A maker fee is what you pay when your order waits on the order book and someone else trades against it later. A taker fee is what you pay when your order fills right away against an order that was already there. On most crypto exchanges the maker fee is lower so the same trade can cost you up to half as much just by how you place it.
This guide explains how each fee works, shows real 2026 fee tables from two large US exchanges, walks through a $1,000 example and gives you 7 simple ways to cut your costs.
Maker vs taker fees in one minute
Every exchange with an order book has two sides. Buyers post bids. Sellers post asks. The gap between the best bid and best ask is the spread.
- Maker: you place an order that does not match anything right away. It sits on the book and "makes" the market deeper. When someone fills it later you pay the maker fee.
- Taker: you place an order that matches an existing order immediately. You "take" liquidity off the book and pay the taker fee.
Exchanges reward makers because resting orders make it easier and cheaper for everyone to trade. That is why the maker rate is almost always the lower one.
Which orders pay maker or taker fees?
| Order you place | What usually happens | Fee you usually pay |
|---|---|---|
| Market buy or sell | Fills right away at the best available price | Taker |
| Limit buy below the current ask | Rests on the book until price comes to you | Maker |
| Limit buy at or above the current ask | Fills right away like a market order | Taker |
| Limit sell above the current bid | Rests on the book until price comes to you | Maker |
| Post-only limit order | Rests on the book or cancels if it would fill instantly | Maker or nothing |
| Stop-loss or take-profit that triggers a market order | Becomes a market order when triggered | Taker |
| Large limit order that partly fills at once | Part fills now and the rest rests on the book | Taker on the first part and maker on the rest |
Kraken's maker and taker fee guide confirms that stop-loss and take-profit orders that execute as market orders pay the taker fee. Coinbase's Advanced fee page confirms the split on partly matched orders.
The key point beginners miss: choosing "limit" does not make you a maker. Where you set the price does. If your buy limit is at or above the lowest ask it fills right away and pays the taker fee.
Real 2026 maker and taker fee tables
Here are the published spot fee schedules from two large US platforms as of October 2026. Always check the order preview because rates can change and vary by market and pair.
Kraken Pro spot fees (from Kraken's fee schedule, updated after its July 9 2026 tier change)
| 30-day spot volume | Maker | Taker |
|---|---|---|
| $0+ | 0.40% | 0.80% |
| $2,500+ | 0.30% | 0.60% |
| $10,000+ | 0.22% | 0.38% |
| $50,000+ | 0.15% | 0.30% |
| $100,000+ | 0.12% | 0.25% |
| $10M+ | 0.00% | 0.10% |
Kraken now places you in the best tier you qualify for by either 30-day spot volume or assets held on the platform starting at $20,000. Instant Buy purchases do not count toward your volume.
Coinbase Advanced spot fees for US customers (from Coinbase's September 16 2026 fee update and Advanced VIP table)
| Tier and 30-day spot volume | Maker | Taker |
|---|---|---|
| Intro ($0+) | 0.50% | 0.90% |
| Advanced 1 ($10,000+) | 0.35% | 0.75% |
| Advanced 2 ($50,000+) | 0.15% | 0.30% |
| Advanced 3 ($250,000+) | 0.10% | 0.15% |
| VIP 1 ($1M+) | 0.06% | 0.10% |
Coinbase says entry rates are lower in other regions: 0.25% maker and 0.50% taker in the EU and UK. Your tier at the moment you place the order sets your fee.
At the entry level on both platforms the taker fee is close to double the maker fee. That gap is where beginners can save the most.
A worked $1,000 example
Say you buy $1,000 of Bitcoin and later sell it for the same $1,000. Here is what the trading fees alone look like at each platform's entry tier.
| Scenario | Kraken Pro (0.40% / 0.80%) | Coinbase Advanced US (0.50% / 0.90%) |
|---|---|---|
| Buy as maker | $4.00 | $5.00 |
| Buy as taker | $8.00 | $9.00 |
| Round trip both as maker | $8.00 | $10.00 |
| Round trip both as taker | $16.00 | $18.00 |
The math is simple: trade value times the fee rate. $1,000 × 0.80% = $8.
Now picture an active trader who places 10 round trips a month at $1,000 each as a taker on Coinbase Advanced's intro tier. That is $180 a month in fees on $20,000 of volume. Switching those same trades to maker orders would cut it to $100. Your strategy has to beat those costs before it makes a cent. That is why we track fees as a line item in every crypto trading journal.
The hidden costs beyond maker and taker fees
The fee on your receipt is not your whole cost.
- Spread. Simple buy screens often build a spread into the quoted price. Coinbase's pricing disclosure says simple buys include a spread plus a fee that can vary by payment method and that simple limit orders carry a separate 1% execution fee.
- Slippage. The SEC's order types bulletin warns that a market order's price is not guaranteed and that large orders can fill at several prices. In a thin or fast market that can cost more than the fee itself.
- Withdrawal and network fees. Moving crypto off a platform usually costs a network fee.
- Funding and other costs. Some platforms charge for card deposits or other services. The SEC's custody bulletin tells investors to ask about transaction fees, transfer fees and account fees before choosing a platform.
If you want the full beginner setup in plain steps, from choosing a platform to placing your first order, grab the free CCF Quick Start Guide.
7 ways to lower your crypto trading fees
- Use the advanced trading screen. On many platforms the pro or advanced view uses maker and taker fees with no built-in spread.
- Place limit orders on the right side of the book. Set buy limits below the current ask and sell limits above the current bid.
- Turn on post-only. It guarantees the maker fee or cancels the order so you never pay taker by accident.
- Trade less often. Fewer trades with a clear plan usually beat many small ones. Our crypto trading for beginners guide shows how to build that plan.
- Batch small buys. If you buy on a schedule a few larger orders cost less in fixed fees than many tiny ones.
- Check your tier. Both exchanges above lower your rates as volume grows. Kraken also counts assets you hold there.
- Preview every order. Both exchanges show the fee before you confirm. Read it every time.
There is one trade-off. A maker order may never fill. If price runs away from your limit you miss the trade. For a planned exit where speed matters, such as a stop-loss, paying the taker fee is part of good crypto risk management.
How AI can help you track trading fees
AI tools are good at the boring math. You can paste your trade history into an AI assistant and ask it to total maker and taker fees by month, flag trades where a limit order filled as taker and estimate what you would have saved with post-only orders. Always check the numbers against your exchange statements. Our guide on how to use AI for crypto trading covers safe ways to do this.
Do trading fees affect crypto taxes?
Yes. The IRS virtual currency FAQ says your cost basis includes fees, commissions and other acquisition costs. Higher basis means a smaller taxable gain when you sell. Keep every trade confirmation. Read do you pay taxes on crypto if you don't sell for the basics.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between maker and taker fees in crypto?
A maker fee applies when your order rests on the order book and fills later. A taker fee applies when your order fills right away against an existing order. Maker fees are usually lower.
Is a limit order always a maker order?
No. If your limit price matches an existing order it fills right away and pays the taker fee. Use a post-only setting if you want to guarantee maker pricing.
Are market orders always taker orders?
Yes. A market order fills immediately against orders already on the book so it always pays the taker fee.
Why are maker fees lower than taker fees?
Makers add orders to the book. That liquidity makes trading smoother and cheaper for everyone so exchanges reward it with a lower rate.
What does post-only mean?
Post-only is a limit order setting that only lets your order rest on the book. If it would fill right away the exchange cancels it instead so you never pay the taker fee by accident.
How can I lower my crypto trading fees as a beginner?
Use the advanced trading screen, place limit orders away from the current price, turn on post-only, trade less often and preview every order before you confirm.
Do stop-loss orders pay maker or taker fees?
Most stop-loss orders become market orders when triggered so they pay the taker fee. Kraken states this directly in its fee guide.
Do I pay maker and taker fees on simple buy screens?
Usually not. Simple buy and sell screens tend to include a spread in the price plus a separate fee. Check the order preview to see the full cost.
The bottom line
Maker and taker fees are a small number on each trade but they add up fast. Learn which orders pay which fee, use limit and post-only orders when speed is not critical and preview every trade. Lower costs give your plan more room to work. If you want structured guidance on Bitcoin, crypto, tokenized stocks and beyond with AI, explore our CCF programs.
This article is general education, not financial, tax or legal advice. Fee schedules change often so confirm current rates on each platform. Trading digital assets involves risk including loss of your capital.
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Written by
CCF · Co-founder
Teaches trading and investing built on risk management, with AI to sharpen each decision. He lives by the power of 1%: small consistent daily effort makes you the person you want to be.
CCF · Co-founder
Has been in crypto since 2017 and helps people learn investing and trading through structured practical education built on risk management so they can decide with confidence and grow steadily.
Educational content only. This article is general education about digital assets, trading and investing. It is not individualized financial, investment, legal or tax advice, and it is not a recommendation to buy or sell any asset. Crypto markets are volatile and involve risk, including loss of principal; leveraged products can lose more than the amount committed. CCF does not guarantee any outcome or return. Do your own research and consider speaking with a licensed professional about your situation.
