What Maker and Taker Orders Actually Are
Maker vs taker fees are set by whether an order adds or removes liquidity. Maker orders are limit orders placed on an exchange that rest in the order book until another participant matches them. Because they remain visible and available, they add liquidity and improve market depth. Taker orders, by contrast, execute immediately against existing orders in the book. They are typically market orders or aggressive limit orders that cross the spread and therefore remove liquidity.
Exchanges apply different fee rates to each type of order to reward liquidity provision. Makers receive lower fees, and at higher volume tiers they may even earn small rebates, because their resting orders help tighten spreads and support smoother trading for everyone else. Takers pay higher fees since they consume that liquidity on the spot without contributing to the book themselves.
The maker-taker distinction applies to spot, margin, and futures trading on centralized crypto platforms. When an order receives only a partial fill, the executed portion is charged as a taker trade while the unfilled remainder continues as a maker order. Orders that are placed but never touched and are later canceled incur no fees at all.
How Fees Are Calculated in Practice
Fees on maker vs taker orders are assessed only on executed trades and are split when partial fills occur. The portion that immediately matches an existing order counts as taker and pays the higher rate, while the unfilled remainder that rests in the book becomes maker and receives the lower rate. Orders that are placed but later canceled before any execution incur zero fees.
The same maker-taker structure applies to spot, margin, and futures or perpetual contracts, though base rates and volume thresholds differ by product. Most platforms determine a user’s tier from 30-day trading volume, sometimes taking the best of spot volume, futures volume, or assets held on the platform. Higher tiers reduce both maker and taker percentages, and holding exchange tokens such as BNB can provide additional discounts of up to 25 percent on the standard schedule.
At Binance, for example, a regular user under $1 million in 30-day volume pays 0.100 percent maker and taker on spot, dropping to 0.075 percent with the BNB discount; VIP 3 users at $20 million volume and 100 BNB see 0.040 percent maker and 0.060 percent taker. Kraken’s Pro tiers at $125,000 volume show 0.12 percent maker and 0.25 percent taker for BTC/USD, with maker rates ranging as low as a 0.02 percent rebate at top tiers. Traders should verify current schedules on each exchange, as volume definitions exclude certain stablecoin or non-Pro activity and promotions can alter effective costs.
Real Fee Schedules on Major Exchanges
Binance, Kraken and Coinbase illustrate how maker-taker rates shift with volume tiers and token holdings. All figures below reflect data gathered on 17 September 2026.
| Exchange | Volume Tier | Additional Conditions | Maker Fee | Taker Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Binance Spot | < $1M 30-day volume | 0 BNB balance | 0.100% | 0.100% |
| Binance Spot | < $1M 30-day volume | BNB held (25% discount) | 0.075% | 0.075% |
| Binance Spot | VIP 3 (≥ $20M volume) | ≥ 100 BNB | 0.040% | 0.060% |
| Kraken Pro | $125k 30-day volume | BTC/USD pair | 0.12% | 0.25% |
| Kraken Pro | Any tier | Best of spot/futures/assets | -0.02% to 0.80% | up to 0.80% |
| Coinbase Advanced | Entry tiers | Standard | 0.40–0.60% | 0.60–1.20% |
| Coinbase Advanced | Coinbase One | Eligible trades | 0% | 0% |
Kraken’s July 2026 tier overhaul lets users qualify via the highest of spot volume, futures volume or assets held, then applies that single rate across products. Binance ladders remain volume-plus-BNB based with no structural change reported in 2026. Coinbase Advanced rates sit on a separate fee page; the platform’s zero-fee Coinbase One subscription removes maker-taker charges on qualifying trades but caps monthly volume. Traders should verify the latest official schedules because partial fills, stablecoin pairs and futures contracts often carry separate brackets.
How Traders Can Reduce Effective Fees
Traders reduce costs primarily by shifting from market orders to limit orders that rest in the book and qualify as makers. This move converts what would have been a taker fee into the lower maker rate or even a rebate at higher tiers.
Volume-based discounts provide the next lever. On Binance, moving from the base tier into VIP 3 requires at least $20 million in 30-day volume and 100 BNB; maker fees then drop to 0.040 percent. Kraken’s updated Pro tiers, effective July 9, 2026, let users qualify using the best of spot volume, futures volume, or assets held, applying the resulting rate across both products.
Promotions further compress fees. MEXC and several other platforms run ongoing 0 percent maker offers on spot. Binance.US has advertised 0 percent maker and 0.02 percent taker for all users. Coinbase One removes trading fees entirely on eligible trades, subject to monthly limits.
Additional savings come from holding exchange tokens such as BNB, which automatically applies a 25 percent discount on Binance, and from routing trades to pairs or products that carry the lowest published maker rates. Consistent use of these tactics compounds quickly because fees are charged on every fill.
Recent Fee Model Changes and Promotions
Kraken overhauled its Pro fee tiers effective July 9, 2026. The new system lets users qualify for the best tier by comparing their 30-day spot volume, futures volume, or assets held on the platform. The resulting rate then applies across both spot and futures trading. This change replaced the prior volume-only calculation and aimed to reward overall platform activity rather than isolated product use.
Binance kept its VIP ladder unchanged through 2026. Rates continue to scale with 30-day volume and BNB holdings, with no structural shifts reported. Base spot fees remain 0.100 percent maker and taker for most users, dropping further at higher VIP levels when BNB discounts apply.
Other platforms have run 0 percent maker promotions to draw liquidity. Binance.US offers 0 percent maker and 0.02 percent taker on spot for all users. MEXC and similar venues maintain base or promotional structures that set maker fees at zero on many spot pairs. These moves lower entry costs for liquidity providers while preserving revenue from taker flow.
FAQ
How do partial fills affect maker and taker fees?
Partial fills split fees by order type. The portion that executes immediately counts as taker and pays the higher rate, while the remaining limit order that rests in the book qualifies as maker and receives the lower rate or rebate.
Do canceled orders incur any fees?
Orders that are canceled before any fill occurs incur no fees on Kraken or Binance. Only executed portions trigger charges, regardless of whether the order was maker or taker.
What are Binance spot fees for regular users?
Binance lists 0.100% maker and 0.100% taker for accounts below $1M 30-day volume or without BNB holdings. Holding BNB reduces both to 0.075%. VIP 3 users at $20M volume and 100 BNB pay 0.040% maker and 0.060% taker.
How do Kraken Pro fees compare at moderate volume?
At $125,000 30-day volume on BTC/USD, Kraken charges 0.12% maker and 0.25% taker. Maker rates can reach -0.02% rebates at higher tiers, while taker fees climb to 0.80% at the lowest tier.
Does Coinbase Advanced Trade follow the same model?
Coinbase Advanced Trade uses a maker-taker structure without an added spread on order-book trades. Specific tier rates appear on its dedicated fees page, and Coinbase One subscribers receive zero fees on eligible trades subject to limits.
Do fees differ between spot and futures?
Yes. Futures maker rates on many platforms cluster near 0.01–0.02%, with taker fees between 0.04–0.06%. Spot rates are typically higher and vary more by exchange and volume tier.
How do volume tiers influence effective costs?
Tiers recalculate every 30 days using the best of spot volume, futures volume, or assets held. Kraken’s July 2026 update applies the highest qualifying tier to both spot and futures trading, lowering costs for active users.