M-Pesa Charges in Kenya: Send, Withdraw, ATM & Buy Goods Fees
M-Pesa charges are fixed-amount bands, not a percentage — the fee depends on which band your transaction amount falls into, not a flat rate. Sending or withdrawing KES 1 to KES 100 is free.
Above that, Send Money tops out at KES 108, agent withdrawal at KES 309, and ATM withdrawal (capped at KES 35,000 per transaction) at KES 203. Buy Goods (Till) payments are free for the customer — the merchant is charged instead.
Send Money to a Registered User
This is the standard M-Pesa transfer. The sender pays the fee; the recipient always receives the exact amount sent.
| Amount (KES) | Send Money 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 |
Pochi la Biashara — Promotional Rate
Safaricom is running a reduced tariff for transfers to Pochi la Biashara merchants, valid for 3 months from 1 August. Confirm on your confirmation screen whether the promotional rate or the standard Send Money rate applies, since the promotion has an end date.
| Amount (KES) | Pochi la Biashara Fee (KES) |
|---|---|
| 0 – 50 | Free |
| 50 – 100 | Free |
| 101 – 200 | Free |
| 201 – 500 | 7 |
| 501 – 1,000 | 13 |
| 1,001 – 1,500 | 23 |
| 1,500 – 2,500 | 33 |
| 2,500 – 250,000 | 50 (flat) |
Withdrawal From an M-Pesa Agent
Cash withdrawal is more expensive than sending money because it removes cash from the digital system. The minimum agent withdrawal is KES 50.
| Amount (KES) | Agent Withdrawal 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 |
ATM Withdrawal
Cardless ATM withdrawal through M-Pesa has its own lower ceiling — the maximum you can withdraw per transaction is KES 35,000, compared with KES 250,000 for Send Money and Paybill.
| Amount (KES) | ATM Withdrawal Fee (KES) |
|---|---|
| 200 – 2,500 | 35 |
| 2,501 – 5,000 | 69 |
| 5,001 – 10,000 | 115 |
| 10,001 – 35,000 | 203 |
Lipa na M-Pesa Buy Goods (Till)
Buy Goods, also called a Till payment, is free for the customer. This is why a business offering both a Till and a Paybill is usually the cheaper option for the person paying. The merchant receiving the payment carries the charge instead:
| Amount (KES) | Customer Charge | Merchant Charge |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 200 | Free | Free |
| 201 – 500 | Free | Free |
| 501 – 36,363 | Free | 0.55% of amount |
| Above 36,363 | Free | KES 200 (flat) |
Making Payments From Your Till (Business Paying Out)
If you run a Till and need to move money out of it, the fee depends on whether you’re paying to a mobile number or to a Paybill — paying to a mobile number is cheaper at every band.
| Amount (KES) | Pay to Mobile (KES) | Pay to Paybill (KES) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 100 | Free | — |
| 101 – 500 | 4 | 3 |
| 501 – 1,000 | 7 | 5 |
| 1,001 – 1,500 | 12 | 8 |
| 1,501 – 2,500 | 17 | 10 |
| 2,501 – 3,500 | 27 | 13 |
| 3,501 – 5,000 | 29 | 17 |
| 5,001 – 7,500 | 39 | 21 |
| 7,501 – 10,000 | 45 | 24 |
| 10,001 – 15,000 | 50 | 29 |
| 15,001 – 20,000 | 53 | 31 |
| 20,001 – 25,000 | 54 | 34 |
| 25,001 – 45,000 | 54 | 36 – 52 |
| 45,001 – 250,000 | 54 | 54 |
Paybill Charges
Paybill charges depend on which tariff the business has chosen — Business Bouquet (customer pays), Mgao (shared), or Customer Bouquet (business pays). These are separate, lower fee bands from Send Money. See our full Paybill charges breakdown for the complete Business, Mgao, and Customer tariff tables.
Free M-Pesa Transactions
- ✓
Depositing money into your M-Pesa wallet
- ✓
M-Pesa registration
- ✓
Buying airtime through M-Pesa
- ✓
Balance enquiry
- ✓
Changing your M-Pesa PIN
- ✓
Sending KES 1 to KES 100 to a registered user
- ✓
Paying at a Buy Goods till, on the customer side
Transaction Limits
| Limit | Amount |
|---|---|
| Maximum account balance | KES 500,000 |
| Maximum single transaction | KES 250,000 |
| Maximum daily transaction value | KES 500,000 |
| Minimum agent withdrawal | KES 50 |
| Maximum ATM withdrawal per transaction | KES 35,000 |
Accepted ID Documents
| Purpose | Accepted Documents |
|---|---|
| Registration at an agent outlet | Kenyan National ID or Kenyan Passport only |
| Registration for Foreign Passport, Military ID, or Foreigner Certificate holders | Safaricom Shop or Customer Care Desk only — not available at agent outlets |
| Cash deposits and withdrawals | Kenyan National ID, Kenyan Passport, Foreign Passport, Military ID, or Foreigner Certificate |
Reversing a Mistaken Transaction
To request a self-reversal, forward your transaction confirmation SMS to 456. Reversal is not automatic or guaranteed — it depends on whether the recipient has already withdrawn or spent the funds.
Official Safaricom Support Channels
Not Sure Which Fee Applies to Your Transaction?
Send us the transaction type and amount on WhatsApp and we’ll confirm the correct band for you.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the current M-Pesa charges?
M-Pesa charges depend on the transaction type and the amount sent or withdrawn. Sending KES 1 to KES 100 to a registered user is free. Above that, fees rise in bands, reaching a maximum of KES 108 for Send Money and up to KES 309 for agent withdrawals on amounts above KES 50,000.
Is Send Money to Airtel Money or T-Kash charged differently from M-Pesa to M-Pesa?
No. Safaricom harmonises the charge for sending to other registered mobile money users on other networks with the standard M-Pesa to M-Pesa Send Money rate, so the same fee bands apply to both.
Does the customer pay when paying at a Buy Goods (Till)?
No. Customers pay nothing extra to pay at a Lipa na M-Pesa Buy Goods till. The merchant receiving the payment is charged instead: nothing up to KES 500, 0.55% between KES 501 and KES 36,363, and a flat KES 200 above KES 36,363.
What is the Pochi la Biashara promotional rate?
Safaricom is running a promotional tariff for transfers to Pochi la Biashara merchants for three months from 1 August. Amounts up to KES 200 are free, and larger amounts follow reduced bands, with a flat KES 50 charge for any amount from KES 2,500 up to KES 250,000.
How much does it cost to withdraw money at an M-Pesa agent?
Agent withdrawal charges are higher than Send Money charges for the same amount. Charges range from KES 11 for the smallest band up to KES 309 for withdrawals between KES 50,001 and KES 250,000.
What is the maximum ATM withdrawal using M-Pesa?
Cardless ATM withdrawal through M-Pesa is capped at KES 35,000 per transaction. Fees range from KES 35 to KES 203 depending on the amount withdrawn.
Which M-Pesa transactions are completely free?
Deposits, registration, buying airtime, balance enquiries, PIN changes, sending KES 1 to KES 100, and Buy Goods payments on the customer side are all free.
What is the maximum amount I can hold or send on M-Pesa?
The maximum M-Pesa account balance is KES 500,000. The maximum single transaction is KES 250,000, and the maximum you can move in a single day is KES 500,000.
How do I reverse an M-Pesa transaction sent by mistake?
Forward the transaction confirmation SMS to 456 to request a self-reversal. Reversal is not guaranteed and depends on whether the recipient has already withdrawn or spent the funds.
