Crypto Trading Fees Explained: Maker vs Taker, Spot vs Futures
Published 2026-08-29 · fee schedules verified up to 2026-08-28
Trading fees look tiny — a tenth of a percent here, a few hundredths there — which is exactly why they compound unnoticed. An active trader turning over their stack twice a week pays more than 10% of it in fees over a year at 0.1% per trade. Understanding the three or four numbers that make up an exchange’s fee schedule is the cheapest edge in crypto.
Maker vs taker: the core mechanic
Every fee schedule starts from one split. Takers remove liquidity: market orders and any limit order that fills immediately. Makers add liquidity: limit orders that rest on the book before filling. Exchanges want deep order books, so makers pay less — sometimes nothing, occasionally even a rebate on futures.
The practical takeaway: if you aren’t in a hurry, place limit orders slightly away from the market price. Same trade, lower fee tier, every time.
Spot vs futures fees
Futures fees are quoted lower (commonly 0.02–0.06%) but apply to the full notional value of a leveraged position and are charged on both entry and exit — plus periodic funding payments while the position is open. On leverage, the “cheaper” futures fee routinely costs more of your actual capital than the spot fee it undercuts. Our futures calculator does this arithmetic for a planned position.
Base fees on the top exchanges, live
Regular-tier fees (no VIP status, no volume discounts) for the highest-ranked exchanges we track, from the same curated data as the rest of this site:
| Exchange | Spot maker | Spot taker | Futures maker | Futures taker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Binance | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| OKX | 0.08% | 0.1% | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Bybit | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.02% | 0.055% |
| Bitget | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.02% | 0.06% |
| Gate | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| KuCoin | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.02% | 0.06% |
| MEXC | 0% | 0–0.05% | 0–0.04% | 0–0.1% |
| HTX | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.02% | 0.05–0.06% |
| Crypto.com Exchange | 0.25% | 0.5% | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Bitfinex | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Ranges mean the base tier differs by pair or product. VIP tiers, token discounts and withdrawal fees are on each exchange’s page — or compare any two head-to-head from the exchange directory.
The fees that aren’t in the schedule
- Spread: on thin pairs the gap between bid and ask dwarfs the trading fee. “Zero-fee” promotions are usually financed here.
- Withdrawal fees: a cheap trade means little if moving the coins out costs dollars. Check the withdrawal fee table before choosing where to trade.
- Funding rates: perpetual futures charge or pay funding every few hours — over weeks this can exceed every explicit fee combined.
FAQ
What is the difference between maker and taker fees?
A taker order fills immediately against the order book (market orders, aggressive limit orders) and pays the higher taker fee. A maker order rests on the book waiting to be filled and pays the lower maker fee — exchanges reward you for adding liquidity. On many exchanges the gap is 25–50%, so simply using resting limit orders is the easiest fee cut available.
Why are futures fees lower than spot fees?
Futures fees look lower per trade — often a few hundredths of a percent — but they apply to your full notional position, not your margin. A 0.05% taker fee on a 10× leveraged position costs the same as 0.5% on your actual capital, and you pay it on entry and exit, plus funding every few hours while the position is open.
Are exchange-token fee discounts worth it?
Paying fees in the exchange's own token typically saves 10–25% on trading fees. It's worthwhile for active traders, with one caveat: you are holding a volatile asset to earn the discount. Price the token risk against the fee savings for your actual volume before opting in.
What do brokerage charges on Indian exchanges include?
Indian platforms typically quote a brokerage or trading charge per order plus applicable taxes (GST on the fee, and TDS on transfers where it applies). The structure is the same maker/taker model — use a per-exchange fee calculator to see the all-in cost of a planned order before placing it.
Work out a real order: fee & brokerage calculators · 7 tactics to pay less.