Maker vs Taker Fees: How They Work
Last Updated: June 2026
Every time you execute a trade on a crypto exchange, the platform charges a small fee. That fee is not flat — it depends on whether your order added liquidity to the market or removed it. Understanding the maker vs taker fee distinction is one of the most practical ways to cut your trading costs, whether you are doing spot trading, running a leverage trading strategy, or actively hedging with crypto futures. The difference may look small on a single trade, but across hundreds of orders it adds up to a meaningful amount.
How Maker Orders Work
A maker is any trader whose order does not execute immediately. Instead, the order sits on the order book and waits for a counterparty. Typical maker orders include:
- Limit buy orders placed below the current market price.
- Limit sell orders placed above the current market price.
- Stop-limit orders that trigger and then rest on the book.
- Post-only orders — a special order type that cancels automatically if it would execute immediately, guaranteeing maker status.
Because these orders add depth to the order book, exchanges treat makers as beneficial participants. The reward is a lower fee rate, sometimes as low as 0.00% on competitive platforms or even a small rebate on futures markets.
How Taker Orders Work
A taker is any trader whose order matches an existing order on the book immediately. The order "takes" liquidity away. Common taker orders include market orders (which always execute at the best available price) and limit orders priced aggressively enough to fill right away.
Takers pay a higher fee because they consume the liquidity that makers provide. On most centralized and decentralized exchanges, taker fees range from 0.03% to 0.10% per trade. The convenience of instant execution comes at a cost.
Maker vs Taker: A Direct Comparison
The table below summarizes the key differences between the two fee types:
| Feature | Maker | Taker | |---|---|---| | Order type | Limit, post-only | Market, aggressive limit | | Execution | Deferred — rests on book | Immediate | | Liquidity effect | Adds liquidity | Removes liquidity | | Typical fee | Lower (e.g. 0.01%–0.04%) | Higher (e.g. 0.03%–0.10%) | | Best for | Patient traders, bots | Speed-critical entries/exits | | Volume discounts | Yes | Yes |
Most exchanges publish tiered fee schedules. As your 30-day notional trading volume increases, both your maker and taker rates drop. Traders who reach higher tiers can save substantially compared to casual participants paying the base rate.
Practical Strategies to Minimize Fees
Knowing the theory is only useful if you apply it. Here are concrete ways to reduce what you pay:
- Default to limit orders whenever your strategy allows a delay. Even a few seconds of patience can qualify you as a maker.
- Use post-only mode when available. This guarantees your order will never accidentally execute as a taker.
- Increase your volume tier by consolidating trading activity on one platform rather than spreading it across several.
- Trade more liquid pairs — tighter spreads mean your limit orders are more likely to fill, keeping your maker rate intact.
- Watch for fee promotions — many exchanges periodically offer reduced taker fees on specific pairs or during launch periods.
Trading on EVEDEX and How Fees Are Structured
EVEDEX is a decentralized crypto exchange built for transparent, on-chain trading. The fee model on EVEDEX follows the standard maker/taker structure applied across perpetual futures and spot pairs. Traders placing limit orders that rest on the EVEDEX order book are classified as makers and benefit from the lower rate. Market orders or limit orders filled immediately are classified as takers.
Because EVEDEX operates on-chain, fee collection is handled at the protocol level — there is no ambiguity about whether a fill qualifies for maker or taker rates. The fee split is determined by the matching engine at execution time, and the amounts are visible in your on-chain transaction history. Volume-based tier upgrades are calculated over a rolling 30-day window. For traders running systematic strategies or high-frequency limit order activity, the maker rate on EVEDEX is designed to be competitive with leading centralized venues, making it a practical option for cost-conscious participants.
