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 true cost structure of Polymarket fees is vital for assessing your net returns on trades. In contrast to conventional betting platforms that bake a 5-15% margin directly into odds, Polymarket operates with greater clarity around its fee model — though costs do exist. Below is a comprehensive overview of all expenses you may face.
Trading fees
Polymarket operates via an order book system (the CLOB — Central Limit Order Book). Your fee exposure shifts based on your role as either a 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 accrue MATIC rewards via 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. For high-volume markets (presidential contests, significant crypto market events), spreads remain narrow: 1-2 cents. For lower-volume markets (specialised forecasting questions, lesser-known political scenarios), spreads can widen substantially 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 spend to activate your account varies depending on which funding channel you select:
- MoonPay (credit card): 3.5-5% — straightforward yet costly
- Crypto transfer (Polygon USDC): gas fee only, usually below $0.01
- Bridge from Ethereum: $2-15 in ETH gas, plus 10-30 minute settlement window
Withdrawal costs
Moving USDC out of Polymarket to your personal wallet incurs no charge when using the Polygon network. Should you wish to liquidate back into conventional currency, your chosen exchange will levy a withdrawal charge (normally $1-5 per transaction).
How PolyGram compares
PolyGram taps into the identical Polymarket order book, meaning trading spreads remain the same. PolyGram's advantage lies in streamlined account setup — efficient onboarding that sidesteps the steep MoonPay fees. Review your transaction history to view itemised fees for each individual transaction. Start trading on PolyGram →