M-Pesa Charges Calculator
2026 Safaricom tariffs · Send, Withdraw, Paybill, Buy Goods · Excise duty included 🇰🇪
How M-Pesa charges work in 2026
This M-Pesa charges calculator gives the exact Safaricom fee for any 2026 transaction: sending money, withdrawing at an agent or ATM, paying a Paybill, or buying goods on a Till. Every fee shown is the all-in amount M-Pesa deducts from your balance, including the 15% excise duty the government charges on transaction fees. Mobile-money fees were spared the proposed 16% VAT in the 2026 Finance Act, so nothing extra is added on top.
Sending money: free under KES 100, capped at KES 108
Sending KES 1 to 100 is free to any registered user. Above that the fee rises by band and is capped at KES 108 for any amount from KES 20,001 up to the KES 250,000 single-transaction limit (daily limit KES 500,000). Since the 2025 standardisation, the same fee applies whether you send to Safaricom, Airtel or Telkom.
| Send amount (KES) | Fee (KES) |
|---|---|
| 1 to 100 | Free |
| 101 to 500 | 7 |
| 501 to 1,000 | 13 |
| 1,001 to 1,500 | 23 |
| 1,501 to 2,500 | 33 |
| 2,501 to 3,500 | 53 |
| 3,501 to 5,000 | 57 |
| 5,001 to 7,500 | 78 |
| 7,501 to 10,000 | 90 |
| 10,001 to 15,000 | 100 |
| 15,001 to 20,000 | 105 |
| 20,001 to 250,000 | 108 |
Withdrawing cash: KES 11 to KES 309 at an agent
Agent withdrawals start at KES 11 (for KES 50 to 100) and reach KES 309 (for KES 50,001 to 250,000). The minimum agent withdrawal is KES 50. Pulling one larger amount is always cheaper than several small withdrawals.
| Withdraw amount (KES) | Agent fee (KES) |
|---|---|
| 50 to 100 | 11 |
| 101 to 2,500 | 29 |
| 2,501 to 3,500 | 52 |
| 3,501 to 5,000 | 69 |
| 5,001 to 7,500 | 87 |
| 7,501 to 10,000 | 115 |
| 10,001 to 15,000 | 167 |
| 15,001 to 20,000 | 185 |
| 20,001 to 35,000 | 197 |
| 35,001 to 50,000 | 278 |
| 50,001 to 250,000 | 309 |
Paybill, Till and bank transfers
Buy Goods (Lipa na M-Pesa Till) is free to the customer, always. Paybill depends on the tariff the business chose: customer-pays (you pay the full fee, the table used here, common for utilities and school fees), business-pays (free to you), or Mgao (shared: your portion is only KES 5 to 24). Send to bank via PesaLink is usually free between linked banks.
How to cut your M-Pesa fees
- Send under KES 100 in a single transaction. It costs nothing.
- Withdraw larger amounts less often instead of many small withdrawals.
- Pay merchants with Buy Goods (Till) rather than send-money. Till is free.
- Move money between banks with PesaLink instead of cashing out then depositing.
- Ask billers whether they are on the Business-pays Paybill tariff.
These are Safaricom’s published 2026 tariffs and can change. Confirm the latest on the official Safaricom charges page. See also the KPLC bill calculator and the budget planner.
Rates reviewed June 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the M-Pesa send-money charge in 2026?
Sending under KES 100 is free. Above 100, charges scale by band: KES 7 for 101-500, KES 13 for 501-1,000, KES 23 for 1,001-1,500, KES 33 for 1,501-2,500. Maximum is KES 108 for transfers over KES 20,000. Per-transaction cap is KES 250,000; daily limit is KES 500,000.
How much does it cost to withdraw from an M-Pesa agent?
Withdrawals start at KES 11 for very small amounts and reach KES 309 for the maximum KES 250,000. Withdrawals under KES 50 are not allowed. Withdrawing larger amounts in fewer transactions is always cheaper than splitting into many small withdrawals.
Are M-Pesa charges different on Paybill (Lipa Na M-Pesa)?
Yes. Every paybill is on one of three official tariffs: one where you pay the full fee (the table this calculator uses, capped at KES 108), one where the business absorbs the whole fee (free to you), and Mgao, where the fee is shared and your share is small (KES 5 to 24). The fee you see on your phone therefore depends on the biller. Our figures are the full customer-pays tariff from Safaricom’s official tariff form, the worst case you can be charged.
Is the excise duty already included in M-Pesa charges?
Yes. Every fee shown is the all-in amount. Safaricom takes the base fee, adds the 15% excise duty the government levies on transaction fees, and deducts one combined figure. So a "KES 23 fee" already includes about KES 3 of excise going to KRA. Mobile-money fees were also spared the proposed 16% VAT in the 2026 Finance Act, so nothing extra is added on top.
How can I reduce M-Pesa fees?
(1) Send under KES 100 in one go, it is free. (2) Withdraw larger amounts less often instead of many small ones. (3) Pay merchants with Buy Goods (Till), which is free, instead of sending money. (4) Move money between banks with PesaLink rather than cashing out then depositing. (5) Ask billers whether they use the Business-pays Paybill tariff, which costs you nothing.
Is buying goods on a Till (Lipa na M-Pesa) free?
Yes. Paying a merchant with Buy Goods (Till) is free to the customer for any amount, whether KES 50 of groceries or KES 100,000 of electronics. It is almost always cheaper than sending money to the merchant.
Does it cost more to send to Airtel or Telkom?
No. Since the 2025 cross-network standardisation, sending to Airtel Money or Telkom T-Kash costs the same as sending to another M-Pesa user.