A trade that looks like a 1% win on the chart can turn into a loss once fees are counted. Most traders know fees exist. Far fewer know how much they actually pay each month.
Let’s break down every common crypto trading fee and how to keep them under control.
Maker vs Taker Fees
This is the fee structure you will see on almost every exchange.
Taker Fees
You pay a taker fee when your order fills immediately against an existing order, for example a market order. You are “taking” liquidity from the order book. Taker fees are usually higher.
Maker Fees
You pay a maker fee when your order sits in the order book and waits to be filled, like a limit order below the current price. You are “making” liquidity. Maker fees are lower, and some exchanges even pay a small rebate.
A typical spot exchange might charge 0.1% taker and 0.08% maker. Small numbers, but they apply to every buy and every sell.
The Spread
The spread is the gap between the best buy price and the best sell price. It is not listed as a fee, but you pay it every time you use a market order. On Bitcoin it is usually tiny. On thin altcoins it can be large, especially during quiet hours. Our guide to the best time to trade crypto explains why.
Slippage
Slippage happens when a large or fast order fills at worse prices than expected. It is common during big news or on low-volume coins. Limit orders protect you from it.
Futures Funding Fees
Perpetual futures use a funding rate, paid every few hours between long and short traders. When the market is very bullish, longs usually pay shorts. Hold a leveraged long for weeks and funding can cost more than your trading fees. Read spot vs futures crypto trading before using leverage.
Deposit and Withdrawal Fees
Many exchanges charge a flat fee to withdraw coins, plus the blockchain network fee. Moving small amounts often is expensive. Card deposits also tend to cost more than bank transfers.
How Fees Affect Your Results
Suppose you trade $1,000 twenty times a month with 0.1% on both entry and exit. That is $2 per round trip, or $40 a month. If your average win is $15, fees are eating a big slice.
Fees also shift your break-even win rate, which we explain in the crypto risk management guide. Our free crypto profit calculator includes fees automatically, and the step-by-step method is in how to calculate crypto profit and ROI.
Simple Ways to Lower Crypto Trading Fees
- Use limit orders instead of market orders when you can
- Trade fewer, higher-quality setups
- Check whether holding the exchange’s token gives a fee discount
- Move funds in larger, less frequent withdrawals
- Avoid holding leveraged positions through expensive funding periods
Track Fees in Your Journal
Add a fees column to every trade you log. After a month, total it up. Most active traders are surprised. Our crypto trading journal guide includes a ready-to-use template.
Fees and Long-Term Investing
Fees matter for long-term holders too, just in a different way. If you buy Bitcoin every week with a recurring order, a high fee on each small purchase adds up over years. Compare the recurring-buy fee with a normal limit order on the same exchange; the gap is sometimes surprising. Our guide to dollar-cost averaging Bitcoin shows how to set up a schedule that keeps costs sensible.
Bottom Line
Fees are a cost of doing business, but they should never decide whether you are profitable. Know what you pay, favour limit orders, and trade less often but with better setups.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice.
New to crypto trading? This guide is part of our Crypto Trading for Beginners: A Complete Starter Guide series.
