How to Use This Calculator
- 1
Enter Your Order Details
Input the average order total in dollars, the number of transactions per month, and your BigCommerce monthly plan fee (Standard = $29.95, Plus = $79.95, Pro = $299.95).
- 2
Review Your Fee Breakdown
The calculator shows your total monthly fees, monthly net revenue, and effective fee rate. The insights card breaks down per-transaction fees, net per sale, and cost-to-revenue ratio.
Example Calculation
An online retailer processes 50 orders per month averaging $500 each on a BigCommerce Standard plan ($29.95/month).
Order Total ($)
$500
Transactions per Month
50
Monthly Plan Fee ($)
$29.95
Results
Total Monthly Fees
$769.95
Monthly Net Revenue
$24,230.05
Effective Fee Rate
2.96%
Insights card shows fee per transaction ($14.
Tips
Increase Order Size to Lower Your Effective Rate
The $0.30 fixed fee has more impact on small orders. A $100 order incurs a $3.20 fee (3.20% effective rate), while a $500 order incurs $14.80 (2.96%). Bundling products or offering free shipping thresholds can push average order values up and reduce your effective rate.
Compare Plan Costs at Your Volume
At 200 transactions of $500 each, the Standard plan ($29.95) costs $2,989.95/month total while Plus ($79.95) costs $3,039.95 — only $50.00 more. If Plus offers features you need (like abandoned cart recovery), the marginal cost is minimal at higher volumes.
Watch the Impact on Low-Value Orders
Selling $50 items with 50 monthly orders on a Standard plan costs $117.45/month in total fees — a 4.70% cost-to-revenue ratio. If your margins are thin, consider whether a marketplace with lower per-transaction fees makes sense for low-ticket items.
Project Annual Fee Costs Before Choosing a Plan
With default inputs (50 orders at $500, Standard plan), your monthly fees of $769.95 add up to $9,239.40 per year. At 200 transactions per month, annual costs jump to $35,879.40 on Standard vs. $36,479.40 on Plus — run the numbers before committing.
How BigCommerce Fee Calculation Works
BigCommerce processing fees have two components: a percentage fee (2.9%) and a fixed per-transaction fee ($0.30).
The formula is:
Fee Per Transaction = (Order Total x 0.029) + $0.30
Total Monthly Fees = (Fee Per Transaction x Transactions) + Plan Fee
Net Revenue = (Order Total x Transactions) - Total Monthly Fees
For a $500 order: ($500 x 0.029) + $0.30 = $14.80 per transaction.
With 50 monthly transactions and a $29.95 Standard plan, total fees are ($14.80 x 50) + $29.95 = $769.95, leaving $24,230.05 in net revenue.
Fee Impact by Order Size
The fixed $0.30 fee means smaller orders pay a proportionally higher effective rate:
| Order Total | Fee Per Transaction | Effective Rate | Monthly Fees (50 txns, Standard) | Net Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50 | $1.75 | 3.50% | $117.45 | $2,382.55 |
| $100 | $3.20 | 3.20% | $189.95 | $4,810.05 |
| $200 | $6.10 | 3.05% | $334.95 | $9,665.05 |
| $500 | $14.80 | 2.96% | $769.95 | $24,230.05 |
Merchants with average orders under $100 should pay close attention to the effective rate — the $0.30 fixed fee pushes it above 3%, which can erode margins on low-ticket items.
Plan Comparison at Scale
At higher volumes, the plan fee becomes a smaller share of total costs.
With 200 monthly transactions at $500 each:
| Plan | Plan Fee | Processing Fees | Total Monthly | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $29.95 | $2,960.00 | $2,989.95 | $35,879.40 |
| Plus | $79.95 | $2,960.00 | $3,039.95 | $36,479.40 |
| Pro | $299.95 | $2,960.00 | $3,259.95 | $39,119.40 |
The processing fees dominate — the difference between Standard and Plus is only $50.00/month.
Choose your plan based on features (abandoned cart, customer segmentation) rather than fee savings alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What processing fee does this calculator use?
The calculator uses 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, which is the standard PayPal-powered Braintree rate included with BigCommerce. For a $500 order, that's ($500 x 0.029) + $0.30 = $14.80 per transaction.
How are total monthly fees calculated?
Total Monthly Fees = (Fee Per Transaction x Number of Transactions) + Monthly Plan Fee. With a $500 order, 50 transactions, and a $29.95 plan: ($14.80 x 50) + $29.95 = $769.95.
What is the effective fee rate and why does it matter?
The effective fee rate is (Fee Per Transaction / Order Total) x 100. For a $500 order, it's ($14.80 / $500) x 100 = 2.96%. This single number lets you compare BigCommerce costs against other platforms regardless of order size.
How do fees differ across BigCommerce plans?
Processing fees (2.9% + $0.30) are the same across plans — only the monthly subscription changes. Standard is $29.95, Plus is $79.95, and Pro is $299.95. At 200 transactions of $500 each, total costs are $2,989.95 (Standard), $3,039.95 (Plus), and $3,259.95 (Pro).
Does the calculator account for BigCommerce's own transaction fees?
No. BigCommerce charges 0% on Plus/Pro plans and custom rates on Enterprise. This calculator focuses on the payment processing fee (2.9% + $0.30) which applies to all plans. If you're on Standard with additional platform fees, add those manually.
Are shipping and tax included in fee calculations?
Payment processing fees are charged on the full order total including shipping and tax. If a $500 order includes $30 shipping and $40 tax, the actual charged amount is $570, making the fee ($570 x 0.029) + $0.30 = $16.83 — enter $570 as the order total for accuracy.