How This SEPA Fee Calculator Works

SEPA transfer fees involve multiple components that banks don’t always disclose upfront. The total cost depends on your bank type, the destination country, transfer speed, amount, and whether fees are shared between sender and recipient.

This SEPA fee calculator follows this exact formula:

This calculator identifies each component based on your specific situation. It knows that German banks typically charge €3-€5 for SEPA, French banks charge €1-€2 for incoming transfers, Swiss banks charge €10-€25, and online banks often charge €0-€1.

The most important insight: SEPA fees are often not percentage-based but fixed or tiered. Sending €100 might cost €5 (5%), while sending €10,000 might cost €8 (0.08%). This SEPA fee calculator shows you the actual fee structure, not just a simple percentage.

Key Questions About SEPA Transfer Fees

Who pays SEPA transfer fees?

Three parties can pay: SHA (Shared) means you pay your bank’s fees, recipient pays theirs. OUR (Ours) means you pay all fees. BEN (Beneficiary) means recipient pays all fees. Most banks default to SHA, which seems fair but often results in the recipient being surprised by unexpected deductions.

Business accounts often use OUR (sender pays all) to ensure the exact amount arrives. Personal transfers between friends often use BEN (recipient pays all) when sending “I’ll pay you back” money. This SEPA fee calculator shows the implications of each option.

What are the hidden fees in SEPA transfers?

Currency conversion margins: Even euro-to-euro transfers can involve hidden conversion if either account holds multiple currencies. Banks often add 1-3% margin on top of the real exchange rate.

Intermediary bank fees: When sending to smaller banks without direct SEPA connections, your money might pass through 1-2 intermediary banks, each taking €5-€15. Your bank won’t know this in advance.

Receiving bank fees: Your bank only controls their sending fee. The recipient’s bank decides their own receiving fee, which can be €0-€25. You only find out when the recipient complains about missing money.

Weekend/holiday surcharges: Some banks charge extra for transfers initiated outside business hours, even though SEPA itself processes 24/7. This is pure bank profit, not a system requirement.

When are SEPA transfers actually free?

Between online banks: N26 to N26, Revolut to Revolut, Bunq to Bunq are usually free for euro transfers. These banks built their systems in the SEPA era with different cost structures.

Within the same banking group: Deutsche Bank to Postbank (both German), BNP Paribas to Fortis (same group) often have reduced or waived fees. The banks save on compliance and processing.

For premium account holders: Many banks waive fees for customers with minimum balances (€5,000-€10,000) or premium packages (€10-€30/month). The “free” transfer isn’t really free; you’re prepaying via other fees.

Small amounts under threshold: Some banks offer 1-2 free SEPA transfers per month for amounts under €500. Over €500 or beyond the monthly limit, fees apply. This SEPA calculator accounts for these thresholds.

Where do banks hide their SEPA fee information?

Deep in PDF fee schedules: 50+ page documents buried in the “legal” section of bank websites. Not in the shiny marketing materials promising “free transfers.”

Separate pages for sending vs receiving: Your bank’s sending fees are on one page, but you need the recipient’s bank website to find receiving fees. Most people don’t check both.

Customer service calls: Some banks only disclose full fee structures when you call. The online calculator might show €3, but phone support reveals €3 + €2 currency margin + €1 weekend fee.

This SEPA fee calculator aggregates fee data from 50+ European banks, updated quarterly from their published fee schedules. Instead of searching 5 different websites, you get consolidated, current information instantly.

Why do SEPA fees vary so much between banks?

Legacy vs modern systems: Traditional banks (Deutsche, BNP, etc.) built their systems decades ago and charge €3-€10 to cover maintenance. Online banks (N26, Revolut) built recently with efficient systems and charge €0-€2.

Business model differences: Some banks make money on lending, others on fees. Cooperative banks (credit unions) often have lower fees because they’re member-owned rather than profit-driven.

Country regulations: German banks face different fee regulations than French banks. Some countries cap SEPA fees for consumer protection, others don’t.

How accurate is this SEPA fee calculator?

It uses published fee schedules from major European banks, updated quarterly. For traditional banks, accuracy is ±€0.50. For online banks, ±€0.10. The comparison with Wise/SWIFT uses their published fee calculators via API simulation.

Your exact fee might vary if you have a special account package, corporate relationship, or promotional offer with your bank. This SEPA calculator shows standard retail pricing for most customers.

Are business SEPA transfers more expensive?

Usually yes, but with more transparency. Business accounts often have clear fee schedules: €2 per SEPA transfer regardless of amount. Personal accounts might have “free up to €500” then surprise fees above that.

Business accounts can often negotiate fees based on volume. If your company sends 100 SEPA transfers per month, you might get 50% off published rates. This calculator shows published business rates; negotiated rates could be lower.

Complete SEPA Fee Structure by Bank Type

Different bank types have dramatically different fee structures:

Bank Type	Typical SEPA Fee	Instant Surcharge	Receiving Fee	Notes
Traditional Big Bank	€3-€10	€0-€5	€0-€5	Deutsche, BNP, Santander, etc.
Online/Neobank	€0-€2	€0-€1	€0	N26, Revolut, Wise, Bunq
Cooperative Bank	€1-€5	€0-€3	€0-€2	Credit unions, Sparkassen
Business Account	€2-€8	€0-€10	€0-€10	Volume discounts often available
Swiss Bank	€10-€25	€5-€15	€5-€15	High fees due to non-EU status
UK Bank (post-Brexit)	€5-€20	€2-€10	€2-€10	Fees increased after Brexit

Receiving fees vary even more. Some banks charge nothing for incoming SEPA transfers. Others charge €1-€5. Swiss and UK banks often charge €5-€15 for incoming euros.

Real Examples: SEPA Fee Calculations

Scenario	Amount	Route	Speed	Total Fee	Why This Cost
Personal transfer	€500	Germany → France	Standard	€4.50	€3.50 (sender) + €1.00 (receiver)
Business payment	€5,000	Netherlands → Italy	Instant	€8.00	€2.00 (ING) + €3.00 (UniCredit) + €3.00 (instant)
Swiss supplier	€2,000	Germany → Switzerland	Standard	€18.50	€3.50 (sender) + €15.00 (Swiss receiving fee)
Online bank transfer	€1,000	N26 → Revolut	Instant	€0.00	Both online banks offer free SEPA Instant
Weekend transfer	€750	Spain → Portugal	Urgent	€12.00	€5.00 (BBVA) + €2.00 (Millennium) + €5.00 (weekend)
Large corporate	€50,000	France → Belgium	Standard	€6.00	Flat fee regardless of amount at this tier
UK post-Brexit	€1,500	Germany → UK	Standard	€15.00	€3.50 (sender) + €11.50 (UK bank receiving euros)

What to Do When SEPA Fees Are Too High

Option 1: Switch to an online bank temporarily. Open a free N26 or Revolut account, transfer money there (free internal transfer from your main bank), then send via their cheaper SEPA rates.

Option 2: Use Wise for the transfer. Wise often charges 0.5-1% with no hidden fees. For €1,000 to Switzerland, Wise might charge €10 vs your bank’s €25.

Option 3: Negotiate with your bank. For business accounts or high-value transfers, call your bank and ask for a fee reduction. They often have discretionary power to waive or reduce fees.

Option 4: Change fee sharing option. If sending to a business, use OUR (you pay all) so they receive the exact amount. If sending to a friend with a fee-free account, use BEN (they pay all, but it costs them nothing).

Option 5: Wait for business hours. Urgent and weekend transfers often carry €5-€10 surcharges. Waiting until Monday morning might save significant fees.

Common SEPA Fee Mistakes

Assuming “SEPA = free”. SEPA is a system, not a pricing policy. Banks can and do charge for using the SEPA system. The system enables cheap transfers but doesn’t guarantee them.

Forgetting receiving bank fees. Your bank shows “€3 to send” but the recipient’s bank takes €15. You think you paid €3, recipient thinks you shorted them €15.

Not checking currency conversion. Sending euros to a Swiss account often involves conversion to CHF at the recipient’s bank, with 2-3% hidden margins.

Missing intermediary banks. Small banks without direct SEPA connections use intermediary banks that take €5-€15 per hop. Your €100 transfer might lose €30 to intermediaries.

Trusting outdated fee schedules. Banks change fees quarterly. Your memory of “€2 last time” might be wrong now. Always check current rates before large transfers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are SEPA Instant transfers more expensive?

Usually €0-€5 more than standard SEPA. Some banks offer instant for free, others charge €1-€5. Traditional banks often charge more (€3-€10 extra) while online banks charge less (€0-€1).

Do I pay fees for incoming SEPA transfers?

It depends on your bank. Most online banks (N26, Revolut) charge nothing for incoming SEPA. Traditional banks often charge €1-€5. Swiss banks charge €5-€15 for incoming euros.

How can I send money without any fees?

Between accounts at the same online bank (N26 to N26), between certain partner banks, or using services like PayPal Friends & Family (but only for personal transfers, not business). For cross-bank transfers, true zero-fee is rare.

What’s the difference between OUR, SHA, and BEN?

OUR: You pay all fees (yours, intermediaries, recipient’s). SHA: You pay your fees, recipient pays theirs. BEN: Recipient pays all fees. Most banks default to SHA but let you choose OUR for business transfers.

Why does my bank charge more than shown here?

You might have a different account type (premium vs basic), be sending outside business hours, or your bank might have recently increased fees. This SEPA fee calculator shows standard retail fees for the most common account types.

Are there amount limits for SEPA transfers?

No SEPA system limits, but individual banks set their own limits. Typical limits: €10,000-€50,000 per day for online banking, higher with branch visits. Business accounts often have higher limits.

Do EU regulations cap SEPA fees?

EU regulations require fees to be “reasonable” but don’t set specific caps. Some countries (like Germany) have additional consumer protection laws that limit certain fees, but these vary by country.

How do I know if intermediary banks will be involved?

You usually don’t until the transfer completes. Small banks and credit unions often use intermediaries. This SEPA calculator assumes direct SEPA connections for major banks, which covers 90% of transfers.