Credit card processing statistics for 2026
Last updated: . Published by Avendo.
US merchants paid a record $198.25 billion in card fees in 2025, at an average Visa and Mastercard credit rate of 2.36%, according to Beast Insights.
Avendo collected the published figures below because they explain why per-transaction routing matters to online stores. Every number belongs to the source named beside it; none are Avendo’s own results.
What is the average credit card processing fee?
The 2025 average Visa and Mastercard credit rate was 2.36%, per Beast Insights, and retailers pay an average of 2.3% per credit card transaction, per the Small Business Payments Alliance. NerdWallet puts the typical range at 1.5% to 3.5% of each transaction.
The size of the problem
- $198.25 billion
- Record card fees paid by US merchants in 2025. Source: Beast Insights.
- Almost $2.0 trillion
- Global payments revenue in 2025, per Boston Consulting Group. Source: Beast Insights.
- $6.5 trillion
- Credit card purchase volume in 2024. Source: Small Business Payments Alliance.
- 608 million
- Open general purpose card accounts by year-end 2024, a 35% increase since 2018. Source: Small Business Payments Alliance.
Rates and pricing models
- 1.5% to 3.5%
- Typical credit card processing fees per transaction. Source: NerdWallet.
- 2.36%
- Average Visa and Mastercard credit rate in 2025. Source: Beast Insights.
- 2.3%
- Average paid by retailers on each credit card transaction. Source: Small Business Payments Alliance.
- 2.6% + 10¢
- Example flat rate combining interchange, assessments, and markup. Source: NerdWallet.
- 0.4% + 8¢
- Example interchange-plus markup. Source: NerdWallet.
- Over $10,000
- Monthly volume above which interchange-plus typically offers lower rates. Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
- Often below 2%
- Lowest realistic rates, typically reserved for very high-volume businesses. Source: MBNCard.
What small rate changes are worth
- $2,000 a year
- Saved by cutting the effective rate 0.20% on $1,000,000 of annual card volume. Source: Clearly Payments.
- $960 a year
- Saved in a worked example for a business processing $20,000 a month. Source: Homebase.
These two examples show why Avendo routes every transaction instead of a few: small per-sale differences add up across a year. Try your own numbers with the effective rate calculator.
Why accepting cards is still worth it
- Nearly three-quarters
- Share of nationwide retail sales from credit card transactions, by industry estimates. Source: Small Business Payments Alliance.
- $4 to $20
- Bank of America’s estimate of what a business check can cost, including staff time. Source: Small Business Payments Alliance.
Read how Avendo helps online stores find the lowest credit card processing fees
Common questions
What is the average credit card processing fee in 2026?
The most recent full-year figure is 2.36%. Beast Insights reports that the average Visa and Mastercard credit rate in 2025 was 2.36%, in a year when US merchants paid a record $198.25 billion in card fees. The Small Business Payments Alliance separately reports that retailers pay an average of 2.3% per credit card transaction.
What are the processing fees for credit card payments?
Credit card processing fees typically cost a business 1.5% to 3.5% of each transaction, according to NerdWallet’s 2026 guide. The total combines interchange paid to the card-issuing bank, assessments paid to the card networks, and the processor’s markup. Your actual cost depends on card type, sale size, and your pricing model.
Why is everyone charging credit card fees now?
Card acceptance costs have grown, and some businesses pass them on to protect their margins. Beast Insights reports that US merchants paid a record $198.25 billion in card fees in 2025. Surcharges are one response; lowering the processing rate itself, which is what Avendo’s per-transaction routing aims to do, is another.
How much can a small cut in my processing rate save?
Small rate changes add up quickly at volume. Clearly Payments shows that a business with $1,000,000 a year in card volume saves $2,000 per year by cutting its effective rate by 0.20%. Homebase’s worked example for a business processing $20,000 a month arrives at $960 saved annually. Your result depends on your own volume and current rate.
What should I do if my effective rate looks too high?
Compare it against published figures first: NerdWallet puts typical fees at 1.5% to 3.5%, and Beast Insights reports a 2.36% average Visa and Mastercard credit rate for 2025. If you sit above those, review your pricing model, check for monthly fees, and consider routing across multiple processors with Avendo.
Keep reading
- Guide to the lowest credit card processing fees
The main guide to lowering card fees with multi-processor routing.
- Credit card processing cost and your effective rate
Rates, fee components, and an effective rate calculator.
- Credit card processing companies compared
Avendo, Stripe, and Helcim Fee Saver on the same criteria.
Ask Avendo what routing would mean for your store
Tell the Avendo team about your checkout, your monthly card volume, and what you pay today. Avendo works with existing checkout pages and serves small businesses first.