Find the exact M-Pesa fee — and what the recipient actually gets.
The send fee, the agent withdrawal fee, and the band you fell into. Most people remember the send fee and forget the withdrawal — that's where 60–70% of small-ticket costs actually live.
Built and reviewed by Stephen Omukoko Okoth
Mathematical Economist · ex-Morgan Stanley FI · Equilar
Inputs
Amount to send
Tariff table
All bands (KES)
| Band | Send | Withdraw |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – 49 | 0 | 0 |
| 50 – 100 | 0 | 11 |
| 101 – 500 | 7 | 29 |
| 501 – 1,000 | 13 | 29 |
| 1,001 – 1,500 | 23 | 29 |
| 1,501 – 2,500 | 33 | 29 |
| 2,501 – 3,500 | 53 | 52 |
| 3,501 – 5,000 | 60 | 69 |
| 5,001 – 7,500 | 75 | 87 |
| 7,501 – 10,000 | 87 | 115 |
| 10,001 – 15,000 | 97 | 167 |
| 15,001 – 20,000 | 102 | 185 |
| 20,001 – 35,000 | 105 | 197 |
| 35,001 – 50,000 | 108 | 278 |
| 50,001 – 250,000 | 108 | 309 |
Verdict
Total cost: KSh 62
KSh 33 send + KSh 29 withdraw. Recipient keeps KSh 2,438 after cashing out the full amount.
Tip: if the recipient accepts Lipa Na M-Pesa (Pay Bill or Till), most consumer-side fees disappear. The cost stack you see here is for send-and-withdraw — the path everyone defaults to.
Breakdown
What you pay
Send fee
KSh 33
Withdraw fee
KSh 29
Total cost
KSh 62
Net to recipient
KSh 2,438
Band: 1,501 – 2,500
Note
Tariff schedule
Bands here reflect Safaricom's customer tariff for registered-to-registered transfers and agent withdrawals, inclusive of excise duty as shown on the M-Pesa SMS receipt. Send-to-unregistered uses a different schedule. Confirm current rates with Safaricom for high-value or business-critical decisions.
Common questions
Are M-Pesa send fees really zero up to KES 100?
Yes. Safaricom waives the send-money fee on transactions from KES 1 to KES 100, registered to registered. The recipient still pays an agent withdrawal fee if they cash out — that's where the cost sits at low ticket sizes.
What's the difference between paying with M-Pesa and sending then withdrawing?
Lipa Na M-Pesa (Buy Goods / Pay Bill) is typically zero fee to the consumer below most thresholds. Send-then-withdraw, by contrast, charges both a send fee and an agent withdrawal fee. If the recipient will accept Pay Bill or Till, you both save money.
What is the M-Pesa daily transaction limit?
Currently KES 250,000 per transaction and KES 500,000 in a single day for personal wallets, with a max balance of KES 500,000. Limits change — confirm with Safaricom for the latest.
Is there a fee for receiving M-Pesa?
No. Receiving M-Pesa is always free. The cost is incurred by the sender (send fee) and at withdrawal (agent fee). If the recipient leaves it in M-Pesa, they pay nothing.
Does the calculator include Excise Duty?
The bands here already include excise duty as charged at point of transaction, matching what you see on the M-Pesa SMS receipt — so the numbers reflect what actually leaves your wallet.