Trading Education

Understanding Maker vs. Taker Fees

The difference between these two fee types can cost you thousands. Learn how the order book works and how to always pay the lower fee. General fees overview.

Referral Code

TRADEOFF20

Check TRADEOFF20 fee terms before your first trade

12 min read

Apr 25, 2026

Maker

Lower Fees

Adds liquidity to the order book

Uses limit orders that don't fill immediately

"Makes" the market by providing prices

Typically 50-80% lower fees

Typical Fee

0.08%

with TRADEOFF20

Taker

Higher Fees

Removes liquidity from the order book

Uses market orders or aggressive limits

"Takes" existing orders from the book

Instant execution at higher cost

Typical Fee

0.10%

standard rate

When Maker Beats Taker, and When It Doesn't

The goal is not to force every trade into a maker order. The goal is to know when waiting for a passive fill improves your result and when speed is worth paying for.

Use maker orders when price is not running away

If you are scaling into BTC or ETH, rebalancing slowly, or placing entries at planned levels, the lower fee usually outweighs the wait.

Use taker orders when execution matters more than price precision

Stops, urgent exits, and fast breakout entries are situations where instant execution can be more important than saving a few basis points.

Judge the total cost, not just the label

A maker fee is not automatically cheaper if your order never fills and you end up chasing price later. Good execution is about context, not ideology.

Pair this with the broader trading fees guide if you want the full picture, including referral discounts and withdrawal costs.

Interactive Order Book Demo

See how maker and taker orders interact with the order book in real-time.

Asks (Sell Orders)

$50,1001.5 BTC

$50,0502.3 BTC

$50,0250.8 BTC

$50,0103.2 BTC

$50,0051.1 BTC

Bids (Buy Orders)

$49,9952.1 BTC

$49,9901.8 BTC

$49,9754.2 BTC

$49,9502.5 BTC

$49,9005 BTC

Click "Run Demo" to see a maker order in action

This demo isolates fee behavior. In real markets, liquidity depth and slippage matter too, especially when your order size is large relative to the book.

How to Bias Toward Maker Fills

Follow these simple rules to ensure you're paying the lowest fees on every trade. Spot vs futures fees.

Use Limit Orders, Not Market Orders

Market orders always execute as taker. Limit orders can be maker if set correctly.

Set your buy price below the current price, or sell price above.

Enable "Post Only" Mode

Most exchanges have a "Post Only" option that ensures your order is maker only.

If the order would execute immediately, it gets rejected instead.

Check the Order Book Spread

Place your order within the spread (between best bid and ask) to guarantee maker status.

Example: If bid is $50,000 and ask is $50,010, place at $50,005.

Be Patient

Maker orders may take time to fill. This is the trade-off for lower fees.

For urgent trades, taker fees might be worth the instant execution.

Exchange Fee Comparison

Compare maker and taker fees across major exchanges. Use our referral codes for extra savings! Binance fee details.

Exchange	Maker Fee	Taker Fee	With Code	Action
Binance Code: TRADEOFF20	0.1%	0.1%	0.08%/0.08%	Binance fee details
OKX Code: TRADEOFF20	0.08%	0.1%	0.064%/0.08%	Sign Up
Bybit Code: J61ZYG	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%/0.1%	Sign Up
Gate.io Code: MAXSAVER	0.2%	0.2%	0.16%/0.16%	Sign Up

Compare exchange fees across all platforms to find the best rates for your trading style.

Frequently Asked Questions