Maker vs Taker Fees: What's the Difference?
A maker order adds liquidity to the order book and usually pays a lower fee; a taker order removes existing liquidity and usually pays a higher fee. Whether your order is a maker or a taker is decided automatically by whether it matches an existing order immediately.
A Concrete Example
Say BTC is trading at $100,000. If you place a buy order at $99,900, it won't match immediately — it sits in the order book waiting for a seller. When it eventually fills, you pay the maker fee, because your order added a resting price level. If instead you place a buy order at $100,000 (the current ask), it matches instantly against an existing sell order — you pay the taker fee, because you removed liquidity that was already there.
Why the Fee Difference Exists
Exchanges want deep order books — more resting orders mean tighter spreads and a better experience for everyone trading. Maker orders build that depth, so exchanges charge makers less (sometimes 0%, occasionally a rebate) to encourage it. Takers consume that depth, so they pay more.
Maker and Taker Fees Across the Five Exchanges
| Exchange | Maker | Taker | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitget | 0.1% | 0.1% | None |
| Gate.io | 0.1% | 0.1% | None |
| MEXC | 0% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Bybit | 0.1% | 0.1% | None |
| OKX | 0.08% | 0.1% | 0.02% |
Base-tier rates, read from each exchange's official fee page, 9 September 2026. See the full spot fee comparison.
Which One Applies to a Market Order?
A market order — one that says "fill immediately at the best available price" — is always a taker order, by definition. Only limit orders placed away from the current price can become maker orders, and only if they don't match instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the same order be partly maker and partly taker?
Yes. If a limit order partially matches existing orders immediately and the remainder rests on the book, the matched portion pays the taker fee and the resting remainder pays the maker fee when it eventually fills.
Does a market order ever pay the maker fee?
No. Market orders always match immediately against the best available price, which by definition makes them taker orders.