Polymarket Taker Fee: What It Is, How It Works, and How to Calculate It (2024)
Polymarket is a leading crypto-native prediction market where users can trade on the outcome of real-world events. Like all exchanges, Polymarket charges fees, and the most significant is the taker fee—a cost applied when you "take" an existing offer from the order book. This article answers every question about Polymarket taker fees: what they are, when you pay them, how much they are (by category), and exactly how to calculate them in dollars or USDC for any trade. We'll also show worked examples using real-ish numbers, so you can see the math in practice.
What Is the Polymarket Taker Fee?
The taker fee is a percentage-based transaction fee charged every time you place a market order (or otherwise remove liquidity from the order book) on Polymarket. This fee is deducted from your filled order, reducing your net payout.
- Taker = someone who accepts an existing offer on the order book (market order, or limit order filled instantly).
- Maker = someone whose limit order sits on the book and gets filled by others. Makers on Polymarket currently pay zero fees and may earn rebates.
The taker fee is the main trading cost for active users. If you’re trying to trade efficiently, model arbitrage, or just want to understand how much you’ll pay, you need to know how the taker fee works in detail.
When Do You Pay the Taker Fee on Polymarket?
You pay the taker fee only when your order removes liquidity. That is, anytime you:
- Place a market order (buy or sell instantly at the best available price), or
- Place a limit order that matches and fills immediately against an existing order.
You do not pay the taker fee for providing liquidity (maker orders that rest on the book and get filled later). Makers pay zero fees and may earn rebates.
How Much Is the Taker Fee? (By Market Category)
Polymarket taker fees vary by market category. As of 2024:
| Category | Taker Fee (Percent of Fill Size) |
|---|---|
| Crypto (ETH, BTC) | ~7% |
| Sports | ~5% |
| Politics | ~4% |
| Other/General | ~5% |
| Tech/Mentions | ~4% |
| Economy/Culture | ~5% |
| Geopolitics | 0% |
- These fees are charged on the trade (when you fill an order), not on profits or winnings.
- All fees are denominated in USDC, Polymarket’s stablecoin for trading.
How Is the Taker Fee Calculated? (The Formula)
The calculation is:
taker_fee = shares × category_rate × price × (1 − price)
Where:
- shares is the number of shares/contracts you buy or sell
- category_rate is the fee rate for the market category (see table above)
- price is the price per share (in USDC)
Example 1: Buying YES in a Politics market at $0.62
- You want to buy 100 shares of YES at $0.62/share in a Politics market.
- Category rate = ~4%
- Fee = 100 × 0.04 × 0.62 × (1 − 0.62) = 100 × 0.04 × 0.62 × 0.38 ≈ $0.94
You'll pay about $0.94 in fees (rounded up to the nearest cent by Polymarket).
Example 2: Selling NO in a Sports market at $0.41
- You want to sell 150 NO shares at $0.41/share in a Sports market.
- Category rate = ~5%
- Fee = 150 × 0.05 × 0.41 × (1 − 0.41) = 150 × 0.05 × 0.41 × 0.59 ≈ $1.82
You'll pay about $1.82 in fees (rounded up to the nearest cent by Polymarket).
Where Is the Fee Deducted?
- When you buy: The taker fee is subtracted from your purchase amount. You’ll see the full cost (including fee) before confirming.
- When you sell: The taker fee is deducted from your proceeds. You receive the net amount after fees.
Example: Buy and Sell Round Trip
Suppose you buy 200 YES contracts at $0.55 (Politics) and later sell them at $0.75.
- Buy side: 200 × 0.04 × 0.55 × (1 − 0.55) = 200 × 0.04 × 0.55 × 0.45 ≈ $1.98
- Sell side: 200 × 0.04 × 0.75 × (1 − 0.75) = 200 × 0.04 × 0.75 × 0.25 ≈ $1.50
Total round-trip taker fees: $3.48 for $40 theoretical gain (ignoring resolution and other costs).
Is the Taker Fee Charged on Profits or the Whole Trade?
The taker fee is charged on each side of the trade, not just on profits. If you buy and sell, you pay the fee twice—once when you enter, once when you exit.
- This is unlike sportsbook vig, which is usually built into the quoted odds.
- For arbitrage math, you need to account for both legs’ fees (entry and exit).
How Does the Fee Impact Arbitrage and Trading?
If you’re comparing Polymarket prices to sportsbooks (or to Kalshi), fees can make or break an opportunity. For example:
Suppose:
- Sportsbook offers YES at +120 (implied 45.45%)
- Polymarket offers YES at $0.44 (implied 44%)
- Sports market = ~5% taker fee
If you buy on Polymarket, your effective entry price is higher after accounting for the fee.
If you want to sell later (to close or hedge), you’ll pay the fee again.
ArbMonster automates this math—scanning Polymarket, Kalshi, and 20+ sportsbooks, and showing only opportunities net of all fees and at real fillable sizes. If you want to see the latest, you can check the live scanner or learn more here.
What About Maker Orders?
- Maker orders (limit orders that rest on the book and are filled by others) pay zero taker fee and may earn rebates.
- This can be a way to trade fee-free, but you are exposed to price movement and the risk your order won’t fill.
Are There Other Fees on Polymarket?
- No Polymarket deposit or withdrawal fees for USDC to Polygon. On-ramp/off-ramp providers may charge their own fees.
- Trades themselves are fee-free outside the taker fee.
- See the full breakdown for all Polymarket fees.
Summary Table: Taker Fees by Market Category
| Market Category | Taker Fee |
|---|---|
| Crypto | ~7% |
| Sports | ~5% |
| Politics | ~4% |
| Other/General | ~5% |
| Tech/Mentions | ~4% |
| Economy/Culture | ~5% |
| Geopolitics | 0% |
FAQ
Q: Do I pay a taker fee if I use a limit order?
A: Only if your limit order matches and fills immediately against an existing order. If it sits on the book and is filled later (you are the maker), you pay zero taker fee and may earn a rebate.
Q: Is the taker fee charged on both buy and sell trades?
A: Yes. If you buy and then sell (or vice versa), you pay the taker fee each time you take liquidity. It’s always based on the notional value of each side, using the fee formula.
Q: Do taker fees ever change?
A: Polymarket has adjusted fees before, especially by category. Always check the latest official fee page or trusted sources before trading.
ArbMonster is a data service. Nothing here is financial or betting advice; markets carry risk, venues have age and jurisdiction restrictions, and you are responsible for verifying everything before acting.