Key takeaway: Polymarket imposes no direct trading fees on the majority of transactions, though you incur costs via the bid-ask spread (usually 1-3 cents). Funding through MoonPay carries a 3.5-5% surcharge, whereas cryptocurrency deposits require only network gas fees (~$0.01 on Polygon). Withdrawals incur no charge.
Grasping the true cost structure of Polymarket fees is vital for assessing your net trading returns. In contrast to conventional betting operators that bake a 5-15% edge into every wager, Polymarket's pricing model offers greater clarity — yet it remains non-zero. Below is a comprehensive overview of all expenses you will face.
Trading fees
Polymarket operates via an order book mechanism (the CLOB — Central Limit Order Book). Your fee obligations shift 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% implicit fee through spread
- Reward tokens: Prolific makers can accumulate MATIC rewards via Polymarket's liquidity provider incentive scheme
The hidden cost: bid-ask spread
The principal expense when trading on Polymarket stems from the spread — the differential separating the highest purchase price and lowest sale price. In high-volume markets (major elections, significant blockchain developments), spreads remain narrow: 1-2 cents. In low-volume markets (specialised academic questions, obscure geopolitical 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 fluctuate based on which deposit channel you select:
- MoonPay (credit card): 3.5-5% — user-friendly yet costly
- Crypto transfer (Polygon USDC): network fee exclusively, normally below $0.01
- Bridge from Ethereum: $2-15 in ETH network charges, plus 10-30 minute processing duration
Withdrawal costs
Moving USDC out of Polymarket to your personal wallet carries zero cost when utilising the Polygon network. Should you elect to reconvert to standard currency, your provider's withdrawal charge will apply (ordinarily $1-5 flat rate).
How PolyGram compares
PolyGram taps into the identical Polymarket order book, meaning trading spreads remain consistent. PolyGram's advantage lies in the account setup phase — simplified onboarding that avoids the steep MoonPay costs. Review your transaction history to observe precise fees attached to each trade. Start trading on PolyGram →