Polymarket fees explained (Polymarket US and international)
Polymarket runs two separate exchanges with separate fee schedules:
- Polymarket US is a CFTC-registered exchange (QCX LLC, d/b/a Polymarket US) for US residents. It trades in dollars.
- Polymarket.com is the international, crypto-based site. It lists the United States as "close-only," so US users cannot open new positions there.
Both charge fees only when trades execute, and both use the same formula shape. The rates differ.
The shared formula
Both venues compute taker fees as:
fee = rate × contracts × price × (1 − price)
The fee is largest at 50¢ and shrinks toward 1¢ and 99¢. It is also symmetric: a trade at 20¢ pays the same fee as a trade at 80¢.
Polymarket US fees
Polymarket US files its fee changes with the CFTC. As of the filings we reviewed:
- Taker coefficient: 0.0695. It rose from 0.05 to 0.06 effective July 1, 2026, then to 0.0695 effective September 17, 2026.
- Maker rebate coefficient: −0.0125. The September filing says this is unchanged. A third-party review (October 2026) reports that maker rebates go only to high-volume makers.
- Table tennis: taker coefficient 0.10, effective October 7, 2026.
- Combos:
fee = C × p × [0.0695(1 − p) + 0.04(1 − p)^4], effective September 25, 2026. Combo makers get no rebate, effective October 7, 2026. - Block trades: 0.0050 per contract for takers and 0.0015 for makers, waived through December 31, 2026.
- Taker rebates: The filings mention a tiered taker rebate but do not list the tiers. A third-party review reports 3%–30% above $250,000 in taker volume.
Polymarket.com (international) fees
Polymarket's documentation sets taker rates by category. Makers pay no fee.
| Category | Taker rate | Fee per 100 shares at 50¢ | Maker rebate share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crypto | 0.07 | $1.75 | 20% |
| Sports | 0.05 | $1.25 | 15% |
| Finance, Politics, Mentions, Tech | 0.04 | $1.00 | 25% |
| Economics, Culture, Weather, Other | 0.05 | $1.25 | 25% |
| Geopolitics | 0 | $0 | n/a |
| Combos | 0.05 | $1.25 | 0% |
- Rounding: Fees are rounded to five decimal places, so the smallest fee is 0.00001 USDC.
- Taker rebates: The international site has a Taker Rebate Program, live since May 28, 2026. It pays 3% (Bronze, $2,000 30-day weighted volume) up to 50% (Obsidian, $10 million+), daily in pUSD. Fee-free markets earn no rebate.
Worked examples
Polymarket US, standard market. Buy 100 Yes at 50¢.
- Fee: 0.0695 × 100 × 0.25 = $1.7375
Polymarket US, long shot. Buy 100 Yes at 10¢.
- Fee: 0.0695 × 100 × 0.09 = $0.6255
- Cost: $10.00. If Yes wins, the payout is $100.
Polymarket US, combo. 100 contracts at 20¢.
- Fee: 100 × 0.20 × [0.0695 × 0.80 + 0.04 × 0.80^4] ≈ $1.44
- A straight market at the same price would cost about $1.11.
Polymarket US, table tennis. 100 contracts at 50¢.
- Fee: 0.10 × 100 × 0.25 = $2.50
International, politics. 100 shares at 50¢.
- Fee: 0.04 × 100 × 0.25 = $1.00
- A geopolitics market costs $0.
Polymarket US vs international at a glance
| Polymarket US | Polymarket.com | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can use it | US residents (18+) | Non-US users where permitted; US is close-only |
| Regulator | CFTC (designated contract market) | Not a US-regulated exchange |
| Currency | USD | pUSD/USDC |
| Standard taker rate | 0.0695 | 0.04–0.07 by category |
| Fee-free category | None found | Geopolitics |
| Deposit fees | None reported | No Polymarket fee; intermediaries may charge |
Deposits and withdrawals
Polymarket US: An October 2026 review lists debit card, ACH and wire funding. It reports no deposit or withdrawal fees and a $1,000 wire minimum. Card and ACH deposits are capped at $25,000 per transaction.
Polymarket.com: The docs say there are "no Polymarket fees to deposit or withdraw USDC." Exchanges and on-ramps such as Coinbase or MoonPay may charge their own fees.
Which schedule applies to you
If you live in the US, only the Polymarket US schedule is relevant. Many fee articles still quote the international category table, which does not apply to the US app.
Within Polymarket US, check three things before you trade:
- The market type. Straight markets, combos and table tennis carry different coefficients.
- Your order type. A resting limit order that fills is a maker trade. An order that matches immediately is a taker trade and pays the fee.
- The fee shown on the order ticket. Schedules change by weekly CFTC filing, so the app's figure is the one that counts.
How this compares with Kalshi
Kalshi uses the same formula with a 0.07 taker rate, so Polymarket US is slightly cheaper at standard rates. Our Kalshi vs Polymarket guide breaks down the differences.
The bigger factor is usually the price itself. Check the live comparison before placing an order.
Prediction market positions can lose their full value. Availability and age limits vary by state: see where each platform operates.
FAQ
What fee does Polymarket US charge?
A taker fee of 0.0695 x contracts x price x (1 - price) on standard markets as of September 17, 2026. That is about $1.74 per 100 contracts at 50 cents. Table tennis and combos cost more.
Is Polymarket.com free to trade?
No. Since the category fee rollout, most markets carry a taker fee of 4% to 7% in the formula. Geopolitics markets are fee-free, and makers pay no fee.
Can I use Polymarket.com from the US?
No. Polymarket's documentation lists the United States as close-only. US residents can use Polymarket US instead.
Does Polymarket charge to deposit or withdraw?
Polymarket.com charges no fee on USDC deposits or withdrawals, though third parties may. Polymarket US is reported to charge no deposit or withdrawal fees; confirm in the app.