The Most Important Fee Fact About Kraken
Kraken has two completely different fee structures depending on how you buy: the standard interface charges ~1.5% per trade via Instant Buy, while Kraken Pro charges 0.16%–0.26% per trade using limit and market orders. Using Instant Buy to buy $1,000 costs $15 in fees. Using Kraken Pro to buy the same $1,000 costs $1.60–$2.60. There is no reason to use Instant Buy if you know how to place a limit order on Pro.
Action item before reading further: If you're currently using standard Kraken for purchases, switch to Kraken Pro at pro.kraken.com right now. Same account, no cost to switch, dramatically lower fees on every trade you make going forward.
Kraken Spot Trading Fee Tiers
Fees are based on your 30-day rolling trading volume. Lower tiers apply to most retail traders. Limit orders get the maker rate; market orders get the taker rate.
| 30-Day Volume | Maker Fee | Taker Fee |
|---|---|---|
| $0 – $50,000 | 0.16% | 0.26% |
| $50,000 – $100,000 | 0.14% | 0.24% |
| $100,000 – $250,000 | 0.12% | 0.22% |
| $250,000 – $500,000 | 0.10% | 0.20% |
| $500,000 – $1,000,000 | 0.08% | 0.18% |
| $1M – $2.5M | 0.06% | 0.16% |
| $2.5M+ | 0.00% | 0.10% |
Maker vs taker explained: A maker order adds liquidity to the order book — meaning you place a limit order that doesn't fill immediately. A taker order removes liquidity — meaning you place a market order or a limit order that fills immediately against an existing order. Maker orders are rewarded with lower fees because they help the exchange. Whenever possible, use limit orders to get the maker rate.
All Kraken Fee Types
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Instant Buy (Standard Interface) | ~1.5% | Avoid — use Kraken Pro instead |
| Spot Trading — Base Maker | 0.16% | Via Kraken Pro, limit orders, <$50K/month |
| Spot Trading — Base Taker | 0.26% | Via Kraken Pro, market orders |
| Futures — Maker | 0.02% | Non-US users only |
| Futures — Taker | 0.05% | Non-US users only |
| Staking | No explicit fee | Kraken retains a % of your gross rewards |
| ACH Deposit (US) | Free | 3–5 business days |
| Wire Transfer Deposit | Free | Bank may charge their own fee |
| Debit Card Deposit | ~3.75% | Convenience premium — only for urgency |
| Crypto Deposit | Free | Network/gas fees apply on sending side |
| Crypto Withdrawal | Varies by network | Fixed fee per withdrawal per asset (e.g., BTC ~0.00015 BTC) |
| Margin Rollover | 0.02%–0.04% per 4h | Charged on open margin positions held overnight |
How to Pay Less on Kraken
Five ways to cut your Kraken fee bill
- Use Kraken Pro, not Instant Buy. Instant Buy is ~10× more expensive. This alone is the single biggest fee change you can make.
- Place limit orders when possible. Limit orders qualify for the maker rate (0.16% at base), which is 40% cheaper than the taker rate (0.26%). Set a limit a few cents below the current price for most purchases.
- Deposit via ACH or wire — not debit card. ACH deposits are free. Debit card deposits cost 3.75% upfront — that immediately makes any investment 3.75% more expensive before you even trade.
- Batch your purchases. Each withdrawal has a fixed fee. Consolidating multiple small withdrawals into one reduces per-unit withdrawal costs.
- Build volume toward lower tiers. At $100K/month in volume, your maker fee drops to 0.12%. At $500K it's 0.08%. If you're an active trader approaching these thresholds, consolidating your trading on Kraken unlocks meaningful savings.
How Kraken Fees Compare to Competitors
| Exchange | Spot Taker (Base) | Spot Maker (Base) | Futures Taker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kraken Pro | 0.26% | 0.16% | 0.05% |
| Coinbase Advanced | 0.60% | 0.40% | 0.05% |
| Binance (global) | 0.10% | 0.10% | 0.05% |
| BTCC | N/A (futures only) | N/A | 0.06% |
| Bitunix | 0.05% | 0.02% | 0.05% |
Kraken's spot fees are competitive but not the absolute lowest. Binance (not available in the US) is cheaper. Coinbase is significantly more expensive. For futures, Kraken is on par with competitors. For US users who want spot trading with strong security and compliance, Kraken's fee structure is very reasonable.