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 fee landscape on Polymarket matters greatly when you want to assess your net returns from prediction trading. In contrast to conventional betting platforms that bake in a 5-15% margin on every wager, Polymarket operates with considerably greater transparency in its cost structure — though it is not costless. Below is a thorough breakdown of each expense you will face.
Trading fees
Polymarket operates via an order book system (the CLOB — Central Limit Order Book). Your fee obligations shift depending on whether you place a maker or taker order:
- Maker orders (limit orders that supply liquidity): 0% fee
- Taker orders (market orders that consume 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
Your primary expense when trading on Polymarket stems from the spread — the differential between the highest purchase price and lowest sale price available. In high-volume markets (presidential contests, major blockchain developments), spreads remain narrow: 1-2 cents. In low-volume markets (specialist forecasting questions, fringe geopolitical predictions), spreads can widen dramatically 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 hinges on which funding route you select:
- MoonPay (credit card): 3.5-5% — user-friendly yet costly
- Crypto transfer (Polygon USDC): gas fee only, usually less than $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 cost when using the Polygon network. Should you wish to liquidate back into traditional currency, you will incur your bank or exchange's standard withdrawal charge (normally $1-5 per transaction).
How PolyGram compares
PolyGram taps into the identical Polymarket order book, meaning trading spreads match exactly. Where PolyGram delivers savings is in account setup — simplified onboarding that sidesteps the expensive MoonPay charges. Review your transaction history to monitor precise costs on each position. Start trading on PolyGram →