Free tool
Chargeback cost calculator
Enter your monthly transactions, average ticket, chargeback count, fee and win rate to see the real cost and your ratio.
- Chargeback ratio
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- Lost revenue / month
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- Fees / month
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- Total cost / month
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Excludes staff time and any downstream monitoring-program or reserve costs, which grow sharply once your ratio passes ~1%.
Why the disputed amount understates the cost
On a lost chargeback you forfeit the sale and usually the product, and you still pay the fee. On a won chargeback you keep the revenue but still pay the fee and the staff time. The hidden cost is the ratio: crossing the card networks' thresholds triggers monitoring programs, fines and reserves that dwarf the individual disputes.
Frequently asked questions
What does a chargeback actually cost me?
More than the disputed amount. You lose the sale value, the product or service, the chargeback fee (typically $15–$25, kept even if you win), staff time to respond, and — if your ratio climbs — higher reserves or program fees.
What is a safe chargeback ratio?
Card networks flag merchants above roughly 0.9%–1% of transactions. Staying well under 0.5% keeps you out of monitoring programs and protects your pricing.
How do I reduce chargebacks?
Clear billing descriptors, easy refunds, address and CVV checks on card-not-present sales, delivery confirmation, and fast customer support before a dispute is filed.
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