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What do Stripe refunds cost your business?

Adjust the 20% refund caseCompare the four examples

A refund returns the sale to your customer. Stripe says the original transaction's processing fees are not returned, and a refund may incur a fee. Compare the cash you retain before setting your refund assumptions.

Stripe refund documentation โ†—Stripe pricing guide
Illustrative US standard card model$100 ร— 100 orders

$10,000 captured sales. 2.9% + $0.30 per order, 0% international cards and 0% conversion. $320 original processing fees in every case. Confirm your region and contract.

Same sales. Four refund scenarios.

Retained proceeds = captured sales โˆ’ refunded sales โˆ’ original processing fees once. These examples assume equal-value full refunds and exclude any extra refund fees.

Where the $10,000.00 goes at 20% refunds

Returned to customers
$2,000.00
Original processing fees
$320.00
Retained before other costs
$7,680.00

The three amounts add up to captured sales. Original processing fees are deducted once, including fees on refunded orders. Refunded sales are money returned to customers; retained proceeds still exclude other costs and extra refund fees.

Recalculate this breakdown โ†’

Illustrative cases, not predicted refund rates or an account quote. Retained proceeds are before tax, disputes, extra refund fees, platform costs and other expenses; not profit. Check current pricing for your account.

Model your own refund exposure

Open a case, change order value and captured volume, then adjust card mix and the full-refund rate. The calculator's Refund stress test compares all four rates using your inputs. Copy the comparison to keep the amounts and reusable case links together.

Before using this estimate

  • Use captured orders before refunds; subtracting refunds from volume first understates original fees.
  • Partial refunds, reversals, uncaptured cancellations and custom pricing need separate treatment.
  • Check your account's refund fees, region and payment methods. This model excludes extra refund fees.
  • Product costs, taxes and other expenses still reduce profit.

Refund mechanics source checked October 3, 2026: Stripe documentation.

Stripe refund questions, answered

Use these answers to set a refund assumption, then open the calculator with the same case. The source links point to Stripe's current documentation and pricing pages.

Quick answers

Does Stripe return the original processing fee when a payment is refunded?
Stripe says the original processing fee is not returned when you refund a payment. This guide keeps that fee in the estimate and subtracts the refunded sale separately.
Does a Stripe refund always have an additional fee?
Stripe says a refund may incur a fee. The worked examples on this page exclude any extra refund fee, so check your account region, payment method and current Stripe terms before relying on an estimate.
What does the 20% refund example include?
The example starts with $10,000 in captured sales, returns $2,000 of equal-value orders, and keeps $320 of original processing fees, leaving $7,680 in retained proceeds before other costs.
Is a Stripe reversal the same as a refund?
No. Stripe says some refunds issued shortly after a charge appear as reversals: the original charge drops off and a separate credit is not issued. This calculator models equal-value full refunds, so reversals need separate treatment.
Adjust the 20% refund example โ†’

Read Stripe's refund documentation โ†— ยท Check current pricing โ†—