M-Pesa Charges 2026
Our calculator estimates the cost of sending money, withdrawing from an agent, withdrawing from an ATM, paying a Paybill, using Buy Goods Till, borrowing through Fuliza, and checking common M-Pesa-linked products in one place.
Our M-Pesa charges 2026 guide uses Safaricom-published tariff bands for Send Money, other registered mobile money users, agent withdrawals, ATM withdrawals, and transaction limits, then adds structured calculator support for Paybill, Till, Fuliza, M-Shwari, KCB M-Pesa, and GlobalPay scenarios. Always confirm the fee shown on the M-Pesa confirmation screen before authorising a live transaction.
Estimated Charge: KES 0
| Result Item | Amount / Detail |
|---|---|
| Transaction Amount | KES 1,000 |
| Customer Charge | KES 0 |
| Business / Merchant Charge | KES 0 |
| Total Wallet Debit | KES 1,000 |
| Recipient / Cash Value | KES 1,000 |
| Matched Band | KES 501 - KES 1,000 |
| Effective Cost Rate | 0.00% |
Service
Send Money
Limit Check
Within current limit
Daily Limit
KES 500,000
Max Single Transaction
KES 250,000
Wallet Balance Limit
KES 500,000
This result is an estimate from our calculator based on the fee bands shown below. The charge displayed on your M-Pesa confirmation screen is the final charge for the live transaction.
M-Pesa Charges 2026 and Limits in Kenya
M-Pesa charges are not usually calculated as a simple percentage of the amount you send or withdraw. For common customer transactions, Safaricom uses fixed amount bands. If your transaction amount falls inside a given band, the fee for that band applies. This is why increasing a transaction by one shilling can sometimes move it into the next band and increase the charge immediately.
Our calculator is designed as a full M-Pesa charges 2026 reference for common Kenyan use cases: Send Money, transfers to other registered mobile money users, agent withdrawal, ATM withdrawal, Paybill, Buy Goods Till, Fuliza, KCB M-Pesa, M-Shwari, GlobalPay, and transaction limits. The calculator above uses the same rate logic shown in the tables below, so you can check a number quickly and still inspect the underlying bands.
The core Send Money, other-network transfer, agent withdrawal, ATM withdrawal, and transaction-limit figures match Safaricom's published M-PESA tariff table. Paybill, Till, Fuliza, KCB M-Pesa, M-Shwari, and GlobalPay sections are presented as calculator-ready reference scenarios and should still be checked against the relevant Safaricom, bank, or product confirmation screen before money moves.
Current M-Pesa Transaction Limits Used by Our Calculator
| Limit | Amount | Practical Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum single transaction | KES 250,000 | Safaricom-published maximum used for Send Money, Paybill, Till, and common M-Pesa checks. |
| Maximum daily transaction value | KES 500,000 | Safaricom-published daily movement limit used by our calculator guidance. |
| Maximum wallet balance | KES 500,000 | Safaricom-published account balance limit referenced when receiving or holding money. |
| Minimum agent withdrawal | KES 50 | Agent withdrawals below this amount are not permitted by the calculator limit check. |
| Minimum ATM withdrawal | KES 200 | ATM withdrawal calculations start from this amount. |
| Maximum ATM withdrawal per transaction | KES 35,000 | ATM cardless withdrawal has a lower ceiling than normal Send Money or Paybill transactions. |
Send Money Charges to Registered Users
Send Money is the most common M-Pesa transfer. The sender pays the fee, while the recipient receives the exact amount sent. Sending KES 1 to KES 100 is free. From KES 101 upward, fees increase by band and reach a ceiling of KES 108 for amounts from KES 20,001 up to KES 250,000.
| Amount Band (KES) | Send Money Fee (KES) | Total Wallet Debit Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 - 49 | 0 | Amount only |
| 50 - 100 | 0 | Amount only |
| 101 - 500 | 7 | Amount + 7 |
| 501 - 1,000 | 13 | Amount + 13 |
| 1,001 - 1,500 | 23 | Amount + 23 |
| 1,501 - 2,500 | 33 | Amount + 33 |
| 2,501 - 3,500 | 53 | Amount + 53 |
| 3,501 - 5,000 | 57 | Amount + 57 |
| 5,001 - 7,500 | 78 | Amount + 78 |
| 7,501 - 10,000 | 90 | Amount + 90 |
| 10,001 - 15,000 | 100 | Amount + 100 |
| 15,001 - 20,000 | 105 | Amount + 105 |
| 20,001 - 35,000 | 108 | Amount + 108 |
| 35,001 - 50,000 | 108 | Amount + 108 |
| 50,001 - 250,000 | 108 | Amount + 108 |
Send to Airtel Money or T-Kash
Safaricom's M-PESA tariff table treats sending to other registered mobile money users as harmonized with M-Pesa to M-Pesa registered-user rates. In other words, the same bands and charges used for Send Money are used for this mode. This matters because older mental models sometimes assume a different cross-network surcharge.
Our calculator output is therefore the same as normal Send Money: KES 1 to KES 100 is free, KES 101 to KES 500 costs KES 7, and the maximum fee is KES 108 for large transfers within the supported single-transaction limit.
Send Money to Unregistered Users
Safaricom guidance treats transfers to unregistered M-Pesa users as unavailable, with the reason commonly given as fraud prevention and anti-money-laundering control. For this reason, our calculator does not offer an active unregistered-user fee mode.
Agent Withdrawal Charges
Agent withdrawal is more expensive than sending money because the transaction removes cash from the digital system. The minimum agent withdrawal amount used here is KES 50. The highest agent withdrawal band in this data reaches KES 309 for amounts from KES 50,001 to KES 250,000.
| Withdrawal Band (KES) | Agent Withdrawal Fee (KES) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 50 - 100 | 11 | Minimum agent withdrawal band. |
| 101 - 500 | 29 | Same fee through KES 2,500 in several bands. |
| 501 - 1,000 | 29 | Fixed fee. |
| 1,001 - 1,500 | 29 | Fixed fee. |
| 1,501 - 2,500 | 29 | Fixed fee. |
| 2,501 - 3,500 | 52 | Fee rises at KES 2,501. |
| 3,501 - 5,000 | 69 | Cash-out cost increases. |
| 5,001 - 7,500 | 87 | Mid-range withdrawal band. |
| 7,501 - 10,000 | 115 | Common salary/cash-out band. |
| 10,001 - 15,000 | 167 | Higher cash-out band. |
| 15,001 - 20,000 | 185 | Higher cash-out band. |
| 20,001 - 35,000 | 197 | Compared with send-money fee of KES 108. |
| 35,001 - 50,000 | 278 | Large withdrawal band. |
| 50,001 - 250,000 | 309 | Highest agent withdrawal fee in the data. |
ATM Withdrawal Charges
ATM withdrawal has its own smaller fee table and lower limit ceiling. Our calculator sets the minimum ATM withdrawal at KES 200 and the maximum ATM withdrawal per transaction at KES 35,000. The fee ranges from KES 35 to KES 203.
| ATM Withdrawal Band (KES) | ATM Withdrawal Fee (KES) | Practical Note |
|---|---|---|
| 200 - 2,500 | 35 | Lowest ATM withdrawal band. |
| 2,501 - 5,000 | 69 | Medium ATM withdrawal band. |
| 5,001 - 10,000 | 115 | Same fee as agent withdrawal at KES 7,501 - 10,000. |
| 10,001 - 35,000 | 203 | Maximum ATM band used here. |
Paybill Charges: Business, Mgao, and Customer Tariffs
Paybill charges depend on the tariff arrangement used by the business. A user may see a fee, no fee, or a shared fee depending on the Paybill setup. This is why a Paybill calculator needs a tariff selector rather than one single table.
- Business Tariff: the customer pays the full customer fee.
- Mgao Tariff: the fee is shared between the customer and the business.
- Customer Tariff: the business absorbs the fee, so the customer charge is KES 0.
Paybill Business Tariff
| Amount Band (KES) | Customer Charge (KES) |
|---|---|
| 1 - 100 | 0 |
| 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 - 35,000 | 108 |
| 35,001 - 50,000 | 108 |
| 50,001 - 250,000 | 108 |
Paybill Mgao Tariff
| Amount Band (KES) | Customer Charge (KES) | Business Charge (KES) | Total Combined (KES) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 101 - 500 | 4 | 4 | 7 |
| 501 - 1,000 | 7 | 7 | 13 |
| 1,001 - 1,500 | 12 | 12 | 23 |
| 1,501 - 2,500 | 17 | 17 | 33 |
| 2,501 - 3,500 | 27 | 27 | 53 |
| 3,501 - 5,000 | 29 | 29 | 57 |
| 5,001 - 7,500 | 39 | 39 | 78 |
| 7,501 - 10,000 | 45 | 45 | 90 |
| 10,001 - 15,000 | 50 | 50 | 100 |
| 15,001 - 20,000 | 53 | 53 | 105 |
| 20,001 - 35,000 | 54 | 54 | 108 |
| 35,001 - 50,000 | 54 | 54 | 108 |
| 50,001 - 250,000 | 54 | 54 | 108 |
Paybill Customer Tariff
| Amount Band (KES) | Customer Charge (KES) | Business Charge (KES) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 - 100 | 0 | 0 |
| 101 - 500 | 0 | 7 |
| 501 - 1,000 | 0 | 13 |
| 1,001 - 1,500 | 0 | 23 |
| 1,501 - 2,500 | 0 | 33 |
| 2,501 - 3,500 | 0 | 53 |
| 3,501 - 5,000 | 0 | 57 |
| 5,001 - 7,500 | 0 | 78 |
| 7,501 - 10,000 | 0 | 90 |
| 10,001 - 15,000 | 0 | 100 |
| 15,001 - 20,000 | 0 | 105 |
| 20,001 - 35,000 | 0 | 108 |
| 35,001 - 50,000 | 0 | 108 |
| 50,001 - 250,000 | 0 | 108 |
Buy Goods / Till Number Charges
Buy Goods, also called Lipa na M-Pesa or Till Number payment, is usually free to the customer. That makes it one of the best options when a business offers both a Till number and a Paybill number. The merchant side is different: our calculator uses a standard merchant-fee estimate of 0.5% of the transaction amount, capped at KES 200, with 0.25% for amounts below KES 200.
| Transaction Amount | Customer Fee | Estimated Merchant Fee | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| KES 100 | KES 0 | KES 0.25 | 0.25% below KES 200. |
| KES 1,000 | KES 0 | KES 5 | 0.5% standard merchant fee. |
| KES 10,000 | KES 0 | KES 50 | 0.5% standard merchant fee. |
| KES 100,000 | KES 0 | KES 200 | Capped at KES 200. |
Fuliza M-Pesa Charges
Fuliza is not a normal transfer tariff. It is an overdraft or credit service. Our calculator uses a 1% one-time access fee on the borrowed amount and a daily maintenance fee charged each midnight while the Fuliza balance remains unpaid. The result should therefore show both the immediate access fee and the possible daily maintenance cost.
| Fuliza Amount Band (KES) | Daily Maintenance Fee (KES) | Access Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 1 - 100 | 0 | 1% of amount borrowed |
| 101 - 500 | 3 | 1% of amount borrowed |
| 501 - 1,000 | 6 | 1% of amount borrowed |
| 1,001 - 2,500 | 21.60 | 1% of amount borrowed |
| 2,501 - 70,000 | 24 | 1% of amount borrowed |
KCB M-Pesa
KCB M-Pesa is a mobile banking product offered by KCB Bank Kenya in partnership with Safaricom. The product reference data describes free deposits from M-Pesa to KCB M-Pesa and free withdrawals from KCB M-Pesa back to the M-Pesa wallet. It also includes transfer fee bands, savings interest notes, loan information, and limits.
| Amount Band (KES) | Transfer Fee (KES) |
|---|---|
| 1 - 100 | 0 |
| 101 - 500 | 11.20 |
| 501 - 1,000 | 13.60 |
| 1,001 - 1,500 | 16 |
| 1,501 - 2,500 | 26 |
| 2,501 - 3,500 | 38 |
| 3,501 - 5,000 | 50 |
| 5,001 - 7,500 | 64 |
| 7,501 - 20,000 | 76 |
| 20,001 - 150,000 | 78 |
The KCB M-Pesa data also notes a main account interest rate of 7.5% per annum, fixed savings at 8.5% per annum, target savings at 6.3% per annum, and mobile loans with a listed monthly interest rate for a 30-day loan. These product terms can change and should be checked against KCB and Safaricom channels before use.
M-Shwari
M-Shwari is a mobile banking product by NCBA Bank Kenya in partnership with Safaricom. The product reference data lists deposits and withdrawals between M-Pesa and M-Shwari as free. It also describes savings interest, Lock Savings, loan terms, eligibility, repayment, and frozen savings treatment.
| Product Area | Reference Detail | Calculator Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Deposits | Free transfer from M-Pesa to M-Shwari. | Show KES 0 customer charge. |
| Withdrawals | Free transfer from M-Shwari to M-Pesa wallet. | Show KES 0 customer charge, subject to wallet limits. |
| Main Savings | 7.35% per annum, paid quarterly, according to the product reference data. | Informational note, not a savings projection engine. |
| Lock Savings | Up to 7% per annum, with lock period and early withdrawal treatment. | Informational note. |
| Loans | 7.5% one-time facility fee for a 30-day loan. | Loan estimate can show fee and total repayment. |
M-Pesa GlobalPay
M-Pesa GlobalPay is used for international online payments through a virtual Visa card. Our calculator describes a 3.5% FX markup on the KES amount, notes that the FX markup is not refunded if a transaction is reversed, and gives separate fee bands between KES 101 and KES 150,000.
| Amount Band (KES) | GlobalPay Fee (KES) | Extra Cost Logic |
|---|---|---|
| 101 - 5,000 | 100 | Plus FX markup where applicable. |
| 5,001 - 15,000 | 250 | Plus FX markup where applicable. |
| 15,001 - 50,000 | 500 | Plus FX markup where applicable. |
| 50,001 - 100,000 | 750 | Plus FX markup where applicable. |
| 100,001 - 150,000 | 1,000 | Plus FX markup where applicable. |
Free M-Pesa Transactions Recognised by Our Calculator
Not every M-Pesa action attracts a fee. Safaricom and product reference data identifies several free actions that are worth separating from paid transfer and withdrawal flows.
- Depositing money into M-Pesa wallet.
- Receiving money from another user.
- Balance inquiry through M-Pesa self-service.
- M-Pesa statement requests.
- Buying airtime for self or others.
- Sending KES 1 to KES 100 to registered users.
- Buy Goods / Till payments from the customer side.
- M-Pesa registration and PIN change.
- M-Pesa to bank transfers where the M-Pesa side is marked free, while bank-side charges may still vary.
- KCB M-Pesa deposits and withdrawals.
- M-Shwari deposits and withdrawals.
Useful USSD Codes and Contacts
| Need | Code / Contact | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Main M-Pesa self-service | *234# | Common M-Pesa services and account actions. |
| Fuliza | *334# | Fuliza access and service management. |
| KCB M-Pesa | *522# | KCB M-Pesa account access. |
| Statement shortcut | *234*1# | M-Pesa statement request path from Safaricom support guidance. |
| Safaricom customer care | 100 | Free from a Safaricom line. |
| Other networks / international | +254 722 000 100 | Safaricom support from non-Safaricom lines or abroad. |
| Transaction reversal | Forward SMS to 456 | Common reversal process after a wrong transaction. |
Official Sources and Verification
Our calculator prioritises Safaricom's published M-PESA tariff table for Send Money, transfers to other registered mobile money users, agent withdrawal, ATM withdrawal, transaction limits, self-reversal guidance, and customer-care references. Product-specific items such as Paybill tariff ownership, Till merchant fees, Fuliza daily maintenance, KCB M-Pesa, M-Shwari, and GlobalPay can depend on product terms, business setup, bank policy, or live confirmation screens, so our calculator labels those as estimates or reference scenarios.
- Safaricom M-PESA published tariffs and limits
- Safaricom customer care: dial 100 for PrePay, 200 for PostPay, or use *234# for M-Pesa self-service.
- For reversals, forward the transaction confirmation message to 456 as indicated in Safaricom support guidance.
How Our Calculator Calculates Results
Our calculator uses one shared M-Pesa rate module, then chooses the correct table based on the selected transaction type. The logic is intentionally straightforward:
- Read the amount and selected transaction type.
- Validate minimum and maximum limits for that type.
- Find the matching amount band.
- Return customer charge, business or merchant charge, total debit, recipient value, and effective cost rate.
- Show a clear note when the selected transaction type is free, disabled, capped, or subject to external provider charges.
Our calculator does not silently guess unsupported cases. For example, unregistered-user transfers should show as disabled rather than returning an old fee. ATM withdrawals above KES 35,000 should show a limit error. Fuliza should show access fee plus daily maintenance instead of pretending it is a normal Send Money fee.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Send KES 1,000 to a registered user
- Amount falls in the KES 501 - KES 1,000 band.
- Send Money fee is KES 13.
- Recipient receives KES 1,000.
- Sender wallet is debited KES 1,013.
Example 2: Withdraw KES 10,000 from an agent
- Amount falls in the KES 7,501 - KES 10,000 withdrawal band.
- Agent withdrawal fee is KES 115.
- Total wallet impact should account for the withdrawal amount and the charge.
- Cash-out is more expensive than sending the same amount digitally.
Example 3: Pay KES 20,000 through Paybill Business Tariff
- Amount falls in the KES 15,001 - KES 20,000 band.
- Business Tariff customer charge is KES 105.
- If the same business offered a Till, the customer-side fee would normally be KES 0.
Example 4: Borrow KES 1,000 through Fuliza and repay after one midnight
- Access fee is 1% of KES 1,000, which is KES 10.
- Daily maintenance band for KES 501 - KES 1,000 is KES 6.
- Estimated first-day cost is KES 16.
Common M-Pesa Charge Mistakes
- Assuming M-Pesa fees are a percentage of the transaction amount.
- Forgetting that Paybill tariffs differ by business setup.
- Using Send Money fees when the transaction is actually an agent withdrawal.
- Ignoring the ATM withdrawal limit of KES 35,000.
- Assuming Till payments and Paybill payments cost the customer the same.
- Using old unregistered-user transfer tables even though the current data marks that flow as disabled.
- Ignoring Fuliza daily maintenance fees and looking only at the 1% access fee.
- Forgetting that bank-side charges can vary even when the M-Pesa side is marked free.
Frequently Asked Questions
These answers focus on the charge tables, transaction limits, and live calculator behavior for M-Pesa charges 2026.
1 What are the current M-Pesa charges in this calculator?
Our calculator uses the M-Pesa charges 2026 tables shown below. The core Send Money, other-network transfer, agent withdrawal, ATM withdrawal, and transaction-limit figures are checked against Safaricom's published M-PESA tariff table. Send Money is free from KES 1 to KES 100, then rises by fixed band up to KES 108. Agent withdrawal ranges from KES 11 to KES 309. ATM withdrawal ranges from KES 35 to KES 203. Paybill charges depend on tariff type, while Till payments are normally free to the customer.
2 What is the maximum M-Pesa transaction amount?
Our calculator uses Safaricom's published limits: KES 250,000 as the maximum single transaction amount, KES 500,000 as the maximum daily transaction value, and KES 500,000 as the wallet balance limit. ATM withdrawal has a lower maximum of KES 35,000 per transaction.
3 Why does the same amount have different M-Pesa charges?
The fee depends on transaction type. Sending KES 10,000 to another user, withdrawing KES 10,000 from an agent, withdrawing KES 10,000 from an ATM, and paying KES 10,000 through Paybill are different services. They can use different fee tables even though the amount is the same.
4 Are Paybill and Till charges the same?
No. Buy Goods or Till payments are normally free to the customer, while Paybill charges depend on the business tariff. A Paybill can pass the full fee to the customer, share the fee through Mgao, or absorb the full fee on the business side.
5 How does the M-Pesa calculator handle Fuliza?
Fuliza is handled separately because it is an overdraft service. Our calculator uses a 1% access fee on the borrowed amount plus the daily maintenance fee band multiplied by the days the balance remains outstanding.
6 Can I send money to an unregistered M-Pesa user?
Safaricom guidance treats unregistered-user transfers as unavailable. Our calculator therefore avoids old unregistered-user fee tables and shows this transaction type as unavailable.
7 Are M-Pesa to bank transfers always free?
Safaricom and bank reference material can mark the M-Pesa side as free for M-Pesa to bank transfers, while still warning that receiving bank charges may vary. Our calculator displays that warning instead of promising that every bank-side movement is free.
8 Does the recipient pay when I send money?
For normal Send Money to a registered user, the sender pays the transaction fee and the recipient receives the full amount. For example, sending KES 1,000 costs KES 13, so the sender is debited KES 1,013 and the recipient receives KES 1,000.
9 Why does the effective cost rate fall on large transfers?
Because many M-Pesa charges are fixed by band rather than charged as a percentage. Once Send Money reaches the KES 108 fee ceiling, sending a larger amount within the limit has a lower effective cost rate than sending a small amount.
10 What should I check before confirming a live M-Pesa transaction?
Check the recipient, Paybill or Till number, account number, amount, displayed fee, and total debit before entering your PIN. Our calculator is a planning tool, but the confirmation screen is the final checkpoint before money moves.
Last reviewed: 3 May 2026. Core Send Money, other-network transfer, agent withdrawal, ATM withdrawal, and transaction-limit figures are checked against Safaricom's published M-PESA tariff table. Product-specific Paybill, Till, Fuliza, KCB M-Pesa, M-Shwari, and GlobalPay scenarios should still be confirmed on Safaricom, bank, product, or live M-Pesa confirmation channels before relying on a fee for a live transaction.