Also called: Payment capture, Draft capture
What capture is
Capture is the step that submits an approved card payment for processing. During authorization, the cardholder’s bank approves the amount and sets it aside. Capture tells the payment system to complete the sale and begin moving the authorized funds toward your business.
Capture is not the same as clearing and settlement. Those steps follow capture and move the transaction through the payment system toward funding your bank account. A transaction can show as captured before the money appears in your account.
Authorization holds the amount; capture completes the sale, and settlement gets the money to your account.
How capture timing works
A standard sale often combines authorization and capture into one checkout action. With delayed capture, you authorize first and submit the capture later. That separation is useful when you need to verify an order, finish a service, or confirm the final amount before collecting payment.
Authorizations expire, and the exact window depends on the card and transaction. Many remain valid for about seven days. If you miss the window, the hold is released and you need a new authorization to collect payment. Capturing more than the approved amount also requires a new authorization and the customer’s consent.
A $100 authorization, then a $77 capture
| Authorized | $100 |
|---|---|
| Captured | $77 |
| Unused hold released | $23 |
Illustrative. The customer may see the original $100 authorization as pending while the final $77 charge is processed.
What it means for cash flow and costs
Capture does not put money in your bank account instantly. Settlement and funding follow, with funds commonly arriving 1 to 3 business days after card settlement begins. That is a planning estimate, not a guaranteed clock from the moment you capture.
Capture is not a separate, universally priced card-network fee. The completed sale incurs your payment-processing costs, including interchange, network fees, and processor markup. Delaying capture does not make those fee layers negotiable. A void before capture cancels the authorization instead of completing the sale, so use it when you will not fulfill the order.
Where capture goes wrong
A missed capture means you may lose the sale even though the customer saw an approved payment. An incomplete capture can also leave your order system, batch totals, and deposit records out of sync, making reconciliation harder.
Capturing before you finish reviewing an unusual order turns an authorization into a completed charge before your checks are done. For a $100 gas-station authorization followed by a $77 capture, the unused $23 is released. The customer may see the $100 hold while the final charge is being processed.
What you can actually change
- Track pending captures. Review your uncaptured transactions each business day and flag authorizations approaching their expiration window. This helps prevent an approved sale from going uncollected.
- Match capture to fulfillment. Capture when the order is ready to ship, the service is complete, or the final amount is known. For suspicious orders, finish your review before capture and void the authorization if you will not fulfill the sale.
- Reconcile captured sales. Compare captured transactions with your batch totals and deposits. Investigate missing captures, duplicate entries, and differences between the authorized and captured amounts.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between authorization and capture?
Authorization is the bank’s approval of a card payment and a hold on the approved amount. Capture submits that approved payment for completion. The customer’s account is not finally charged just because an authorization was approved.
How long do you have to capture a card payment?
Many authorizations remain valid for about seven days, but the window depends on the card and transaction. If the authorization expires, the hold is released and you need a new authorization to collect the payment.
Does capture mean the money is in my bank account?
No. Capture submits the payment for processing. Settlement and funding happen afterward. Funds commonly arrive 1 to 3 business days after card settlement begins, but that timing is not a guaranteed countdown from capture.
Does payment capture have a separate fee?
There is no single standard capture fee established for all card payments. The completed sale incurs processing costs under your pricing, including interchange, network fees, and processor markup. Compare your processing statement and agreement for any separately named charge.