Maker and taker fees
Also called: maker fee · taker fee · maker/taker
Definition
Maker and taker fees are the two trading fee rates an exchange charges: a maker fee when your order adds liquidity to the order book, and a usually higher taker fee when your order removes it.
How maker and taker fees works
A maker order is one that does not fill immediately. It rests in the order book and waits for someone else to trade against it, so it makes the market deeper. A typical maker order is a limit buy below the current price or a limit sell above it.
A taker order fills right away against orders that are already in the book. Market orders are always takers, and a limit order priced across the spread also fills as a taker. Because takers consume liquidity, most exchanges charge them more.
Fees are a percentage of the trade value, not of your profit. They differ by exchange, by product (spot versus futures) and by your fee tier, which usually depends on 30-day trading volume or token holdings. Some venues pay a small rebate to makers on certain markets. Check the fee schedule of your own exchange before comparing costs.
Example
Suppose your exchange charges 0.02% for makers and 0.05% for takers on futures. You open a 20,000 USDT position with a market order, paying 20,000 × 0.05% = 10 USDT. If you had used a limit order that rested in the book, the fee would be 20,000 × 0.02% = 4 USDT. Closing the same size again as a taker adds another 10 USDT, so a round trip costs 20 USDT as a taker versus 8 USDT as a maker. Over a hundred trades, that gap becomes 1,200 USDT.
Common mistakes
- Assuming every limit order is a maker order, when a limit priced through the spread fills instantly and pays the taker fee.
- Calculating fees on margin instead of on the full leveraged position size.
- Ignoring the closing fee and only counting the cost of opening a trade.
Learn and practise
Try it on an exchange
OKX offers this. Sign up through our link and the code below is applied.
nexu888Open OKXFAQ
Why are taker fees higher than maker fees?
Makers add orders that others can trade against, which keeps spreads tight. Exchanges reward that with a lower rate and charge takers more for using the existing liquidity.
How do I make sure I pay the maker fee?
Use a post-only limit order. If it would fill immediately as a taker, the exchange cancels or adjusts it instead of executing it.
Are maker and taker fees the same on every exchange?
No. Rates depend on the exchange, the product and your fee tier, and they change over time, so always check the current fee page.