credit card processing for small business?
The cheapest option is the one with the lowest effective rate for your actual mix of cards and order sizes, not the lowest advertised rate. Because rates vary by card and processor, Avendo routes each transaction to the processor offering the best available rate in real time instead of locking every sale to one price list. Compare effective rates, not headline percentages.
Read in the full FAQ