Mpesa Charges Calculator

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We use official Safaricom M-PESA tariffs. for our calculator. The charges shown are what you will see when carrying out a transaction.

M-PESA launched on 6 March 2007 as a microfinance loan repayment tool, a way for rural borrowers to pay back small loans without visiting a bank. Within months, Kenyans had repurposed it entirely. People were sending money to family, paying for goods, and handling transactions that once meant carrying cash across the country. Today, M-PESA serves millions of users in Kenya, processes millions of transactions daily, and sits at the centre of an ecosystem covering savings, credit, insurance, international transfers, and government disbursements. No other mobile money platform anywhere has matched its depth of integration into a national economy.

This guide covers every M-PESA charge in effect as of March 2026 send money, agent withdrawals, ATM withdrawals, Paybill, Fuliza, M-Shwari, and more. All listed fees are all-inclusive and already incorporate the 20% government excise duty collected under Kenya's Finance Act. You will not be charged anything extra beyond what appears in this guide or on your confirmation screen.

How M-PESA Fees Work?

Before we go into specific charges, it helps to understand one foundational concept: M-PESA does not charge a percentage of what you send. Instead, Safaricom divides transaction amounts into fixed ranges, or bands, and assigns a flat fee to each. Every transaction that falls within a band pays that exact fee, regardless of where it sits within the range.

Sending KES 1,501 and sending KES 2,499 both cost exactly KES 33; they are in the same band. But sending KES 2,501 costs KES 53, because that extra shilling pushes the transaction into the next band up. This stepped structure means fees are never proportional; they jump sharply at every band boundary.

One more structural point worth knowing upfront: agent withdrawals always cost more than sending the same amount. This is deliberate. Every time cash leaves the M-PESA system, it creates a physical burden for agents, including float management, bank runs, and security risks. Those costs are recovered through higher withdrawal fees. The entire fee structure is designed to keep money within the digital network for as long as possible.

Free M-PESA Transactions in 2026

Not everything on M-PESA costs money. A significant number of everyday actions are entirely free, and knowing them helps you avoid unnecessary charges.

Sending KES 1–100 to any registered M-PESA user costs nothing. Whether you are splitting a meal or sending a small top-up to a family member, any amount of KES 100 or less goes through without a fee. Depositing cash at an agent into your own wallet is also always free; the agent earns a commission from Safaricom, not from you. Receiving money of any amount is free; you always get exactly what was sent.

The following are free in all circumstances: M-PESA registration, buying Safaricom airtime or data bundles via M-PESA, checking your wallet balance, requesting a transaction statement, changing your PIN, attempting a self-reversal via SMS to 456, and making payments at a Buy Goods / Till number as a customer.

M-PESA Send Money Charges 2026

Send Money is the most frequently used M-PESA service. It covers transfers to any registered M-Pesa user, Airtel Money user, T-Kash user, and Pochi la Biashara business number. Since the 2024 fee harmonisation, all these destinations use the same tariff; there is no cross-network surcharge, and no premium for Pochi. Sending to an unregistered user is no longer possible; Safaricom permanently discontinued that option on February 5, 2024 due to its role in fraud and money laundering.

The sender pays the fee. The recipient always receives the exact amount specified nothing is deducted from the incoming funds. If you send KES 5,000, your wallet is debited KES 5,057 (the amount plus the KES 57 fee), and KES 5,000 arrives on the other end.

Send Money Fee Table

The fee ceiling is KES 108, which applies to amounts from KES 20,001 up to the maximum single transaction of KES 250,000. Sending KES 200,000 costs the same as sending KES 25,000 — KES 108, or an effective rate of just 0.043%. This makes large transfers proportionally very cheap, while small transfers are proportionally more expensive, a deliberate design choice to push higher-value digital transactions.

M-PESA Agent Withdrawal Charges 2026

Agent withdrawal converts your M-PESA balance into physical cash at registered M-PESA agents across Kenya. You present your original government-issued ID, the agent initiates the transaction, and you confirm with your PIN. The minimum withdrawal is KES 50; the maximum per transaction is KES 250,000 (subject to the agent having sufficient float). For a dedicated lookup tool, use the M-PESA agent withdrawal calculator.

As noted earlier, withdrawal fees are consistently higher than send-money fees for the same amount — this is built into the system by design. Below is the full tariff.

Agent Withdrawal Fee

M-PESA ATM Withdrawal Charges 2026

M-PESA customers can withdraw cash from ATMs across Kenya using either a linked GlobalPay Visa card or the cardless M-PESA ATM withdrawal service. Participating institutions include Equity Bank, KCB, Co-operative Bank, Standard Chartered, and others in the Kenyan interbank network. The ATM fee structure is simpler than agent withdrawals, with just four bands. If you only want ATM fees, open the ATM withdrawal charges page.

The minimum ATM withdrawal is KES 200 per transaction. The maximum is KES 35,000 per transaction, with a daily cap of KES 35,000 across all ATM transactions. For any amount above KES 35,000, you must use an agent.

ATM vs Agent Fee Comparison

In most bands, the agent is slightly cheaper. The ATM's advantage is availability; it operates 24 hours a day without requiring ID presentation or human interaction. For amounts in the KES 5,001–10,000 range, both options can arrive at the same KES 115 fee at the top of the band. For KES 10,001–35,000, the agent saves you up to KES 36 compared to the ATM, though the difference may be worth it for the convenience. Note that individual ATM machines may impose machine-level daily limits lower than M-PESA's KES 35,000 daily cap. Always check the screen before initiating a large withdrawal.

M-PESA Paybill Charges 2026

Paybill is M-PESA's bill payment service, allowing customers to pay utilities, rent, school fees, bank loan repayments, insurance premiums, hospital bills, and government levies directly from their wallet. To pay, you select Lipa na M-PESA → Pay Bill, enter the business number and your account reference, specify the amount, and confirm with your PIN.

What makes Paybill different from other Mpesa services is that Safaricom offers businesses three separate tariff models at registration. The model the business has chosen determines whether you pay a full fee, half a fee, or nothing at all. There is no universal Paybill charge; it depends entirely on the specific business you are paying. You can also compare these on the Paybill charges guide.

Business Bouquet — Customer Pays the Full Fee

This is the most common Paybill model in Kenya. It is used by Kenya Power, Nairobi City Water, most banks, most private schools, most hospitals, and the majority of government agencies. When you notice a fee on your bill payment confirmation, this is almost certainly the tariff in use. The customer bears the entire charge.

Mgao Tariff — Customer and Business Share the Fee

Mgao splits the transaction fee equally between the customer and the business. The customer pays roughly half the standard rate; the business pays the other half from its merchant account. Some businesses adopt this model as a customer incentive, signaling that they are willing to share the cost of digital infrastructure rather than pass it entirely to the consumer.

Customer Bouquet — Business Pays Everything

Under this tariff, the business absorbs the full transaction cost, and the customer pays KES 0 on all amounts from KES 1 to KES 250,000. This model is used by large corporates, major banks collecting mortgage and loan repayments, insurance companies, NGOs, e-commerce platforms, and employers running payroll systems. If you have ever used Paybill and noticed no fee was charged, the business was registered on this tariff.

There is no publicly searchable database listing which tariff a given Paybill number uses. The most reliable approaches are: call the business before making a large payment, make a small test payment of KES 10–50 and observe whether a fee appears on the confirmation screen, or check the business's website or billing documents. For any Paybill payment above KES 5,000, it is worth confirming the tariff first — the potential saving is up to KES 108.

Buy Goods / Lipa Na M-PESA / Till Number Charges

Till (also called Lipa Na M-PESA or Buy Goods) is M-PESA's point-of-sale payment service. You enter the merchant's Till number, specify the amount, and confirm. The merchant account is credited instantly, and both parties receive an SMS. From the customer's side, Buy Goods payments are completely free across all amounts from KES 20 to KES 250,000. There is no transaction fee, no minimum, and no exception. For a dedicated Till page, see the Till charges calculator.

The merchant pays Safaricom a processing fee of 0.5% of the transaction value, capped at KES 200 per transaction. For transactions below KES 200, the rate drops to 0.25%. These charges are settled monthly from the merchant's float the customer experience is entirely cost-free. Lipa Na M-PESA is widely accepted by merchants across Kenya.

Paybill vs Till, which should you choose? If a business offers both a Paybill number and a Till number for the same payment, always choose the Till. A KES 20,000 rent payment via Till costs you KES 0. Via a Business Bouquet Paybill, it costs KES 105. One question —"Do you have a Till number?"—can save you that amount on a single transaction.

M-PESA Transaction Limits 2026

Knowing the limits matters as much as knowing the fees. A transaction that exceeds its applicable cap is rejected entirely; it does not process partially, and the failed attempt delays your payment. These limits apply to standard individual M-PESA consumer accounts; business accounts may have different limits agreed at registration. For a quick reference page, open the M-PESA transaction limits guide.

One limit that surprises many people: the KES 500,000 cap on wallet balances. If someone tries to send you money when your wallet already holds KES 500,000, their transaction is rejected, they receive a failure message, and the money is not sent. If you are expecting large incoming payments, move excess funds into M-Shwari, KCB M-PESA, or a bank account to keep your wallet below the ceiling.

How to Access M-PESA

M-PESA is accessible through five channels, suited to different circumstances and devices.

USSD (*334#) is the original and most universal method. It works on any mobile phone, including basic feature phones and smartphones, with no internet connection required. Every M-PESA service is available via USSD, making it the preferred channel in low-connectivity areas or during internet outages. The M-PESA Selfcare App (iOS and Android) provides a richer interface with full transaction history, downloadable statements, Fuliza management, M-Shwari and KCB M-PESA access, and GlobalPay card management. It also supports QR-code Till payments and biometric authentication. The SIM Toolkit (STK) is a native M-PESA menu built directly into the Safaricom SIM card, accessible under SIM Applications or SIM Tools in your phone's settings, and it works without internet, even during voice network congestion.

For specific services: check your balance via *334# or the app (free). Check your Fuliza limit via *234# → Fuliza → My Fuliza Limit. Access M-Shwari via *234# and KCB M-PESA via *522#. For customer service queries, balance inquiries, and statement requests, you can also message 0722 000100 on WhatsApp through Safaricom's Zuri chatbot.

M-PESA Contacts

All charges in this guide are based on the official Safaricom consumer tariff page, effective July 2023 and verified in January and March 2026. No new tariff changes were announced as of the publication of this guide. That said, Safaricom may update its tariffs following the required regulatory notice period. The fee displayed on your M-PESA screen at the point of confirmation is always the definitive, final charge for that specific transaction.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the current M-PESA charges in 2026?

The current M-PESA charges in 2026 depend on the type of transaction you are making. Send Money to a registered user is free for KES 1-100, then rises through fixed fee bands from KES 7 up to a maximum of KES 108. Agent withdrawals range from KES 11 up to KES 309 depending on the amount. ATM withdrawals range from KES 35 to KES 203. Paybill charges depend on the tariff chosen by the business, while Buy Goods / Till payments remain free to the customer. Fuliza uses a separate fee structure made up of an access fee plus daily maintenance charges.

How does M-PESA calculate its charges?

M-PESA does not calculate charges as a percentage of the amount in most normal consumer transactions. Instead, Safaricom places transaction amounts into fixed bands and assigns each band a flat fee. That means two amounts within the same band pay the same charge, while crossing into the next band can increase the fee immediately. For example, sending KES 1,501 and KES 2,499 costs the same, but moving into the next band changes the fee. This is why M-PESA fees feel stepped rather than proportional.

What are the standard Safaricom M-PESA transaction fees?

The standard Safaricom M-PESA transaction fees most people encounter are Send Money charges, agent withdrawal charges, ATM withdrawal charges, and Paybill charges. Send Money starts at free for KES 1-100 and reaches a ceiling of KES 108. Agent withdrawal starts at KES 11 and reaches KES 309. ATM withdrawal starts at KES 35 and reaches KES 203. Buy Goods / Till is free to the customer. All of these are flat-band charges, not percentage deductions from the amount you send.

How much does it cost to send KES 1,000 on M-PESA?

Sending KES 1,000 on M-PESA costs KES 13 when sent to a registered M-PESA user, Airtel Money user, T-Kash user, or other supported harmonized destination. The recipient still receives the full KES 1,000. Your wallet is debited KES 1,013 in total. That fee is based on the KES 501-1,000 band in the current Send Money tariff.

What is the charge for sending KES 10,000 on M-PESA?

Sending KES 10,000 falls in the KES 7,501-10,000 Send Money band, so the fee is KES 90. The recipient receives the full KES 10,000, while your wallet is debited KES 10,090. If you move into the next band above KES 10,000, the fee changes again, because M-PESA uses fixed transaction bands.

What are the current M-PESA withdrawal fees?

The current withdrawal fees depend on whether you use an agent or an ATM. At an agent, charges start at KES 11 for KES 50-100 and rise to KES 309 for KES 50,001-250,000. At an ATM, charges are simpler: KES 35, KES 69, KES 115, or KES 203 depending on the amount band. Agent withdrawals are generally more flexible for larger amounts because ATM withdrawals stop at KES 35,000 per transaction.

What are the new charges for cash withdrawal on M-PESA?

For cash withdrawal from an M-PESA agent, the current charges run from KES 11 to KES 309 depending on the amount band. For cardless or linked ATM withdrawal, the current charges run from KES 35 to KES 203. There is no separate newer public cash withdrawal schedule inside this project beyond those verified fee bands. In practical terms, if you want physical cash, you should always check whether an agent or ATM is cheaper for your amount.

How much does M-PESA Till charge per transaction?

From the customer side, a Till or Buy Goods transaction costs KES 0. You do not pay a customer fee when paying a merchant through Buy Goods / Lipa na M-PESA. The merchant pays Safaricom the processing cost from their side, generally 0.5% capped at KES 200 per transaction, with a lower rate for very small transactions. For customers, the practical answer is simple: Till payments are free.

What are the new M-PESA rates?

The new M-PESA rates most people ask about are the current verified fee bands in use for Send Money, withdrawals, Paybill, and Fuliza. In this guide, Send Money ranges from free up to KES 108, agent withdrawal ranges from KES 11 up to KES 309, and ATM withdrawal ranges from KES 35 up to KES 203. Paybill can be full-fee, shared-fee, or zero-fee depending on the business tariff. If Safaricom changes tariffs later, the confirmation screen at the point of transaction is always the final authority.

What is the maximum transaction limit per day on M-PESA?

The maximum total you can transact in a day on a standard consumer M-PESA account is KES 500,000. That is a cumulative daily limit across your transaction activity, not a limit for one single transfer. Separately, the maximum for one single send or payment transaction is KES 250,000. If you reach the daily cap, further qualifying transactions are blocked until the limit window resets.

How much money can be kept in an M-PESA account?

The maximum wallet balance that can be held in a standard M-PESA account is KES 500,000. If your wallet is already at that balance, incoming transfers that would push it above the cap are rejected rather than partially accepted. This matters when receiving large payments, because the sender will get a failure message and the money will not leave their wallet.

Can an M-PESA balance surpass KES 500,000?

No. Under the consumer limit structure covered in this guide, an M-PESA wallet cannot lawfully hold more than KES 500,000 at one time. Once that ceiling is reached, additional incoming money is rejected. If you expect more funds, the practical workaround is to move some money out first into a bank account, M-Shwari, KCB M-PESA, or another permitted destination so your wallet stays below the cap.

Can I use M-PESA internationally?

Yes, M-PESA can be used internationally in limited ways, but not every normal local service works globally in the same way. In this project, the relevant international reference is M-PESA Global / GlobalPay, which supports outbound international use subject to separate charges and limits. The local charges in this guide mainly cover Kenyan domestic consumer services such as Send Money, agent withdrawal, ATM withdrawal, Paybill, Till, and Fuliza. For international-specific fees, you should check the relevant M-PESA Global page and Safaricom’s official tariff information.

How does an M-PESA agent make profit?

An M-PESA agent makes profit mainly through commission paid by Safaricom for handling deposits and withdrawals. The agent does not simply keep the entire withdrawal fee you pay. Instead, the network compensates the agent for maintaining float, handling customer service, managing cash security, and supporting physical cash-out transactions. This is also one reason withdrawal fees are higher than Send Money fees: physical cash handling creates real operational costs that do not exist when money stays inside the digital system.

How can I increase my Fuliza limit from KES 0 to KES 5,000?

There is no fixed public formula that guarantees your Fuliza limit will move from KES 0 to KES 5,000. In practice, Fuliza limits are influenced by your M-PESA usage history, wallet activity, repayment behavior, and account consistency over time. Regular use of M-PESA, responsible repayment of any overdraft once granted, and maintaining an active Safaricom/M-PESA usage pattern generally help more than one-off activity. The exact approved limit remains Safaricom’s internal credit decision, so no page can promise a guaranteed jump to a specific amount.

Can you send money to an unregistered phone number on M-PESA?

No. Sending money to an unregistered phone number is no longer supported. Safaricom discontinued M-PESA transfers to unregistered numbers on 5 February 2024 as part of anti-fraud and anti-money-laundering controls. Today, the normal supported destinations are registered wallets and other harmonized supported channels such as registered M-PESA and certain interoperable wallet destinations. If you need the official explanation, use the Safaricom FAQ linked earlier in this guide.

Where can I confirm the official M-PESA tariffs and limits?

The best place to confirm the official tariffs and limits is the Safaricom Consumer Tariffs & Limits page. That is the official reference for M-PESA consumer charges and should always take priority over third-party summaries if anything changes. Even then, the final fee shown on your confirmation screen before you authorize a transaction remains the definitive amount for that transaction.

These M-Pesa charges are updated regularly. Last updated: 14 March 2026. For the most current Official M-Pesa tariff page.