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 full cost structure of Polymarket fees is vital when assessing your net returns on trades. In contrast to conventional betting operators who conceal a 5-15% margin within every wager, Polymarket operates with greater clarity in its pricing — though costs are not absent. Below we outline every expense you will face.
Trading fees
Polymarket operates via an order book system (the CLOB — Central Limit Order Book). Your fee obligation shifts based on your role as either a maker or taker:
- Maker orders (limit orders that supply liquidity): 0% fee
- Taker orders (market orders that consume liquidity): ~1-2% effective fee via spread
- Reward tokens: Engaged makers can accumulate MATIC rewards via Polymarket's liquidity provider incentive scheme
The hidden cost: bid-ask spread
The true expense when trading on Polymarket emerges from the spread — the differential between the highest purchase price and lowest sale price available. In high-volume markets (presidential races, major blockchain developments), spreads remain narrow: 1-2 cents. In lower-volume markets (specialised scientific predictions, minor electoral 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 amount you spend to establish your account balance varies according to your chosen funding route:
- MoonPay (credit card): 3.5-5% — user-friendly yet costly
- Crypto transfer (Polygon USDC): gas fee only, generally below $0.01
- Bridge from Ethereum: $2-15 in ETH gas, plus 10-30 minute processing period
Withdrawal costs
Moving USDC out of Polymarket to your personal wallet incurs no charge when using the Polygon network. Should you elect to exchange back to traditional currency, your payment processor will levy a withdrawal charge (usually $1-5 per transaction).
How PolyGram compares
PolyGram taps into the identical Polymarket order book, meaning trading spreads remain the same. Where PolyGram delivers cost savings is in account setup — optimised onboarding that sidesteps the expensive MoonPay charges. Review your transaction history to observe precise costs attached to each transaction. Start trading on PolyGram →