Fee figures last checked October 12, 2026

How the calculator works

Platform fees are taken out of the money you raise, not added on top of your costs. So a goal that simply equals your costs always leaves you short, and adding the fee percentage to your costs still leaves you a little short. The calculator works backwards from what you need to keep:

funding goal = total costs ÷ (1 − fee rate)

Add your costs: production and shipping for a product campaign, or the amount of support needed for a cause, plus marketing.
Add a contingency buffer (10–15% is typical) so a late supplier quote or a shipping surprise doesn't consume your margin.
Turn the fees into one rate. Platform fee plus payment processing is a percentage. The fixed amount charged on every pledge is converted to a percentage using your average pledge, because many small pledges lose more to a fixed fee than a few large ones.
Gross up. Divide your total costs by one minus that fee rate. What is left after fees equals your costs.
Count the backers. Divide the goal by your average pledge and round up.

Three worked examples

These are made-up campaigns, shown only to illustrate the arithmetic. Enter the same numbers above and you will get the same results.

A product campaign on Kickstarter

Illustrative: production $18,000, shipping $4,500, marketing $3,000, 10% buffer, average pledge $75

Costs before buffer: $25,500
Total costs with 10% buffer: $28,050
Effective fee rate (8% + $0.20 ÷ $75): 8.3%
Fees at the goal: $2,528
Backers needed: 408

A community cause on GoFundMe

Illustrative: support needed $9,000, outreach $300, 10% buffer, average donation $40

Costs before buffer: $9,300
Total costs with 10% buffer: $10,230
Effective fee rate (2.9% + $0.30 ÷ $40): 3.7%
Fees at the goal: $388
Donors needed: 266

A small creative project on Indiegogo

Illustrative: production $6,000, shipping $1,800, marketing $800, 15% buffer, average pledge $35

Costs before buffer: $8,600
Total costs with 15% buffer: $9,890
Effective fee rate (8% + $0.20 ÷ $35): 8.6%
Fees at the goal: $927
Backers needed: 310

Notice how much the average pledge matters. The small creative project loses a larger share to the fixed fee than the Kickstarter example, even though the percentages are the same.

Platform fees, checked

We read these from each platform's own fee page. Last checked October 12, 2026. Platforms change their fees, so if a platform's page says something different from this table, trust the platform and tell us.

Platform	Platform fee	Payment processing	Good to know	Source
Kickstarter	5% of funds collected	About 3% + $0.20 per pledge (pledges under $10 are cheaper: 5% + $0.05)	Fees are only collected if the project reaches its goal. Processing rates vary by country and payment method.	Kickstarter fees
Indiegogo	5% of funds collected	3% + $0.20 per transaction (US dollars)	No fees if a fixed-funding campaign misses its goal. Terms can differ by campaign type and region, so confirm on the fee page.	Indiegogo fees
GoFundMe	0% for organizers	2.9% + $0.30 per donation (United States)	Fees apply to every donation. Donors may add an optional tip, which does not change what you receive. Other countries differ.	GoFundMe fees

What this estimate doesn't include

Taxes and VAT. Sales tax or VAT on rewards, and processing fees charged on tax collected, depending on your country and the platform.
Currency conversion when backers pay in one currency and you are paid in another.
Pledges that fail. Some pledges are declined or reversed after the campaign ends. Your contingency buffer is the place to allow for this.
Cost overruns in manufacturing, shipping rates that change by country, and the cost of your own time.
Bank or withdrawal charges when funds are paid out to you.

Treat the result as a planning number. It tells you roughly what a goal needs to be, not what you will certainly receive.

How many backers do I need?

The backer count is the suggested goal divided by your average pledge, rounded up. If your goal is $30,578 and the average pledge is $75, you need about 408 backers. If the average is $50, you need about 612.

Be honest about the average. It is usually lower than your most popular reward tier, because many backers choose the cheapest option. Then ask the harder question: can you reach that many people directly? If you do not already know where the first few dozen backers will come from, the goal is a hope rather than a plan. Our guides on setting a realistic goal and the 30-day pre-launch checklist go deeper.

Common questions

Why is my goal higher than my costs?

Because fees come out of what you raise. A goal equal to your costs leaves you short by the amount of the fees, so the calculator raises the goal until what remains after fees covers your costs.

Do I pay fees if I miss my goal?

On Kickstarter and Indiegogo's fixed-funding campaigns, fees are only collected if the goal is reached. GoFundMe has no all-or-nothing goal, so processing fees apply to every donation. Check the platform's fee page for your campaign type.

What contingency should I use?

Ten to fifteen percent is typical. Use the higher end if you are manufacturing something for the first time, shipping internationally, or relying on a single supplier.

Does the calculator include taxes?

No. Tax rules depend on your country and what you are selling. Talk to an accountant about how pledges will be treated for your situation.

Is the calculator financial advice?

No. It is a planning aid built on published fee schedules and simple arithmetic. Always confirm the figures with the platform before you set your goal.

Crowdfunding funding goal & fee calculator.