Understanding trading fees is essential for any trader looking to maximize profitability and maintain control over their trading costs. Whether you're new to digital asset trading or an experienced user, knowing how fees are calculated, why they differ, and how to optimize them can significantly impact your overall performance. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about maker and taker fees, fee calculation methods, fee tiers, and more — all explained with clarity and precision.
What Are Makers and Takers? Why Do Their Fees Differ?
In trading, participants are categorized as either makers or takers, based on how their orders interact with the order book.
- A taker is someone who places an order that immediately matches with an existing order in the order book. Because this action removes liquidity from the market, takers are charged a slightly higher taker fee.
- A maker places a limit order that doesn’t execute immediately but instead waits in the order book, adding liquidity to the market. To encourage this behavior, maker fees are typically lower — sometimes even negative (meaning you get paid to place the order).
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The difference in fees exists to promote market depth and stability. By rewarding users who provide liquidity (makers) and charging those who take it (takers), exchanges ensure smoother price movements and better trading experiences for everyone.
How to Check Your Current Fee Rate and Transaction Costs
1. How to View Your Fee Tier
Your fee rate depends on your account’s trading volume and asset holdings. You can check your current tier using these methods:
- Web Platform: Log in > Go to Asset Management > My Fees. Here, you’ll see your fee tier across spot, futures, options, and other trading types.
- Mobile App: Navigate to User Center > Profile > Fee Tier for the same detailed breakdown.
Fee tiers are updated daily based on your activity over the past 30 days, so consistent trading can help you climb to lower-fee levels.
2. How to Quickly See Fees for a Specific Trading Pair
You don’t need to dig through menus to find current rates:
- On Web: On the trading page, look just below the Buy/Sell buttons — click "Rate" to view your fee tier and applicable rates for that pair.
- On App: Tap the menu icon in the top-right corner, then select "Fees" in the popup window.
This real-time visibility helps you make informed decisions before placing any trade.
3. Why Do My Fees Seem High?
Trading fees are calculated based on the value of the executed trade, not your profit or loss. For example:
- If you open a position worth 500 USDT using 5x leverage on a 100 USDT margin, your fee will be based on the full 500 USDT.
Even small percentages add up at scale. Always review your Historical Orders section to see exact fee deductions and confirm calculations.
4. How to Review Past Order Fees
Want to audit your trading costs?
Web Users:
- Visit the trading page and go to Historical Orders.
- Click on any order to view its fee details and execution breakdown.
- Alternatively, use the Order Center for a centralized view.
App Users:
- Open the trade page > Go to History > Select an order > View details for full fee transparency.
These tools help ensure accuracy and give you full control over your cost analysis.
How Are Trading Fee Tiers Determined?
Your fee tier is dynamic and improves with increased activity:
- Users are classified as Regular or Professional, depending on trading volume.
- Professional users qualify based on both 30-day trading volume and total account assets.
- Your next day’s fee rate is determined every 24 hours using this data.
Importantly, the system applies the best available tier across all product lines. For instance:
A user meets VIP 2 for spot, VIP 3 for futures, and VIP 4 for assets → they receive VIP 4 rates across all services.
This cross-product optimization means growing your activity in one area can benefit your entire trading profile.
How Are Trading Fees Calculated?
Different products use distinct formulas:
Spot & Margin Trading
Fee = Fee Rate × Quantity Traded
- When buying: fee is charged in the quote currency (e.g., USDT).
- When selling: fee is charged in the base currency (e.g., BTC).
- Example: Buy 1 BTC at $20,000 with a 0.1% taker fee → Pay 0.001 BTC in fees.
Some advanced tiers offer negative maker fees, meaning you earn rebates for placing limit orders.
Futures Contracts (USDT/USDC-settled)
Fee = Fee Rate × (Number of Contracts × Multiplier × Face Value × Price)
Settled in USDT/USDC at execution time.
Example: Buy 100 BTCUSDT contracts (face value 0.01 BTC) at $20,000 with 0.05% taker fee → Fee = 10 USDT.
Coin-Margined Futures
Fee = Fee Rate × (Number of Contracts × Multiplier × Face Value / Entry Price)
Settled in the underlying coin (e.g., BTC).
Same example above → Fee ≈ 0.00025 BTC.
Note:
- Funding fees apply during holding periods.
- Delivery fee is fixed at 0.01%, regardless of tier.
- Liquidation fees use your current taker rate.
Options
Trading Fee = Min(Fee Rate × Notional Value, 12.5% × Premium Paid)
Additional charges:
- Exercise Fee: Applies only if exercised.
- Forced Liquidation Fee: Based on taker rate and mark price.
Options traders also enjoy discounts — some strategies offer up to 50% off standard fees.
Spread Strategies
All spread strategy trades receive a 50% discount compared to standard order book fees.
Is There a Difference Between Opening and Closing Fees?
No. Whether opening or closing a position, fees are applied identically based on whether your order acts as a maker or taker. Each trade incurs a fee at execution — no exceptions.
Are Fees Charged During Forced Liquidation?
Yes. Forced liquidations are treated as taker trades and charged according to your current taker fee rate. This emphasizes the importance of risk management — avoid high-leverage positions that may trigger automatic closures.
Why Is My Realized P&L Different From Unrealized P&L?
For futures and options:
- Unrealized P&L reflects gains before fees and funding costs.
- Realized P&L deducts both trading fees and funding payments.
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Example:
- Unrealized profit: +15 USDT
- Minus opening fee (-4 USDT), closing fee (-5 USDT), funding (-1 USDT)
- Final realized profit: +5 USDT
In contrast, leveraged spot trades only show final P&L, so no discrepancy occurs.
Why Do Historical Orders and Positions Show Different Profits?
Again, this varies by product:
- In futures/options, historical positions show net profit including fees and funding, while historical orders only reflect gross trade outcomes.
Example:
- Order shows +0.46 USDT profit.
- Position reflects -0.06 USDT in total fees → Net gain: +0.40 USDT.
For margin trading, since there's no concept of "realized" vs "unrealized", both records match exactly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I reduce my trading fees?
A: Yes! Increase your 30-day trading volume or account assets to reach higher VIP tiers. Using maker orders also lowers costs.
Q: Do I pay fees on both open and close trades?
A: Yes. Every executed order — whether opening or closing — incurs a fee based on its maker/taker status.
Q: What causes forced liquidation fees?
A: Poor margin management or extreme volatility can trigger auto-deleveraging, which applies taker fees.
Q: Are there hidden fees I should know about?
A: No hidden charges — but remember funding fees (for perpetuals) and delivery fees (fixed at 0.01%) apply separately.
Q: How often are fee tiers updated?
A: Daily, based on your previous 30-day stats. Changes take effect the following day.
Q: Can I get fee rebates?
A: Yes — certain tiers offer negative maker fees, effectively paying you to provide liquidity.
👉 Start optimizing your trading fees today — see how low you can go.