Key takeaway: Polymarket imposes no direct trading fee on the majority of transactions, though you incur costs through the bid-ask spread (usually 1-3 cents). Funding via MoonPay incurs a 3.5-5% charge, whereas cryptocurrency deposits require only gas fees (~$0.01 on Polygon). Withdrawals carry no fee.
Grasping the nuances of Polymarket fees is vital for assessing your actual trading returns. In contrast to conventional betting operators who embed a 5-15% margin into each wager, Polymarket's cost structure offers greater transparency — yet it is not costless. Below is a comprehensive overview of every expense you will face.
Trading fees
Polymarket operates via an order book system (the CLOB — Central Limit Order Book). Your fee obligations shift based 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 via spread
- Reward tokens: Prolific makers can receive MATIC rewards through Polymarket's liquidity provider incentive scheme
The hidden cost: bid-ask spread
The true expense when trading on Polymarket stems from the spread — the differential between the highest purchase price and lowest sale price. In highly liquid markets (presidential contests, significant digital asset movements), spreads remain narrow: 1-2 cents. In less liquid markets (specialised research questions, minor political scenarios), 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 amount you spend to top up your account fluctuates based on your chosen funding method:
- MoonPay (credit card): 3.5-5% — user-friendly yet pricey
- Crypto transfer (Polygon USDC): gas fee exclusively, seldom exceeding $0.01
- Bridge from Ethereum: $2-15 in ETH gas, alongside 10-30 minute processing duration
Withdrawal costs
Moving USDC out of Polymarket to your own wallet incurs no charge when using the Polygon network. Should you wish to exchange back to standard currency, you will bear your exchange's exit fee (usually $1-5 as a fixed amount).
How PolyGram compares
PolyGram connects to the identical Polymarket order book, therefore trading spreads remain the same. PolyGram's advantage lies in account setup — simplified onboarding that sidesteps the steep MoonPay fees. Review your transaction history to review precise costs on each trade. Start trading on PolyGram →