Bar chart comparing the fee on a $1,000 crypto purchase using instant buy, market order and limit order
Two people buy the same $1,000 of the same coin on the same day. One ends up with $980 worth, the other with $999. The difference is not luck, it is fees. Exchange fees are easy to ignore because they are small percentages, but they are one of the few costs you can control.
In this guide you will learn the main types of crypto exchange fees, how to read a fee schedule, how much different order types can cost on the same trade, why small purchases and withdrawals can be expensive, and simple ways to lower what you pay.
Last updated: November 2026.
The Main Types of Exchange Fees
| Fee | What it is | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Trading fee | A percentage charged when you buy or sell on the order book | Often split into maker and taker fees |
| Spread | The gap between the buy price and the sell price. It is not listed as a fee, but you pay it | Larger on small coins and on instant-buy screens |
| Instant buy / convert fee | A higher charge for the simple 'buy now' or 'convert' button, often with the spread added in | Usually the most expensive way to buy |
| Card or bank fee | A charge for paying with a card or other payment method | Cards are usually pricier than bank transfers |
| Deposit fee | A charge for putting money or crypto into the exchange | Many exchanges do not charge for crypto deposits |
| Withdrawal fee | A fixed amount, in coins, to send crypto out of the exchange | Fixed fees hurt small withdrawals the most |
| Network (gas) fee | A fee paid to the blockchain, not to the exchange | Changes with network congestion |
| Funding or margin fees | Costs of leveraged or futures products | Not covered here: high risk, for experienced traders |
Maker vs Taker: What It Means
- Taker: you place an order that is filled immediately against existing orders (a market order). You "take" liquidity and usually pay a higher fee.
- Maker: you place an order that waits in the order book at your chosen price (a limit order). You "make" liquidity and usually pay a lower fee.
The trade-off: a limit order can cost less, but it might not be filled if the price never reaches your level.
The Same $1,000 Purchase Three Ways
To see how much the method matters, take a $1,000 purchase and use these illustrative rates (they are examples, not any exchange's real prices):
| How you buy | Illustrative cost | Cost on $1,000 | Value you actually get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instant buy / convert | 1.5% fee + about 0.5% spread | $20.00 | $980.00 |
| Spot market order (taker) | 0.20% fee | $2.00 | $998.00 |
| Spot limit order (maker) | 0.10% fee | $1.00 | $999.00 |
The instant button costs $20.00 on this purchase, while a limit order costs $1.00. That is a $19.00 difference for doing exactly the same thing.
Fees Hit Twice: Buying and Selling
You pay when you buy and again when you sell. If the price does not change at all, how much do you lose just in fees after buying $1,000 and selling it later?
| Method (same rate each way) | Lost to fees if the price is unchanged | Price rise needed to break even |
|---|---|---|
| Instant buy / convert | $39.60 | 4.1% |
| Spot market order (taker) | $4.00 | 0.4% |
| Spot limit order (maker) | $2.00 | 0.2% |
With the instant button used both ways, the price has to rise about 4.1% before you are back to even. With limit orders, only about 0.2%. If you trade often, those differences repeat every time.
Small Amounts and Fixed Fees
Percentage fees scale with the size of the trade, but fixed fees do not. Two examples:
Withdrawal fee
Suppose an exchange charges a fixed withdrawal fee worth $5:
| Amount withdrawn | Fixed fee | Fee as % of amount |
|---|---|---|
| $100 | $5.00 | 5.00% |
| $500 | $5.00 | 1.00% |
| $2,000 | $5.00 | 0.25% |
Withdrawing $100 loses 5% to the fee, withdrawing $2,000 loses only 0.25%. It is usually better to withdraw less often and in larger amounts, as long as it is safe to do so.
Small repeated purchases
If you buy $50 every month and each purchase has a $1 fixed fee, the fee is 2% of every purchase, or $12 a year. On a bigger monthly amount, the same $1 would matter much less. If you follow a DCA plan, check whether the platform charges fixed fees and choose a schedule that keeps the cost small. You can plan purchases with our free DCA Calculator.
How to Read a Fee Schedule
- Find the trading fee table and note both maker and taker rates.
- Check for volume tiers. Many exchanges lower fees as your 30-day trading volume grows.
- Look for a fee discount if you pay in the exchange's own token, and decide whether holding it is worth the extra risk.
- Check the instant-buy or convert fee separately, because it is often not in the same table.
- Look up the withdrawal fee for the exact coin and network you plan to use.
- Check the payment method fees for card, bank transfer and local options.
Simple Ways to Pay Less
- Use limit orders when you are not in a hurry, instead of the instant-buy button.
- Prefer bank transfers over card payments when available.
- Batch your withdrawals instead of sending small amounts often.
- Choose the right network for withdrawals. The same coin can cost very different amounts on different networks, but make sure the receiving address supports the one you pick, or the funds can be lost.
- Trade less. Every round trip costs you twice.
- Compare exchanges for the total cost of your actual use: buying, selling and withdrawing.
A caution: the cheapest exchange is not automatically the best. Security, reliability, regulation in your country and ease of withdrawal matter too. Never choose a platform only because its fees are low.
Key Takeaways
- Fees come in several forms: trading fees, spreads, instant-buy fees, payment fees, withdrawal fees and network fees.
- The same purchase can cost very different amounts depending on how you place it.
- You pay when you buy and when you sell, so fees raise the price you need to break even.
- Fixed fees hurt small purchases and small withdrawals the most.
- Read the full fee schedule and compare the total cost for how you really use the exchange.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to buy crypto?
Usually a limit order on the exchange's spot market, paid with a low-cost method such as a bank transfer. The instant-buy button is convenient but often costs more.
What is the difference between a maker and a taker fee?
A taker order is filled right away and normally has a higher fee. A maker order waits in the order book at your price and usually has a lower fee.
Why is there a fee to withdraw my crypto?
Part of it covers the network fee the exchange pays to send your coins on the blockchain, and some exchanges add their own charge. It is often a fixed amount, so it matters more for small withdrawals.
Do fees affect my profit and taxes?
They reduce your profit, and in some countries fees can be included in your cost basis or deducted. Rules vary, so keep records of every fee. Our Crypto Profit Calculator lets you include fees when you check the result of a trade.
Educational content only, not financial, tax or legal advice. The fee percentages in the examples are illustrations chosen to be easy to follow. Real fees depend on the exchange, your region, your trading volume and the payment method, and they change often. Always check the current fee schedule of the platform you use.
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