Why is my Coinbase futures order not filling?

If your Coinbase futures order isn't filling, check the order type, liquidity, time-in-force setting, slippage tolerance, margin, and exchange restrictions.

Jul 24, 2025 at 08:50 am

Understanding Order Types on Coinbase Futures

When your Coinbase futures order is not filling, the first place to investigate is the type of order you placed. Market orders should execute immediately at the best available price, but limit orders only fill when the market reaches your specified price. If your limit price is too far from the current market, it may sit unfilled indefinitely. Trailing stop orders and stop-limit orders also have specific conditions that must be met before triggering. Always double-check that your order parameters align with current market conditions.

Checking Market Liquidity

Low liquidity is a common reason for unfilled futures orders. If the order book lacks depth at your chosen price level, your trade may not find a counterparty. You can inspect the order book directly in the Coinbase Futures interface. Look for thin order books—where bid and ask sizes are small—which indicate limited interest at that price. In such cases, even a moderately sized order may exhaust available liquidity. Consider adjusting your order size or choosing a more liquid contract like BTC-USD or ETH-USD.

Time-in-Force Settings Matter

Your order’s time-in-force (TIF) setting can also prevent execution. Common TIF options include:

• GTC (Good Til Canceled): Stays active until manually canceled or filled
• IOC (Immediate or Cancel): Must fill immediately; any unfilled portion cancels
• FOK (Fill or Kill): Entire order must fill now or be canceled
  

  If you selected IOC or FOK during low-volume periods, your order may cancel without filling. Review your TIF setting under the order details tab in your Coinbase Futures dashboard. If you want persistent orders, ensure GTC is selected unless you have a specific reason for using IOC or FOK.

  Network Delays and Slippage Tolerance

  
  Even if your order appears valid, network latency or exchange-side processing delays can cause mismatches between your view and the actual market. Coinbase Futures uses real-time data, but internet hiccups or API delays can cause your order to miss fleeting opportunities. Additionally, if you’re using a platform that auto-adjusts for slippage (like a trading bot), ensure your slippage tolerance isn’t too tight—orders with 0.1% slippage may not fill in volatile markets where prices move rapidly. Adjust slippage settings in your trading interface or API configuration accordingly.
  

  Margin and Leverage Constraints

  
  Your order might not fill due to insufficient margin or incorrect leverage settings. Coinbase Futures requires maintenance margin to keep positions open. If your account equity dips below the required level due to unrealized losses, new orders may be rejected silently. Also, leverage settings must match your intended risk exposure—if you set 10x leverage but only have margin for 5x, the system may not accept your order. Verify your margin balance and leverage under the “Positions” and “Account” tabs. Recalculate your required margin using Coinbase’s built-in calculator before submitting new orders.
  

  Exchange-Side Restrictions and Maintenance

  
  Coinbase may impose temporary restrictions during high volatility or scheduled maintenance. These include:
• Trading halts for specific futures contracts
• Reduced leverage limits
• Order book freezes during price spikes
  

  Check the official Coinbase Futures status page or Twitter feed for announcements. If a contract is in a circuit breaker state, no orders will fill until trading resumes. Also, ensure your region is not restricted—some jurisdictions have limited access to futures trading, which may cause orders to appear stuck in a “pending” state without error messages.

  Frequently Asked Questions

  Why does my limit order show “open” but never fills even when price hits my level?
  
  This can happen if the market only briefly touches your price without sufficient volume to match your order size. Also, Coinbase uses last-traded price, not mark price—your limit might be based on the wrong reference. Always compare your limit to the actual bid/ask spread in the order book.

  Can I cancel a partially filled futures order on Coinbase?
  
  Yes. Go to the “Orders” tab, locate the open portion of your order, and click “Cancel.” The filled part remains executed; only the unfilled portion is canceled. This is useful if market conditions have changed and you no longer want the remaining quantity.

  Does using a stop-limit order increase the chance of not filling?
  
  Yes. A stop-limit order requires two conditions: the stop price must trigger the order, and then the limit price must be met. If the market gaps past your stop price without hitting your limit, the order will not fill. This is common during news events or low liquidity.

  How do I know if my order was rejected due to margin issues?
  
  Coinbase Futures typically displays an error message like “Insufficient Margin” in the order history or notifications. If no message appears, check your account balance and open positions—sometimes margin calls or liquidations prevent new orders from being accepted even if funds seem available.