What's the difference between maker and taker fees?
A maker order is a limit order that rests in the order book and adds liquidity — it pays the lower fee (0.02% on loweef's partner exchanges). A taker order fills immediately against existing orders and removes liquidity — it pays more (0.05–0.06%). Same trade, different price for how it interacts with the book.
Why exchanges price them differently
An order book only works if there are resting orders to trade against. Makers provide that depth; takers consume it. Exchanges subsidize the side they need more of — so the maker fee is set lower to reward traders who quote prices, and the taker fee is higher for traders who demand instant execution.
What decides whether your order is maker or taker
It is not the order type button — it is whether the order executes immediately:
- A limit order priced away from the market rests in the book → maker
- A market order always fills instantly → taker
- A limit order priced at or through the current market fills instantly → taker, even though it is a limit order
That last case surprises people: a "limit" order aggressive enough to cross the spread pays the taker fee.
Current maker and taker rates
| Exchange | Taker fee (futures) | Maker fee (futures) | Total rate | Effective taker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toobit | 0.06% | 0.02% | 67% | 0.0198% |
| AlphaX | 0.05% | 0.02% | 65% | 0.0175% |
| BingX | 0.05% | 0.02% | 60% | 0.0200% |
| OKX | 0.05% | 0.02% | 50% | 0.0250% |
When the difference matters
On a single small trade, the gap is cents. On leveraged futures volume it compounds — fees are charged on full notional position size, so the maker/taker mix can move your monthly fee bill more than the choice of exchange. See how much futures fees really cost for worked numbers.
Whichever side you trade, a fee rebate applies to the fee you actually paid: loweef returns 50–67% of maker and taker fees alike, accruing daily. It is one of four stacking ways to cut your fee bill. Figures are standard published rates — actual fees vary with VIP tier.
Quick definitions in the glossary: maker fee · taker fee · effective fee.
Frequently asked questions
Is a limit order always a maker order?
No. A limit order priced at or beyond the current market price fills immediately and is charged as a taker. Only limit orders that rest in the book unexecuted earn the maker rate.
Why is the maker fee lower?
Because resting orders are what makes the market tradeable. Exchanges price maker fees lower to attract liquidity, and charge takers more for consuming it instantly.
Do rebates differ between maker and taker fees?
No. A rebate is a share of the fee you actually paid, so it applies to both — takers simply have more fee to get back per trade.
Related questions
Last checked: 2026-08-06