When you place an order on a crypto exchange, the fee is charged as a percentage of the trade value. There are two rates: the maker fee and the taker fee. Which one you pay depends on whether your order adds liquidity to the order book or removes it.
A maker order is a limit order that sits on the book waiting to be filled — it "makes" liquidity. A taker order fills immediately against orders already on the book — it "takes" liquidity. Takers pay more because they consume the depth that makers provided.
The fee is simply the trade value multiplied by the fee rate. Use this formula:
Because you pay a fee on both the buy and the sell, a full round trip costs roughly double the single-side fee.
The spread is the gap between the best buy price and the best sell price on the order book. On a liquid market it is tiny; on a thin market it can be large. "Instant buy" buttons and card purchases usually bundle a wide spread into the price, which is why they can cost far more than a normal order even when the headline fee looks low.
Advanced order screens show the raw order book and charge a transparent maker/taker fee, so experienced traders almost always use them instead of the simple buy button.
| Method | Typical cost | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Limit order (maker) | 0.00%–0.20% | Lowest fee, price control | May not fill immediately |
| Market order (taker) | 0.10%–0.40% | Fills instantly | Higher fee, some slippage |
| Instant buy / card | 1%–4% spread | Very simple | Much more expensive |
Most exchanges lower your fee as your 30-day trading volume grows. A trader doing a few hundred dollars a month pays the standard rate, while a high-volume trader can reach 0.00% maker fees. Some exchanges also discount fees if you hold or pay with their native token. Always check the fee schedule for your expected volume, not just the entry rate.
Trading fees are the main revenue source for a centralised exchange. By charging a small percentage on billions of dollars of daily volume, an exchange earns steadily whether the market rises or falls. Because the taker fee is higher than the maker fee, exchanges also encourage traders to add liquidity, which keeps the order book deep for everyone.
Use our free exchange check tool to see the taker fee for any of the 100 exchanges in our database, or visit our low-fee exchange comparison to compare maker/taker rates side by side.
A trading fee is a small percentage the exchange charges when your order executes, usually split into a maker fee and a taker fee. A typical taker fee is around 0.10% to 0.40%, and it applies each time you buy or sell.
A maker order is a limit order that adds liquidity and pays the lower maker fee. A taker order is a market order that removes liquidity and pays the higher taker fee. Using limit orders instead of market orders can cut your cost.
A competitive taker fee ranges from 0.00% (high-volume tiers) to about 0.40% on standard accounts. "Instant buy" features often carry a much wider spread of 1% to 4%. Verify current fees with our free exchange check tool.
Not always. A low headline fee can hide a wider spread, high withdrawal fees, or thin liquidity. Compare the full cost: maker/taker fee + spread + network withdrawal fee before choosing an exchange.
Last updated 2026-09-16. This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.