M-PESA Charges Calculator (2026)
By Nash Thuo · Updated June 2026
Know the fee before you press send. This calculator uses Kenya's current 2026 M-PESA tariff for sending money, withdrawing at an agent, Pay Bill, Buy Goods and Fuliza — with the excise duty already included, so the number is what you actually pay.
Work out your M-PESA fee
See the exact M-PESA fee before you send, withdraw or borrow — Kenya's current 2026 tariff, excise duty included.
See the full 2026 M-PESA tariff
Send money (also to Airtel / T-Kash)
| Amount (KES) | Fee |
|---|---|
| 1 – 100 | Free |
| 101 – 500 | 7 |
| 501 – 1,000 | 13 |
| 1,001 – 1,500 | 23 |
| 1,501 – 2,500 | 33 |
| 2,501 – 3,500 | 53 |
| 3,501 – 5,000 | 57 |
| 5,001 – 7,500 | 78 |
| 7,501 – 10,000 | 90 |
| 10,001 – 15,000 | 100 |
| 15,001 – 20,000 | 105 |
| 20,001 – 250,000 | 108 |
Withdraw at an agent
| Amount (KES) | Fee |
|---|---|
| 50 – 100 | 11 |
| 101 – 2,500 | 29 |
| 2,501 – 3,500 | 52 |
| 3,501 – 5,000 | 69 |
| 5,001 – 7,500 | 87 |
| 7,501 – 10,000 | 115 |
| 10,001 – 15,000 | 167 |
| 15,001 – 20,000 | 185 |
| 20,001 – 35,000 | 197 |
| 35,001 – 50,000 | 278 |
| 50,001 – 250,000 | 309 |
Buy Goods (Lipa na M-PESA Till) is free for customers. Pay Bill is free on most billers; some (e.g. some banks) charge a fee they set. Fuliza has a one-off 1% access fee plus a daily maintenance fee while the overdraft is outstanding.
Fees include the 20% excise duty already. Send-money fees are the same whether the recipient is on M-PESA, Airtel Money or T-Kash. Tariffs are set by Safaricom and can change — last checked June 2026.
How M-PESA charges work in 2026
Safaricom charges a flat fee per band of money, not a percentage. A few rules make a big difference to what you pay:
- Sending up to KES 100 is free, to any network.
- Buy Goods (Lipa na M-PESA Till) is free for customers, at any amount.
- Send-money fees are capped at KES 108, even on the largest transfers.
- Withdrawing cash is the expensive part — agent fees climb to KES 309.
- Every fee already includes the 20% excise duty charged by KRA.
Three ways to pay less on M-PESA
- Pay with Buy Goods, don't withdraw cash. Paying a shop KES 5,000 by Till costs you nothing; withdrawing KES 5,000 to pay in cash costs KES 69. Over a month that adds up fast.
- Send in one transfer, not several. Because the fee is per transaction, sending KES 3,000 once (KES 53) is cheaper than KES 1,500 twice (KES 23 + KES 23 = KES 46)… so split only when a band boundary makes it cheaper, and combine when it doesn't.
- Use Fuliza only for a day or two. The daily maintenance fee keeps accruing until you repay, so a small overdraft left open for a week can cost more than the amount was worth.
What to do with the money you save
The shillings you save on fees are small on their own, but the habit of watching where money leaks is the same habit that builds wealth. Move your idle savings into a money market fund earning around 9% a year — it is the simplest place in Kenya to make your money grow while staying within easy reach.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to send KES 1,000 on M-PESA?
Sending between KES 501 and 1,000 costs KES 13 in 2026. The same fee applies whether the recipient is on M-PESA, Airtel Money or T-Kash.
How much is the M-PESA withdrawal charge for KES 5,000?
Withdrawing KES 5,000 at an agent costs KES 69 in 2026. Agent withdrawal fees are higher than send-money fees and rise with the amount, up to KES 309 for the top band.
Is sending money under KES 100 free on M-PESA?
Yes. Sending any amount from KES 1 to KES 100 is free. Buy Goods (Lipa na M-PESA Till) is also free for customers at any amount.
Why is withdrawing more expensive than sending?
Send-money fees are capped at KES 108, but agent withdrawal fees go up to KES 309 because the agent earns a commission for handing you cash. A money-saving tip: pay merchants directly with Buy Goods (free) instead of withdrawing cash to pay them.
Are M-PESA charges the same to Airtel Money and T-Kash?
Yes. The send-money tariff is identical whether you send to a registered M-PESA, Airtel Money or T-Kash number.
Does the M-PESA fee include excise duty?
Yes. The fee Safaricom shows already includes the 20% excise duty charged by the Kenya Revenue Authority, so the figure in this calculator is the full amount you pay.
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