🔍 Introduction: What Are Maker and Taker Fees?
Maker and taker fees are the two primary types of trading fees charged by cryptocurrency exchanges. The distinction is based on how your order interacts with the order book — whether it adds or removes liquidity.
This fee structure is designed to incentivize traders to provide liquidity, which creates a healthier and more efficient market. Understanding the difference is essential for minimizing your trading costs and maximizing your profits.
Maker fees are almost always lower than taker fees. By using limit orders strategically, you can significantly reduce your trading costs over time.
🛠️ What Is a Maker Fee?
A maker fee is charged when you add liquidity to the order book. This happens when you place a limit order that is not immediately filled because the price you set is not currently available in the market.
Examples of maker orders:
- Placing a buy limit order below the current market price.
- Placing a sell limit order above the current market price.
By placing these orders, you are "making" liquidity available for other traders. The exchange rewards you with lower fees — and in some cases, even negative fees (rebates) for high-volume traders.
Maker fees are typically 0.02% to 0.10% on major exchanges. With exchange tokens like BNB, you can get an additional 25% discount.
🔴 What Is a Taker Fee?
A taker fee is charged when you remove liquidity from the order book. This happens when you place an order that is filled immediately against existing orders.
Examples of taker orders:
- Placing a market order (buy or sell) that executes at the best available price.
- Placing a limit order that is filled immediately because the price matches an existing order in the book.
By taking liquidity, you are consuming orders that other traders have placed. The exchange charges you higher fees for this convenience and immediacy.
Taker fees are typically 0.04% to 0.10% on major exchanges. Avoid market orders for large trades to reduce fees and slippage.
📊 Maker vs Taker: Side-by-Side Comparison
Here is a direct comparison of maker and taker fees across key dimensions:
| Feature | Maker Fee | Taker Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Fee for adding liquidity to the order book | Fee for removing liquidity from the order book |
| Order Type | Limit order (not filled immediately) | Market order / Limit order (filled immediately) |
| Typical Fee Rate | 0.02% – 0.10% | 0.04% – 0.10% |
| Who Pays? | Traders providing liquidity | Traders consuming liquidity |
| Exchange Incentive | Lower fees, sometimes rebates | Higher fees (covers cost of immediacy) |
| Impact on Market | Improves market depth and tightens spreads | Narrows spreads, provides execution |
| Discounts Available | Yes (BNB, OKB, VIP tiers) | Limited (mainly VIP tiers) |
Maker fees are almost always lower than taker fees. The difference may seem small, but it adds up significantly over thousands of trades.
🎯 How to Be a Maker (and Pay Lower Fees)
To qualify for maker fees, you need to place orders that add liquidity to the order book. Here's how:
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1
Use limit orders
Always use limit orders instead of market orders. This is the most important step.
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2
Set your price slightly below market (for buy orders)
Place a buy limit order below the current ask price. It will sit in the order book until the market moves to your price.
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3
Set your price slightly above market (for sell orders)
Place a sell limit order above the current bid price. It will wait in the order book for a buyer.
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4
Use "Post Only" order types
Many exchanges offer a "Post Only" option that ensures your order is never a taker. If it would fill immediately, it gets canceled instead.
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5
Be patient
Maker orders may take time to fill. This is the trade-off for lower fees — you may not get immediate execution.
The "Post Only" feature is available on most exchanges (Binance, OKX, Bybit). It guarantees that your order is a maker order or it gets canceled. This is a safe way to ensure you never accidentally pay taker fees.
🧮 Fee Calculation Examples
Let's look at real-world examples to understand the cost difference:
| Scenario | Trade Amount | Fee Type | Fee Rate | Fee Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Binance Spot | $10,000 | Maker | 0.075% (with BNB) | $7.50 |
| Binance Spot | $10,000 | Taker | 0.10% | $10.00 |
| OKX Spot | $10,000 | Maker | 0.072% (with OKB) | $7.20 |
| OKX Spot | $10,000 | Taker | 0.08% | $8.00 |
| Bybit Futures | $10,000 | Maker | 0.01% | $1.00 |
| Bybit Futures | $10,000 | Taker | 0.06% | $6.00 |
If you trade $10,000 daily with a 0.025% fee difference (e.g., 0.075% vs 0.10%), you save $2.50 per trade. Over 300 trades a year, that's $750 in savings.
🏛️ Maker vs Taker Fees by Exchange (2025)
Here is a comparison of maker and taker fees on major exchanges (standard rates):
| Exchange | Market | Maker Fee | Taker Fee | Discount Token |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Binance | Spot | 0.10% → 0.075% (BNB) | 0.10% | BNB (25% off) |
| Binance | Futures | 0.02% → 0.015% (BNB) | 0.04% → 0.03% (BNB) | BNB (25% off) |
| OKX | Spot | 0.08% → 0.072% (OKB) | 0.08% → 0.072% (OKB) | OKB (10% off) |
| OKX | Futures | 0.02% → 0.018% (OKB) | 0.05% → 0.045% (OKB) | OKB (10% off) |
| Bybit | Spot | 0.10% | 0.10% | — |
| Bybit | Futures | 0.01% | 0.06% | — |
| KuCoin | Spot | 0.10% → 0.08% (KCS) | 0.10% → 0.08% (KCS) | KCS (up to 20% off) |
| KuCoin | Futures | 0.02% | 0.06% | KCS |
| Coinbase | Spot | 0.40% | 0.60% | — |
| Kraken | Spot | 0.16% | 0.26% | — |
For the lowest fees, use Binance or OKX with their native tokens. For futures, Bybit and Binance offer the lowest maker fees (0.01%–0.02%).
📈 Strategies to Minimize Fees
Here are actionable strategies to pay lower fees:
- Always use limit orders – Avoid market orders to skip taker fees.
- Use "Post Only" – Guarantee you are a maker.
- Hold exchange tokens – Get discounts with BNB, OKB, KCS.
- Reach VIP tiers – Increase your 30-day volume to lower fees.
- Trade on futures markets – Often have lower fees than spot.
- Compare exchanges – Choose the one with the best fee structure for your trading style.
- Use referral programs – Some exchanges offer fee discounts.
If you trade $50,000 daily with a 0.025% fee difference (maker vs taker), you save $12.50 per day, $375 per month, and $4,500 per year.
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using market orders for large trades – You pay taker fees and may incur significant slippage.
- Not enabling "Post Only" – You may accidentally become a taker.
- Ignoring fee discounts – Not holding exchange tokens is leaving money on the table.
- Not consolidating volume – Spreading trades across multiple exchanges prevents you from reaching VIP tiers.
- Overlooking hidden costs – Spread, slippage, and funding rates can add up.
Always check the fee schedule on your exchange's official website. Fees can change, and promotions may offer temporary discounts.