Spot vs Futures Trading Fees

Spot and futures trading have different fee structures. Understanding these differences helps you choose the right market for your trading strategy.

Spot Trading Fees

Spot trading involves buying and selling the actual cryptocurrency. Fees are typically charged as a percentage of the trade value.

Typical Maker Fee

0.08% - 0.10%

Typical Taker Fee

0.10% - 0.15%

Futures Trading Fees

Futures trading involves contracts that derive value from an underlying asset. Fees are generally lower than spot, but there are additional costs to consider.

Typical Maker Fee

0.02% - 0.05%

Typical Taker Fee

0.05% - 0.07%

Additional Futures Costs

While base trading fees are lower for futures, there are additional costs that don't exist in spot trading:

Funding Rates:Periodic payments between long and short positions, typically every 8 hours
Liquidation Risk:Leveraged positions can be liquidated, resulting in additional fees
Insurance Fund:Some exchanges charge fees that go to the insurance fund

Fee Comparison

Binance50% lower

Spot: 0.10%Futures: 0.05%

Bybit45% lower

Spot: 0.10%Futures: 0.055%

OKX50% lower

Spot: 0.10%Futures: 0.05%

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Spot If:

• You want to own the actual asset
• You're a long-term holder
• You prefer simpler fee structures
• You want to avoid liquidation risk

Choose Futures If:

• You trade frequently
• Lower fees are priority
• You want leverage options
• You can manage funding rates