Maker vs taker — and why it matters
A maker order adds liquidity (a limit order resting on the book) and pays the lower maker fee. A taker order removes liquidity (a market order that fills instantly) and pays the higher taker fee. If you trade with market orders you pay taker every time — and on both the open and the close. Using limit orders to "make" can roughly halve your fees.
Fees are charged on the position notional, not your margin — so at 10x leverage a $1,000 margin trade pays fees on $10,000. That's why high-frequency, high-leverage trading bleeds fees, and why a fraction of a percent difference between exchanges adds up fast. See the real impact on a single trade with the real futures profit calculator.
FAQ
Which exchange is cheapest for futures? Binance USDⓈ-M has one of the lowest taker fees; OKX, Bybit and KuCoin are close. Differences shrink further once you add VIP tiers and referral discounts, so liquidity, coins and UX matter too.
Do referral links change my fees? They often give you a discount, not a markup — and they don't cost you anything extra.