Key takeaway: Polymarket imposes no direct trading fee on the majority of transactions, but costs emerge through the bid-ask spread (generally 1-3 cents). Funding via MoonPay incurs 3.5-5%, whereas direct crypto deposits require only gas expenses (~$0.01 on Polygon). Withdrawals carry no charge.
Grasping Polymarket fees matters for working out your genuine trading returns. In contrast to conventional sportsbooks that bake a 5-15% edge into all wagers, Polymarket's cost model offers greater clarity — though it is not cost-free. Below is a comprehensive rundown of every expense you will face.
Trading fees
Polymarket operates a central limit order book system (CLOB). Your fee obligation shifts depending on whether you function as a maker or taker:
- Maker orders (limit orders supplying liquidity): 0% fee
- Taker orders (market orders consuming liquidity): ~1-2% effective fee through spread
- Reward tokens: Prolific makers may accumulate MATIC rewards via Polymarket's liquidity incentive scheme
The hidden cost: bid-ask spread
Polymarket's primary trading expense stems from the spread — the distance separating the highest purchase price and lowest sale price. In well-traded markets (presidential races, significant blockchain developments), spreads remain narrow: 1-2 cents. In thinly-traded markets (specialised research questions, rare 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
Your funding expenses hinge on which deposit avenue you select:
- MoonPay (debit/credit card): 3.5-5% — rapid but pricey
- Crypto transfer (Polygon USDC): gas fee only, ordinarily below $0.01
- Bridge from Ethereum: $2-15 in ETH gas, alongside 10-30 minute settlement
Withdrawal costs
Moving USDC out of Polymarket to your personal wallet incurs no fee when using the Polygon network. Should you wish to switch to traditional currency, your bank or exchange will charge a withdrawal fee (ordinarily $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 account setup — simplified onboarding that sidesteps expensive MoonPay charges. Review your transaction history to view precise costs for each transaction. Start trading on PolyGram →