Blended rate
One percentage applied across every transaction regardless of card type or entry method. Simple to read and simple to forecast, and it conceals which of a merchant’s transactions are expensive — which is fine while the transaction mix is stable and a problem when it is not.
Why it matters to a merchant
Simpler to read and harder to audit: one number covering methods whose underlying costs differ, which means the merchant cannot see which part of their mix is expensive. Fine when simplicity is worth more than visibility, and a poor fit for a business whose mix is changing.
Read more: How payment processing fees are actually built
Where this comes up
Pages on this site that deal with this in context:
Related terms
In this section: What it costs, and what gets measured