Understanding the fee structure is essential for any trader engaging in contract trading on Bitget. Whether you're trading perpetual or delivery contracts, knowing how fees are calculated can significantly impact your profitability and risk management. This comprehensive guide breaks down the three core components of Bitget's contract trading fees: trading fees, funding fees, and liquidation fees. We’ll also explore how your VIP status influences overall costs and provide real-world examples to help beginners navigate the system with confidence.
Understanding Bitget’s Contract Trading Fee Structure
Bitget’s contract trading fees are designed to balance market liquidity, platform stability, and user incentives. The total cost of trading isn’t just limited to the initial transaction—it also includes periodic funding payments (for perpetual contracts) and potential liquidation penalties if risk management fails. Let’s dive into each component.
Trading Fees: Maker vs. Taker
All contract trades incur a trading fee, which varies based on whether you’re a maker or a taker. This distinction is crucial:
- Maker: You place a limit order that doesn’t immediately match an existing one, thereby adding liquidity to the market.
- Taker: You place a market order (or a limit order that executes instantly), removing liquidity from the order book.
Fees differ slightly between perpetual contracts and delivery contracts, but the principle remains consistent: makers pay less than takers.
Standard Trading Fee Rates (as of latest update)
Perpetual Contracts
- Maker: 0.02%
- Taker: 0.06%
Delivery Contracts
- Maker: 0.015%
- Taker: 0.05%
👉 Discover how low trading fees can boost your long-term returns—start optimizing your strategy today.
How to Calculate Trading Fees
The formula is straightforward:
Trading Fee = Order Value × Fee Rate
Where: Order Value = Contract Quantity × Price
Example Scenario
Trader A uses a market order to buy 1 BTCUSDT perpetual contract at $60,000.
Trader B places a limit sell order for 1 BTCUSDT at the same price.
- Trader A (Taker): $60,000 × 0.06% = **$36**
- Trader B (Maker): $60,000 × 0.02% = **$12**
This shows how using limit orders can save up to 66% in fees per trade—valuable for active traders aiming to reduce costs over time.
Funding Fees: Balancing Perpetual Contracts
Funding fees are unique to perpetual contracts and do not apply to delivery contracts. Their purpose is to align the perpetual contract price with the underlying spot market price, preventing long-term divergence.
When Are Funding Fees Charged?
Bitget charges funding every 8 hours at:
- 08:00 UTC+8
- 16:00 UTC+8
- 24:00 UTC+8
You only pay or receive funding if you hold a position at the time of settlement.
Who Pays Whom?
The direction depends on the funding rate:
| Position | Funding Rate > 0 | Funding Rate < 0 |
|---|---|---|
| Long | Pays | Receives |
| Short | Receives | Pays |
A positive rate means longs pay shorts—common in bullish markets where demand for leverage is high. A negative rate indicates bearish sentiment, with shorts paying longs.
Funding Fee Formula
Funding Fee = Position Value × Funding Rate
Practical Example
You hold a long position worth $20,000 in BTCUSDT perpetual contracts. The current funding rate is 0.01%.
- You will pay: $20,000 × 0.01% = **$2**
- If the rate were -0.01%, you would receive $2
Over time, frequent or large funding payments can erode profits—especially in strong trending markets. Always monitor upcoming funding times before holding positions overnight.
Liquidation and Clearance Fees
When your margin balance drops below the required maintenance level, Bitget triggers an automatic liquidation to prevent further losses and protect the platform from systemic risk.
What Is a Liquidation Fee?
During liquidation, a clearance fee is charged based on your position size and contract type. This fee compensates for slippage and operational costs during forced closure.
Liquidation Fee = Position Value × Clearance Rate
Clearance rates vary by contract but typically range around 0.5% for perpetuals.
Example
You hold a $50,000 BTCUSDT perpetual contract position. If liquidated:
- Liquidation Fee = $50,000 × 0.5% = **$250**
This amount is deducted from your remaining margin. In extreme cases, this could result in a complete loss of collateral.
👉 Learn how smart risk controls can help avoid costly liquidations—protect your capital now.
How VIP Levels Reduce Your Trading Costs
Your trading activity directly impacts the fees you pay through Bitget’s VIP program. Users are ranked into tiers (VIP1–VIP9) based on:
- Spot trading volume
- Futures trading volume
- Total assets held
- BGB token holdings
Higher tiers unlock lower trading fees, reduced funding impacts, and enhanced withdrawal limits.
Key Benefit: Tier Prioritization
If your spot volume qualifies for VIP2 but your futures volume only reaches VIP1, you’ll enjoy VIP2 benefits across both markets—as long as one criterion meets the higher tier.
This cross-category advantage encourages holistic engagement with the platform and rewards consistent traders.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Are funding fees charged if I close my position before settlement?
No. If you close your perpetual contract position before the next funding timestamp (e.g., before 16:00 UTC+8), you will neither pay nor receive funding fees for that cycle.
Q2: Can I predict when funding rates will be high?
Yes. High positive funding often occurs during strong uptrends when leveraged long positions dominate. Similarly, deep negative rates appear in sharp downtrends. Monitoring historical funding data helps anticipate these shifts.
Q3: Do delivery contracts have any recurring fees?
No. Unlike perpetuals, delivery contracts do not charge funding fees because they settle at expiration based on the spot price index.
Q4: How can I check my current VIP level?
Log into your Bitget account and navigate to the “VIP” section under user settings or the fee dashboard to view your current tier and eligibility criteria.
Q5: Is the liquidation fee avoidable?
Yes—by maintaining sufficient margin and using stop-loss orders wisely. Keeping your leverage moderate and monitoring market volatility reduces the risk of sudden liquidation.
Q6: Does holding BGB really reduce fees?
Absolutely. Increasing your BGB holdings can elevate your VIP tier, leading to lower maker/taker rates and other benefits like exclusive promotions and faster customer support.
Final Thoughts: Optimize Your Contract Trading Strategy
To succeed in contract trading on Bitget, it’s not enough to analyze charts—you must also master the economics of trading costs. By understanding how trading fees, funding cycles, and liquidation risks interact, you gain greater control over your net returns.
Smart traders:
- Use limit orders to qualify as makers
- Monitor funding rates before holding positions
- Manage leverage carefully to avoid clearance fees
- Build up VIP status for long-term savings
With disciplined planning and awareness of Bitget’s fee framework, even beginners can trade confidently and cost-effectively in the dynamic world of crypto derivatives.