Polymarket Fees: Complete Breakdown for 2026
Key takeaway: Polymarket charges no explicit trading fee on most trades, but you pay through the bid-ask spread (typically 1-3 cents). Deposits via MoonPay cost 3.5-5%, while crypto deposits cost only gas fees (~$0.01 on Polygon). Withdrawals are free.
Grasping the true cost structure of Polymarket fees is crucial for assessing your net returns on trades. In contrast to conventional betting operators that bake a 5-15% margin into every wager, Polymarket presents a more granular fee model — though not cost-free. Below is a comprehensive overview of all expenses you may face.
Trading fees
Polymarket operates via an order book architecture (the CLOB — Central Limit Order Book). Your fee obligations shift based on your role as either maker or taker:
- Maker orders (limit orders that provide liquidity): 0% fee
- Taker orders (market orders that consume liquidity): ~1-2% effective fee via spread
- Reward tokens: Prolific makers can accumulate MATIC rewards through Polymarket's liquidity incentive scheme
The hidden cost: bid-ask spread
The primary expense when trading on Polymarket stems from the spread — the differential between the highest purchase price and lowest sale price available. In highly liquid markets (presidential contests, prominent blockchain developments), spreads remain narrow: 1-2 cents. In less liquid markets (specialised research questions, uncommon electoral scenarios), spreads can expand to 5-10 cents.
| Market type | Typical spread | Effective cost |
| US elections | 1-2 cents | 1-2% |
| Major crypto | 2-3 cents | 2-3% |
| Sports events | 3-5 cents | 3-5% |
| Niche markets | 5-10+ cents | 5-10%+ |
Deposit costs
The amount you pay to establish funding in your account varies according to your chosen deposit channel:
- MoonPay (credit card): 3.5-5% — user-friendly yet costly
- Crypto transfer (Polygon USDC): gas fee only, ordinarily below $0.01
- Bridge from Ethereum: $2-15 in ETH gas, plus 10-30 minute settlement period
Withdrawal costs
Moving USDC out of Polymarket to your own wallet incurs no charge when transacting on Polygon. Should you wish to exchange back to conventional currency, your chosen exchange will levy a withdrawal charge (usually $1-5 per transaction).
How PolyGram compares
PolyGram taps into the identical Polymarket order book, meaning trading spreads remain the same across platforms. The advantage PolyGram delivers is in account setup — optimised onboarding procedures that sidestep the costly MoonPay surcharge. Review your transaction history to identify precise fees applied to each transaction. Start trading on PolyGram →