maker vs taker fees
What Are Maker Fees and Taker Fees?
Maker fees are charged when an order adds liquidity to the order book, while taker fees are charged when an order immediately executes against existing liquidity. In other words, maker fees apply to orders that sit on the order book (like limit orders waiting to be filled), and taker fees apply to orders that remove liquidity by matching with existing orders (such as market orders or limit orders that instantly fill).
On order book exchanges, posting a limit order that waits for execution is like “putting items on the shelf,” and the platform charges a maker fee. Submitting a market order or an instantly matched limit order “buys from the shelf,” triggering a taker fee, as explained in Maker vs. Taker Fees. Most platforms charge higher taker fees to incentivize users to provide liquidity. On decentralized exchanges (DEXs), even though traditional order books do not exist, the concept of "taker" still applies to transactions executed instantly against a liquidity pool. The fee structure on DEXs often includes both protocol and network (gas) fees.
Why Should You Understand Maker and Taker Fees?
Understanding maker and taker fees directly impacts your trading costs and strategy choices.
For a single trade, the cost can vary significantly depending on whether you act as a maker or a taker. For example, spot trading fees typically range from 0.1% to 0.2%, while taker fees in derivatives trading might be around 0.05%. For frequent traders, these differences can dramatically affect net returns over time. The fee structure also influences order placement: momentum traders often prefer taker orders for speed, while grid and market makers opt for maker orders to enjoy lower fees or even rebates. Knowledge of fee structures helps you choose optimal trading times, trading pairs, and platform tools (such as using exchange tokens or fee vouchers) to minimize unnecessary expenses.
How Do Maker and Taker Fees Work?
The core principle is whether your order adds or removes liquidity.
Liquidity represents the available inventory of executable orders in the market. By posting a limit order, you increase this inventory and are considered a liquidity provider (maker); thus, you pay a maker fee and may even receive a rebate (negative fee) on certain platforms as an incentive. Submitting a market order or an "immediate or cancel" type limit order (e.g., IOC, FOK) consumes inventory, making you a taker subject to taker fees.
Order types and parameters determine classification. For instance, selecting Post-Only ensures your order will only be added as a maker; if the order would execute immediately, the system cancels it automatically. Without Post-Only, even limit orders can become taker orders if they instantly match existing book prices.
Rebates and negative fees are mechanisms to encourage market making. Rebates return part of the fee to makers, while negative fees provide a direct payout upon execution; these are usually reserved for high-tier accounts or promotional periods.
A common confusion: Maker/taker fees are separate from “slippage.” Slippage is the implicit cost caused by price movement and insufficient depth, while maker/taker fees are explicit platform charges—both can impact your total cost simultaneously.
How Are Maker and Taker Fees Applied in Crypto Trading?
On centralized exchanges (CEXs), maker/taker tiers and rates for spot and derivatives trading are standard; on DEXs, protocol and network fees constitute the primary cost.
For example, at Gate, spot trading has fixed base rates. Accounts with higher 30-day trading volume or asset holdings reach higher VIP levels, lowering both maker and taker fees incrementally. In derivatives trading, base rates often feature lower maker and higher taker fees. Platform tokens (GT) and fee vouchers can reduce costs further. Actual rates may change with official announcements; order classification depends on how the trade is executed.
On AMM-based DEXs (such as Uniswap), there is no order book—“taker” refers to swapping directly with a pool. Fees consist of protocol rates (commonly 0.05%, 0.3%, etc., set by the pool) plus network gas costs. Liquidity providers function as makers, earning protocol fees but facing risks like impermanent loss. Aggregators like 1inch route trades across pools to minimize slippage and optimize total fees.
From a strategy perspective, grid trading and passive market making favor maker orders for lower costs or rebates; momentum trading and stop-loss strategies more frequently incur taker fees due to the need for immediate execution. For NFTs and NFT order book marketplaces, listing (maker) and instant buy (taker) actions follow similar logic, with platform-set fee rates.
How Can You Reduce Maker and Taker Fees?
The goal is to act as a provider when possible, leverage platform discounts, and balance execution efficiency.
- Use limit orders with Post-Only enabled to ensure maker classification and avoid unintended taker executions. In volatile markets, consider widening your price range to prevent immediate fills.
- Enable GT token deductions or purchase fee vouchers on Gate. Exchange token discounts and fee packages can lower your effective rate—ideal for high-frequency or regular trading cycles. Monitor token price volatility and voucher expiration for cost-effectiveness.
- Increase your account tier. Most platforms determine VIP levels based on 30-day trading volume or asset holdings; higher tiers mean lower fees or even rebates for makers. Consolidating trades on one platform or using sub-accounts can help you reach higher tiers faster (subject to platform rules).
- Choose trading pairs and times with higher liquidity. Deep markets reduce slippage and increase the likelihood of filling your limit orders as a maker rather than accidentally as a taker. Be cautious around major news releases that spike volatility.
- For derivatives, use conditional orders and split execution. Combining broader trigger prices with limit orders or using "maker only" options reduces involuntary taker executions; splitting large trades helps maintain maker status without moving the market.
- On DEXs, use aggregators and select low-fee pools. Aggregators find paths with lower protocol fees and reduced slippage; on high-cost chains like Ethereum L1, consider L2 solutions or alternative blockchains to minimize gas expense.
Risk warning: Over-prioritizing maker status may cause missed trades or unfilled orders; Post-Only may lead to frequent cancellations in volatile markets; consider time value and token price changes when using vouchers or exchange token deductions.
Recent Trends and Data on Maker/Taker Fees
Over the past year, exchanges have intensified “fee reduction and rebate” campaigns, further widening the gap between maker/taker rates to incentivize liquidity provision.
In 2025, leading CEXs’ spot base rates mostly range from 0.1% to 0.2%. Derivatives typically feature base maker fees of about 0.01%–0.02% and taker fees of 0.03%–0.06%. Rebates (negative maker fees) are increasingly common for top-tier accounts or during promotional periods, usually between -0.005% and -0.02%. Actual rates vary by platform tier—always refer to official listings.
In H2 2025, the adoption of exchange token discounts and fee vouchers continues to rise among high-frequency traders, further reducing effective rates. Quantitative traders combining maker rebates with vouchers may see total costs approach zero—or even turn negative—while strategies with high taker ratios remain dominated by taker fees.
For decentralized trading in 2025, AMM protocol rates remain tiered (e.g., 0.05%, 0.3%), but overall transaction costs are more affected by gas and routing optimization. With Ethereum L2s and other high-performance chains gaining traction, average gas costs per user have dropped compared to L1—reducing the relative cost of “taker” (instant swap) transactions. For large trades, aggregators and split execution are increasingly used to minimize hidden costs like slippage.
Overall trends: Platforms encourage market making by increasing maker/taker spreads, offering exchange token discounts, fee vouchers, and limited-time negative fee events; meanwhile, DEX protocol fees remain stable while network costs decline thanks to improved tools and routing optimization. For traders, dynamically assessing fee ranges relative to their own trading style remains the most effective way to manage costs in 2025.
Key Terms
- Maker Fee: A lower fee charged to those who add liquidity by placing resting orders in a trading pair.
- Taker Fee: A higher fee charged to those who immediately execute against existing orders.
- Liquidity: The ease with which assets can be bought or sold; makers supply liquidity for lower fees.
- Order Book: The live record of all pending buy/sell orders on an exchange.
- Trading Pair: The combination of two assets (e.g., BTC/USDT) traded against each other.
- Fee Structure: The difference in maker/taker rates set by exchanges that impacts traders’ costs and profits.
FAQ
Which Is Cheaper: Maker Fee or Taker Fee?
Generally, maker fees are cheaper than taker fees. Exchanges design this difference to encourage users to provide liquidity; takers pay higher costs for instant execution. Actual rates vary by platform—on major exchanges like Gate, maker fees are typically 0.1%–0.2% lower than taker fees. Always check the latest rate schedule before trading.
As a Beginner, Should I Use Maker or Taker Orders?
It depends on your trading style and goals. Maker orders suit patient traders aiming to save on fees but may go unfilled; taker orders suit those seeking immediate execution at a higher cost but with no missed opportunities. Beginners are encouraged to try both with small amounts before deciding which fits their needs best.
Why Are My Trading Fees Higher Than Others’?
Fee differences usually stem from order type (maker vs taker) and user tier level. Frequent takers pay more; higher VIP tiers offer discounted rates. Different assets can also have different fee structures per trading pair. On platforms like Gate, increasing your trade volume or holding exchange tokens can unlock lower rates.
Do Maker/Taker Fees Affect My Profits?
Significantly so—especially for high-frequency or small-volume traders. Over time, frequent taker activity can erode 5%–10% of profits due to cumulative costs. To optimize returns, use more maker orders where possible, participate in platform promotions for discounts, or hold governance tokens for additional benefits.
Are "Taker" and "吃单" (Chi Dan) the Same Thing?
Yes—“taker” is simply the English term for "吃单" (chi dan). “Maker” corresponds to "挂单" (gua dan). These are standard terms in crypto trading: makers add liquidity by posting orders; takers execute instantly via market orders, paying higher fees as a result. Understanding these terms helps you navigate fee structures on any exchange.
Further Reading
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