Fee / Commission
Trading fees are charges that an exchange collects when you buy or sell assets. Most exchanges use two rates: for makers and takers. The fee size depends on your order type.
Understanding the difference between maker and taker helps reduce trading costs and increase profitability.
What Are Maker and Taker
Maker places a limit order that enters the order book and waits for execution. Adds liquidity to the exchange.
Example: Current BTC price = $50,000. You place a limit order to buy at $49,500. Your order waits in the order book — you are a maker.
Taker places a market order or a limit order that executes immediately. Takes liquidity from the exchange.
Example: You place a market order to buy BTC right now at $50,000 — you are a taker.
Fee Sizes
Taker fees are usually higher. Exchanges reward makers for adding liquidity.
Fee sizes depend on the exchange, trading type, and your trading volume. Most exchanges offer discounts for high volume or using their native token.
Spot Trading vs Futures
Spot trading — buying and selling actual assets. Fees are usually higher (0.10–0.15%).
Futures — trading contracts for an asset. Fees are lower (maker 0.02%, taker 0.05%), but there's an additional funding rate charge.
Current fee rates:
How Fees Are Calculated
Fee = Trade amount × Fee rate
Example: Buying as Maker
You buy: 0.1 BTC at $50,000
Trade amount: $5,000
Rate: 0.10%
Fee: $5
Total: $5,005 is debited from your account.
Example: Selling as Taker
You sell: 0.5 ETH at $3,000
Trade amount: $1,500
Rate: 0.10%
Fee: $1.5
Total: $1,498.5 is credited to your account.
When You Are Maker, When Taker
You are a maker:
Place a limit order at a price better than current
Order enters the order book and waits for execution
Use Post-Only orders
You are a taker:
Place a market order (immediate execution)
Place a limit order at current price or better
Order executes instantly
Impact on Profit
For active traders, fees significantly affect the final result.
Example for a scalper:
100 trades of $1,000 per month:
With taker 0.10%: fee $100 per month
With maker 0.02%: fee $20 per month
Savings: $80 per month or $960 per year
💡 How to Reduce Fees
Use limit orders — become a maker and pay less.
Use native token — on Binance, pay in BNB and get a 25% discount.
Increase trading volume — exchanges offer reduced rates for large traders.
Use Post-Only — guarantees you will be a maker. If the order can execute as taker, the exchange will cancel it.
The difference between maker and taker may seem insignificant, but for active traders, these percentages add up to substantial amounts. Use limit orders and exchange native tokens — this will help minimize costs.
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