M-Pesa Charges 2026: Every Fee in One Table (Updated March)
Safaricom has not changed M-Pesa tariffs heading into 2026. The fee structure that applied since 2023 remains in force. That is good news if you already know the bands, and bad news if you were hoping for a cut.
This page lists every M-Pesa charge in Kenya as of March 2026: sending money, withdrawing at agents, ATM withdrawals, Paybill fees, and international transfers. All fees shown already include the 20% excise duty charged by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). The number you see is the number that leaves your wallet.
Bookmark this page. We update it monthly.
M-Pesa Transaction Limits (2026)
Before the tariff tables, here are the limits that apply to all personal M-Pesa accounts:
| Limit | Amount |
| Maximum per transaction | KES 250,000 |
| Daily transaction limit | KES 500,000 |
| Maximum account balance | KES 500,000 |
| Minimum send | KES 1 |
| Minimum agent withdrawal | KES 50 |
| Minimum ATM withdrawal | KES 200 |
These limits are set by the Central Bank of Kenya and have not changed since August 2023.
1. Send Money Charges (M-Pesa to M-Pesa)
These fees apply when you send money to any registered mobile money user -- Safaricom M-Pesa, Airtel Money, or Telkom T-Kash. Safaricom harmonized cross-network fees, so the charge is identical regardless of the recipient's network.
| Transaction Band (KES) | Fee (KES) |
| 1 -- 49 | Free |
| 50 -- 100 | Free |
| 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 |
Key takeaway: Fees are capped at KES 108 for any amount above KES 20,000. Sending KES 25,000 costs the same as sending KES 250,000. If you are sending large amounts, do it in one transaction rather than splitting it.
Sending to unregistered users: Safaricom discontinued M-Pesa transfers to unregistered users in February 2024. This was a fraud prevention measure. If someone does not have a registered mobile money account, they cannot receive M-Pesa.
2. Agent Withdrawal Charges
These are the fees you pay when you withdraw cash from any M-Pesa agent. Depositing money at an agent is always free.
| Transaction Band (KES) | Fee (KES) |
| 50 -- 100 | 11 |
| 101 -- 500 | 29 |
| 501 -- 1,000 | 29 |
| 1,001 -- 1,500 | 29 |
| 1,501 -- 2,500 | 29 |
| 2,501 -- 3,500 | 52 |
| 3,501 -- 5,000 | 69 |
| 5,001 -- 7,500 | 87 |
| 7,501 -- 10,000 | 115 |
| 10,001 -- 15,000 | 167 |
| 15,001 -- 20,000 | 185 |
| 20,001 -- 35,000 | 197 |
| 35,001 -- 50,000 | 278 |
| 50,001 -- 250,000 | 309 |
Key takeaway: Withdrawals up to KES 2,500 are charged a flat KES 29 (after the first KES 100 band). If you need KES 2,000, withdraw KES 2,500 instead -- the fee is the same. Above KES 2,500, charges jump sharply.
Deposits are free. It costs nothing to deposit money into your M-Pesa account at any agent. Safaricom does not charge for deposits.
3. ATM Withdrawal Charges
You can withdraw M-Pesa cash from select ATMs without a bank card. Dial \*334# and select "Withdraw Cash" then "From ATM." The ATM generates a withdrawal code. Fees are higher than agent withdrawals, but ATMs are available 24/7.
| Transaction Band (KES) | Fee (KES) |
| 200 -- 2,500 | 35 |
| 2,501 -- 5,000 | 69 |
| 5,001 -- 10,000 | 115 |
| 10,001 -- 35,000 | 203 |
ATM limits: The maximum ATM withdrawal per transaction is KES 35,000. The daily ATM withdrawal limit is KES 100,000. Both are lower than agent withdrawal limits.
Agent vs. ATM comparison: For a KES 5,000 withdrawal, the agent fee is KES 69 and the ATM fee is also KES 69. But for KES 10,000, the agent charges KES 115 while the ATM charges the same KES 115. The real difference shows up at KES 20,000 -- agents charge KES 197, while the ATM charges KES 203. Agents are generally cheaper for larger amounts, and they allow withdrawals up to KES 250,000 versus KES 35,000 at ATMs.
4. Lipa na M-Pesa: Buy Goods (Till Number)
Paying at a business using their till number through Lipa na M-Pesa is free for customers. No fee, no band, no excise duty on your end. Zero.
The merchant pays Safaricom a fee of 0.5% of the transaction amount, capped at KES 200. On a KES 10,000 payment, the merchant pays KES 50. On a KES 100,000 payment, the merchant pays KES 200 (the cap kicks in).
This is why paying via Buy Goods till number is always cheaper than sending money to someone. If you are paying a landlord, a school, or a supplier, ask them for a till number instead of a personal M-Pesa number. You save the send money fee, and they receive the full amount minus a small merchant charge.
5. Lipa na M-Pesa: Paybill Charges
Paybill charges depend on which tariff model the business selected when registering their paybill number. There are three options:
Business Bouquet (Most Common -- Customer Pays)
The business pays nothing. You, the customer, pay the full transaction fee. This is the most common paybill structure in Kenya -- used by utility companies, schools, and landlords.
| Transaction Band (KES) | Customer Fee (KES) |
| 1 -- 100 | Free |
| 101 -- 500 | 5 |
| 501 -- 1,000 | 10 |
| 1,001 -- 1,500 | 15 |
| 1,501 -- 2,500 | 20 |
| 2,501 -- 3,500 | 25 |
| 3,501 -- 5,000 | 34 |
| 5,001 -- 7,500 | 42 |
| 7,501 -- 10,000 | 48 |
| 10,001 -- 15,000 | 57 |
| 15,001 -- 20,000 | 62 |
| 20,001 -- 25,000 | 67 |
| 25,001 -- 30,000 | 72 |
| 30,001 -- 35,000 | 83 |
| 35,001 -- 40,000 | 99 |
| 40,001 -- 45,000 | 103 |
| 45,001 -- 250,000 | 108 |
Customer Bouquet (Business Pays)
The business absorbs the entire fee. You pay nothing. Some banks and large corporations use this model to make payments easier for their customers.
Mgao Tariff (Shared Cost)
The fee is split between customer and business. At lower amounts, the customer pays most of the fee. At higher amounts, the business shoulders a larger share.
| Transaction Band (KES) | Customer Fee (KES) | Business Fee (KES) |
| 1 -- 100 | 0 | 0 |
| 101 -- 500 | 5 | 0 |
| 501 -- 1,000 | 10 | 0 |
| 1,001 -- 1,500 | 10 | 5 |
| 1,501 -- 2,500 | 13 | 7 |
| 2,501 -- 3,500 | 16 | 9 |
| 3,501 -- 5,000 | 16 | 18 |
| 5,001 -- 7,500 | 17 | 25 |
| 7,501 -- 10,000 | 18 | 30 |
| 10,001 -- 15,000 | 18 | 39 |
| 15,001 -- 20,000 | 19 | 43 |
| 20,001 -- 25,000 | 20 | 47 |
| 25,001 -- 30,000 | 20 | 52 |
| 30,001 -- 35,000 | 21 | 62 |
| 35,001 -- 40,000 | 23 | 76 |
| 40,001 -- 45,000 | 23 | 80 |
| 45,001 -- 250,000 | 24 | 84 |
How to tell which tariff your paybill uses: You cannot know in advance. The fee deducted from your M-Pesa after the transaction tells you. If you paid KES 5,000 via paybill and KES 34 was deducted as a fee, you are on the Business Bouquet. If only KES 16 was deducted, it is Mgao.
6. M-Pesa to Bank Transfer Charges
M-Pesa allows direct transfers to bank accounts through the "Send to Bank" option in the M-Pesa menu. The charges follow the same band structure as sending money to registered users (see Section 1 above). The key difference is that some banks charge an additional receiving fee on their end.
Bank-to-M-Pesa transfers (moving money from your bank account to M-Pesa) are handled by individual banks, and fees vary:
- KCB: Free transfers between KCB accounts and M-Pesa
- Equity (Eazzy Banking): Approximately KES 27 for transfers up to KES 7,500
- Other banks: Typically KES 25-50 depending on the bank and amount
Check your bank's mobile or internet banking tariff guide for exact charges. These are set by the bank, not Safaricom.
7. M-Pesa Global (International Transfers)
M-Pesa Global allows you to send money to mobile wallets and bank accounts in other countries. Supported destinations include Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Burundi, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, among others.
How fees work: Unlike domestic M-Pesa transfers with fixed bands, M-Pesa Global fees vary by destination country, transfer amount, and partner service. Safaricom shows you the exact fee and exchange rate on screen before you confirm the transaction. You will never be charged a fee you did not see first.
Receiving international transfers: Incoming M-Pesa Global transfers are free. No charge to receive. However, when you withdraw or transfer those funds afterward, standard domestic M-Pesa fees apply.
Limits: Same as domestic -- KES 250,000 per transaction, KES 500,000 per day. The maximum receivable per international transaction is approximately KES 70,000, though this varies by country.
For a detailed comparison of international transfer costs across different providers, see our remittance calculator.
8. Free M-Pesa Services
Not everything costs money. These M-Pesa transactions carry zero charges:
- Depositing money at any agent
- Buying airtime for yourself or another Safaricom line
- Lipa na M-Pesa Buy Goods (till number payments)
- M-Pesa registration
- Receiving money from another M-Pesa user
- Checking your M-Pesa balance
- Receiving international transfers via M-Pesa Global
9. About the 20% Excise Duty
Every M-Pesa fee includes a 20% excise duty imposed by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) under the Excise Duty Act. Safaricom calculates the base fee, adds 20%, and presents you with one combined number. You do not see the base fee and the tax separately.
For example, if Safaricom's base fee for a transaction is KES 44, the excise duty adds KES 8.80, rounding to a total displayed fee of KES 53. All the fees in the tables above already include this tax.
This excise duty has been in place since 2013 and was increased from 12% to 20% in July 2023.
10. Tips to Minimize M-Pesa Fees
Send larger amounts less frequently
The fee bands reward consolidation. Sending KES 5,000 once costs KES 57. Sending KES 1,000 five times costs KES 65 (5 x KES 13). That is KES 8 saved on a single set of transactions.
The savings are more dramatic at higher amounts. Sending KES 50,000 once costs KES 108. Sending KES 10,000 five times costs KES 500 (5 x KES 100).
Use Lipa na M-Pesa Buy Goods instead of Send Money
If you are paying someone with a business till number, Buy Goods costs you nothing. Sending the same amount to their personal M-Pesa number costs you up to KES 108. Always ask: "Do you have a till number?"
Withdraw at agents, not ATMs
Agent withdrawals are cheaper for most amounts and allow higher single-transaction limits (KES 250,000 vs. KES 35,000 at ATMs). Use ATMs only when agents are closed or unavailable.
Withdraw in the flat-fee bands
Agent withdrawals from KES 101 to KES 2,500 all cost KES 29. If you need KES 600, you might as well withdraw KES 2,500 -- same fee. Keep the change in your wallet or deposit it later (deposits are free).
Compare with bank transfers for large amounts
For amounts above KES 50,000, compare M-Pesa send fees with your bank's transfer charges. Some banks, particularly KCB, offer free or near-free transfers to M-Pesa. Moving money from M-Pesa to your bank, then transferring from bank to the recipient's bank, can sometimes be cheaper than M-Pesa to M-Pesa for very large amounts.
For more ways to save on transfers, check our money transfer comparison tools and mobile money loan options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lipa na M-Pesa free?
Yes, for customers. Paying via Buy Goods (till number) costs you nothing. The merchant pays Safaricom 0.5% of the transaction, capped at KES 200. Paybill payments, however, may cost you between KES 5 and KES 108 depending on the amount and the tariff model the business selected.
What is the maximum M-Pesa transaction?
KES 250,000 per single transaction. You can transact up to KES 500,000 per day across multiple transactions. Your maximum M-Pesa account balance is also KES 500,000, as set by the Central Bank of Kenya.
Are M-Pesa charges different for Airtel Money and T-Kash?
No. Safaricom harmonized cross-network transfer fees. Sending KES 1,000 to an Airtel Money user costs the same KES 13 as sending it to another M-Pesa user. However, Airtel Money and T-Kash have their own fee structures for transactions within their platforms, and those may differ.
How do I reverse an M-Pesa transaction?
Call Safaricom customer care at 234 (from a Safaricom line) or 0722 002 234 (from any phone). You can also use the M-Pesa app: go to M-Pesa Statement, find the transaction, and select "Reverse." Reversals must be initiated within 24 hours. The recipient must not have used the funds. Safaricom does not guarantee reversals -- if the recipient has already withdrawn or spent the money, your only option is to contact them directly.
How do I check M-Pesa charges before sending?
Dial \*334# and navigate to "M-Pesa" then "My Account" then "Tariff." The USSD menu shows the current fee for any amount you enter. You can also check in the M-Pesa app under "Account" then "Tariffs and Limits." Both methods are free and show the exact fee before you commit to any transaction.
Last updated: March 19, 2026. Tariff data sourced from Safaricom's official M-Pesa tariff schedule. All fees include 20% KRA excise duty. We verify and update this page monthly. If you notice a discrepancy, let us know.