How to use limit orders on Gate.io futures?

Gate.io futures limit orders let you set exact entry/exit prices, giving control in volatile markets—ideal for strategic trading with tools like post-only and reduce-only options.

Jul 28, 2025 at 02:01 pm

Understanding Limit Orders in Gate.io Futures

A limit order on Gate.io futures allows traders to set a specific price at which they want to enter or exit a position. Unlike market orders, which execute immediately at the best available price, limit orders only fill when the market reaches the predefined price. This gives traders more control over entry and exit points, especially in volatile crypto markets. For example, if you want to open a long position in BTC/USDT futures at $60,000 but the current price is $61,000, you can place a limit order at $60,000 to wait for the price to drop to your desired level.

How to Access the Futures Trading Interface

To begin using limit orders, log in to your Gate.io account and navigate to the futures trading section. Click on “Futures” in the top menu, then select the contract you want to trade—such as BTC/USDT perpetual or a quarterly futures contract. Make sure you are in the correct trading mode (cross or isolated margin) and that you have sufficient margin balance. The trading interface displays order books, charts, and an order entry panel where you’ll input your limit order details.

Placing a Limit Order Step-by-Step

• Select “Limit” as the order type from the dropdown menu in the order panel
• Enter the exact price at which you want your order to execute (e.g., $59,500)
• Input the quantity of the contract you wish to buy or sell
• Choose your leverage (this does not affect the limit order execution but determines your margin usage)
• Click “Buy/Long” or “Sell/Short” depending on your strategy
• Confirm the order details in the pop-up window before submitting
  

  Once submitted, your order will appear in the "Open Orders" section and remain there until the market price reaches your specified level or you cancel it manually.

  Monitoring and Managing Active Limit Orders

  
  After placing a limit order, you can track it under the “Open Orders” tab on the futures trading interface. Here, you’ll see details like order price, size, filled amount, and time of placement. If the market moves away from your limit price, the order will stay pending. You can cancel it anytime by clicking the “Cancel” button next to the order. Partial fills are possible—if only part of your order executes, the remaining quantity stays active until fully filled or canceled.
  

  Using Advanced Options with Limit Orders

  
  Gate.io offers advanced settings like post-only and reduce-only when placing limit orders.
• Post-only: Ensures your order will only be placed as a maker (not taker), so it won’t execute immediately if it would match an existing order—it avoids paying taker fees
• Reduce-only: Restricts the order to only reduce an existing position; it won’t open a new one or increase your current position size
  These options are useful for risk management and fee optimization. To enable them, check the corresponding boxes in the order panel before submitting.
  

  Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Limit Orders

• Setting a price too far from the current market level, leading to the order never being filled
• Forgetting to adjust leverage before placing the order, which can affect your margin requirements
• Not checking the order book depth to see if there’s enough liquidity at your chosen price level
• Leaving an order active indefinitely without monitoring—especially during low-volume periods
  

  Always double-check your inputs and consider the market context before submitting a limit order.

  Frequently Asked Questions

  Can I modify a limit order after placing it on Gate.io futures?
  
  No, you cannot edit an existing limit order. You must cancel it first and then place a new one with updated parameters such as price or quantity.

  What happens if my limit order is partially filled?
  
  The filled portion becomes a live position, and the unfilled portion remains in the order book. You can cancel the remaining amount or let it continue to wait for execution.

  Do limit orders on Gate.io futures incur fees?
  
  Yes, but only if they execute as maker orders—they typically receive a maker fee discount. If a limit order matches instantly with an existing order (acting as a taker), it incurs the standard taker fee.

  Why didn’t my limit order fill even though the price touched my level?
  
  This can happen due to slippage in fast-moving markets or insufficient liquidity at that exact price. Also, the last traded price may briefly hit your level without enough volume to fill your entire order size.