In the long run, placing maker orders saves more money than taking liquidity. On OKX spot, the maker fee is 0.08%, lower than the taker fee of 0.10%. For futures contracts, the difference is even bigger: maker fee is 0.02% vs taker 0.05%. If your order is filled as a maker, you naturally pay lower fees. OKX also has a special 'Post Only' order type to make sure you get this maker benefit.
A leading global cryptocurrency platform,suitable for both beginners and experienced traders.
New user benefit: 20% off trading fees upon registration!！
First, understand the exact maker and taker fee differences on OKX
On OKX, when you place an order, the fee depends on whether you add liquidity or take it. An order that does not fill immediately and rests on the order book, providing liquidity, is a maker order, which usually has a lower fee. A market order that immediately takes liquidity from the book is a taker order, which pays a higher fee.
Spot trading fees: For regular users, the maker fee is about 0.08%, and the taker fee is about 0.10%. Some special spot pairs (like USDC stablecoin pairs) may have even lower fees, such as 0.00% maker / 0.05% taker.
Contract trading fees: The advantage is even bigger. For regular users, USDT-margined perpetual contracts have a maker fee of about 0.02% and a taker fee of about 0.05%.
Checkpoint: You now know the specific maker and taker fee rates for the type of trading you're doing (spot or contract).
Use 'Post Only' orders to guarantee you get the maker fee
If you want to guarantee the lower maker fee, don't rely on a simple limit order—because if you place a limit order at the current market price, it may still fill immediately and be charged the taker fee.
What to do: Select the 'Post Only' order type on the trading interface.
How to do it: When placing a limit order, check the 'Post Only' option. The system will force this order to only provide liquidity. If it would fill immediately (take liquidity), the system cancels it automatically, ensuring you avoid higher taker fees.
Checkpoint: The order sits on the order book waiting to be filled passively. Your fee will be calculated at the maker rate.
Verify that your order was actually charged the maker fee
After you trade, go to your history to check, so you can be sure.
What to do: Go to [Order Center] - [Order History] and find your completed order.
How to do it: In the trade history, look at the "Fee" column. It usually shows a "Taker" or "Maker" label, telling you directly which fee rate was charged.
Checkpoint: Confirm that the actual fee matches the maker rate you estimated in step 1.
Common reasons orders don't get the maker fee
Many people think "placing a limit order means you're a maker," but if your limit price is immediately hit (i.e., bid higher than the lowest ask or ask lower than the highest bid), it still fills instantly and gets charged as taker. To ensure you save on fees, you must use the 'Post Only' feature to limit the order property, not just a regular limit order.
Risk reminder
Fees are deducted from the settlement asset and may affect you on both sides. Spot trading fees are taken from the asset you receive. For contract trading, besides maker/taker fees, you also need to watch out for funding rates, which may cost more than trading fees themselves. Also, if you try to lower your fees by holding OKB or increasing your trading volume, assess your actual trading needs. Don't increase your volume blindly just to chase a lower fee tier.
How to confirm your order was placed correctly
After submitting a 'Post Only' order, go to [Current Orders] to confirm it's sitting unfilled. That means the operation was successful. If the order is canceled immediately with a message saying "Post Only order would fill immediately," your price is set incorrectly; adjust the price and try again.
A leading global cryptocurrency platform,suitable for both beginners and experienced traders.
New user benefit: 20% off trading fees upon registration!！
Next steps to save even more
Check your OKX VIP level or OKB holdings. If you're just a bit short of the next fee discount tier, consider planning your trading volume or OKB allocation to further lower your long-term trading costs. Currently, holding OKB gives you a fee discount, with the discount rate depending on your holdings.
