In this guide
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 Polymarket fee landscape is vital for assessing your net trading returns. In contrast to conventional betting operators who embed a 5-15% margin into each wager, Polymarket's cost framework offers greater clarity — though it is not cost-free. Below is a comprehensive overview of every expense you may face.
Trading fees
Polymarket operates via an order book system (the CLOB — Central Limit Order Book). Your costs shift based on whether you function as a maker or taker:
- Maker orders (limit orders supplying liquidity): 0% fee
- Taker orders (market orders consuming liquidity): ~1-2% effective fee via spread
- Reward tokens: Prolific makers can accumulate MATIC rewards by participating in Polymarket's liquidity provider incentive scheme
The hidden cost: bid-ask spread
The true expense when trading on Polymarket stems from the spread — the differential between the highest purchase price and lowest sale price available. In highly traded markets (presidential contests, significant blockchain developments), spreads remain narrow: 1-2 cents. In thinly traded markets (specialised academic questions, minor geopolitical 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 expense to add funds to your account fluctuates according to your chosen funding route:
- MoonPay (credit card): 3.5-5% — straightforward but pricey
- Crypto transfer (Polygon USDC): gas fee only, ordinarily less than $0.01
- Bridge from Ethereum: $2-15 in ETH gas, plus 10-30 minute wait
Withdrawal costs
Moving USDC out of Polymarket to your personal wallet incurs no charge when using the Polygon network. Should you wish to exchange back to conventional currency, you will incur your bank or exchange's standard withdrawal charge (usually $1-5 per transaction).
How PolyGram compares
PolyGram taps into the identical Polymarket order book, meaning trading spreads remain the same. PolyGram's advantage emerges during account setup — simplified funding mechanisms that sidestep the steep MoonPay surcharge. Review your transaction history to view precise charges applied to each transaction. Start trading on PolyGram →