Chargeback Cost Calculator
See the true cost of a chargeback, not just the order value, including the dispute fee, lost goods and shipping, and where your ratio sits.
Your numbers
Your result · updates as you type
True cost of one chargeback
$103.00
1.72× the $60.00 order value, once the lost product, shipping and the $15.00 dispute fee are counted.
- Dispute fee
- $15.00
- Dispute ratio
- 0.75%
- Cost across this month's chargebacks
- $309
That's above Visa's Early Warning threshold of 0.65% (with 75+ disputes). It's still below the Standard tier, but worth fixing before it climbs.
Breakdown
- Order value (reversed to the customer)
- −$60.00
- Product cost lost
- −$20.00
- Shipping already paid
- −$8.00
- Dispute fee
- −$15.00
- True cost per chargeback
- −$103.00
- Across 3 chargebacks this month
- −$309.00
What a chargeback actually costs
A chargeback isn't just a refund. The bank reverses the full order amount, you almost never get the goods back, you already spent the product cost and shipping to fulfill it, and your processor charges a dispute fee on top, win or lose.
Example: the default numbers ($60 order, Stripe)
- Order value reversed
- $60.00
- Product cost lost
- $20.00
- Shipping already paid
- $8.00
- Stripe dispute fee
- $15.00
The true cost is $103, about 1.72× the order value. At 3 chargebacks this month, that's $309.
Stripe's dispute fee is $15 and isn't refunded even if you win. PayPal's is commonly around $20. Enter your own if you use a different processor.
Your dispute ratio and the card networks' thresholds
| Program | Threshold | Minimum disputes |
|---|---|---|
| Visa Dispute Monitoring: Early Warning | 0.65% | 75 in a month |
| Visa Dispute Monitoring: Standard | 0.90% | 100 in a month |
| Mastercard Excessive Chargeback Program | 1.00% | 100 in a month |
Cross a threshold and the card networks can add monitoring fees, require a remediation plan, or hold your processor to a reserve, on top of the cost of the chargebacks themselves. Enter your total monthly orders to see where your current ratio sits.
Cutting the number that actually happen
- Make your billing descriptor recognizable. A lot of disputes are "I don't recognize this charge", not real fraud.
- Answer support messages fast. Most disputed orders start as a customer trying to get help and giving up.
- Keep delivery proof. Signature or tracking confirmation is the strongest evidence in a "item not received" dispute.
Questions people ask
How much does a chargeback really cost?
More than the order value. Counting the lost product, shipping already spent and the dispute fee, it's often 1.5 to 3 times the order amount, depending on your margin and processor.
Do I get the dispute fee back if I win?
Not on Stripe: its standard $15 dispute fee is never refunded, win or lose. Some processors do refund the fee on a win, so check yours.
What chargeback ratio gets a store flagged?
Visa's Early Warning tier starts at a 0.65% dispute ratio with 75 or more disputes in a month. Mastercard's Excessive Chargeback Program uses a 1.00% ratio with 100 or more.
How is the dispute ratio calculated?
Chargebacks divided by total transactions in the same period, shown as a percentage. Refunds you issue voluntarily don't count, only disputes filed with the bank.
Related tools
Want this builtinto your store?
I'm Emmanuel, a Shopify and WooCommerce developer. If this tool pointed at something you'd rather have fixed for you (a faster store, cleaner product data, a migration, a custom feature), send me a note.
Emmanuel Asika
Shopify & WooCommerce developer, Dublin
I build and fix online stores: new builds, migrations, speed, SEO and the custom bits apps can't do.
Last reviewed 30 September 2026.
Sources: Stripe Support: Dispute fees FAQ · Visa: Dispute Monitoring Program overview · Mastercard: Excessive Chargeback Program