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 returns on positions. In contrast to conventional betting operators that bake a 5-15% margin directly into odds, Polymarket's cost model operates with greater clarity — though it is not cost-free. Below is a comprehensive review of all expenses you will face.
Trading fees
Polymarket operates via an order book architecture (the CLOB — Central Limit Order Book). Your fee obligation shifts based on your role as either 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 via Polymarket's liquidity provider incentive scheme
The hidden cost: bid-ask spread
Your actual trading expense on Polymarket stems from the spread — the differential separating the highest purchase price and lowest sale price. On well-trafficked markets (presidential contests, major blockchain developments), spreads remain narrow: 1-2 cents. On thin markets (specialist research queries, minor geopolitical predictions), 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
Your funding expenses fluctuate based on the deposit pathway you select:
- MoonPay (credit card): 3.5-5% — user-friendly yet pricey
- Crypto transfer (Polygon USDC): gas fee only, ordinarily below $0.01
- Bridge from Ethereum: $2-15 in ETH gas, plus 10-30 minute settlement
Withdrawal costs
Moving USDC out of Polymarket to your personal wallet incurs no charges when transacting on Polygon. Should you wish to convert to traditional currency, your chosen exchange will levy a withdrawal charge (ordinarily $1-5 per transaction).
How PolyGram compares
PolyGram connects to the identical Polymarket order book, meaning trading spreads remain unchanged. PolyGram's advantage lies in account setup — optimised onboarding that sidesteps expensive MoonPay rates. Review your transaction history for granular fee breakdowns on each execution. Start trading on PolyGram →