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 when assessing your net trading returns. Rather than the opaque 5-15% margins baked into traditional betting platforms, Polymarket operates with greater clarity — though costs are not absent. Below is a comprehensive overview of every expense you will face.
Trading fees
Polymarket operates through 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 through Polymarket's liquidity incentive scheme
The hidden cost: bid-ask spread
The true expense when transacting on Polymarket stems from the spread — the differential between the highest purchase price and lowest sale price. In highly liquid venues (presidential contests, major blockchain events), spreads remain narrow: 1-2 cents. In lower-volume venues (specialist research questions, uncommon geopolitical predictions), spreads can widen 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 expense of crediting your account fluctuates based on which funding route you select:
- MoonPay (credit card): 3.5-5% — user-friendly yet pricey
- Crypto transfer (Polygon USDC): gas fee only, usually 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 zero charges on the Polygon chain. Should you wish to liquidate into traditional currency, your bank or exchange will levy its own withdrawal charge (usually $1-5 per transaction).
How PolyGram compares
PolyGram taps into the identical Polymarket order book, meaning trading spreads remain consistent. Where PolyGram delivers value is in account setup — optimised onboarding that sidesteps expensive MoonPay charges. Review your transaction history to pinpoint exact costs on each position. Start trading on PolyGram →