What are the maker and taker fees for Coinbase perpetuals?

Understanding Maker and Taker Fees on Coinbase Perpetuals

Coinbase offers perpetual futures trading through its Coinbase Advanced platform, allowing users to trade leveraged positions on various cryptocurrencies. When engaging in perpetual trading, users are charged fees based on their role in the market: either as a maker or a taker. These fees are critical to understand because they directly impact trading profitability and execution strategy.

The maker fee applies when a trader places a limit order that does not immediately execute, thereby adding liquidity to the order book. In contrast, the taker fee is incurred when an order matches an existing one in the book, removing liquidity. On Coinbase, these fees are structured to incentivize users to provide liquidity by offering lower or even negative maker fees in certain cases.

Currently, Coinbase applies a tiered fee structure based on 30-day trading volume and asset holdings (measured in USD equivalent). The exact rates vary depending on the user’s tier, which ranges from Tier 0 (new traders) to higher tiers for institutional or high-volume traders. For most retail users, the standard maker fee starts at 0.02%, while the taker fee starts at 0.07%.

It is essential to note that these fees can go below zero for high-volume traders. In some cases, maker rebates are offered, meaning Coinbase pays traders a small amount to provide liquidity. This is particularly common in less liquid markets where exchanges want to encourage order book depth.

How to Check Your Current Fee Tier on Coinbase

To view your current fee structure for perpetuals on Coinbase, you must access the fee schedule within your account settings. This process requires logging into your Coinbase Advanced account and navigating to the correct section.

• Log in to your Coinbase Advanced account at pro.coinbase.com
• Click on your profile icon in the top-right corner
• Select 'Fees' from the dropdown menu
• Navigate to the 'Derivatives' tab
• Review the 'Perpetuals' section, which displays your current tier and associated maker and taker fees

The displayed table will show both maker and taker rates for each trading pair. It will also indicate whether you are receiving a rebate (negative fee) or paying a standard fee. Your tier is determined by your 30-day trading volume and holdings of qualifying assets, such as USDC or BTC.

Users should recheck this page periodically, especially after increasing trading activity, as moving up a tier can significantly reduce costs. For example, reaching Tier 3 or higher may reduce the taker fee to 0.05% or lower and the maker fee to -0.01%, effectively earning a rebate.

Fee Calculation Examples for Perpetual Trades

Understanding how fees are applied in real trading scenarios helps traders forecast costs accurately. Suppose a trader opens a $10,000 long position on BTC-USD perpetual using a market order.

• Since a market order executes immediately, it is classified as a taker
• Assuming the user is in Tier 1 with a taker fee of 0.07%
• The fee amount is calculated as: $10,000 × 0.0007 = $7.00
• This $7.00 is deducted from the trader’s margin balance at execution

Now, consider a scenario where the same trader places a limit order to sell at a price above the current market rate, which does not fill immediately.

• This limit order acts as a maker, adding liquidity
• With a maker fee of 0.02%, the cost would be $10,000 × 0.0002 = $2.00
• However, if the user is in a higher tier with a -0.01% maker rebate, Coinbase would credit $1.00 to their account upon execution

These examples highlight how order type and fee tier directly influence net costs. Traders aiming to minimize expenses often use limit orders strategically to benefit from lower or negative maker fees.

Strategies to Reduce Fees on Coinbase Perpetuals

Reducing trading fees on Coinbase perpetuals involves a combination of volume building, order type selection, and asset holding.

• Use limit orders consistently to qualify for maker fees instead of taker fees
• Increase 30-day trading volume to progress through fee tiers; higher volume leads to lower rates
• Hold qualifying assets such as USDC, BTC, or ETH in your Coinbase account to meet tier requirements
• Monitor the fee schedule page regularly to confirm tier upgrades
• Avoid frequent market orders unless speed is essential, as they incur higher taker fees

Some traders also use fee optimization bots that automatically place resting limit orders slightly off the current price to capture maker rebates while still achieving execution. These strategies are particularly effective in high-frequency or scalping approaches.

Supported Cryptocurrencies and Fee Variations

While most perpetual contracts on Coinbase follow the standard fee structure, fee rates may vary slightly depending on the specific trading pair. Major pairs like BTC-USD and ETH-USD typically have the most competitive rates due to high liquidity.

Less popular pairs, such as ADA-USD or SOL-USD, may have identical base fees but could be subject to different funding rates or spread conditions that indirectly affect cost efficiency. However, the maker and taker fee percentages remain consistent across all perpetuals within the same user tier.

All perpetuals are quoted and settled in USDC, and fees are deducted in USDC from your derivatives wallet. Ensure you maintain sufficient USDC balance in your derivatives account to cover potential fees and avoid liquidation risks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I be both a maker and a taker in the same trade?No, each order is classified entirely as either a maker or a taker based on whether it immediately matches with an existing order. Partial fills can occur, but the entire order still falls under one category.

Are there separate fees for opening and closing a position?Yes, both opening and closing actions are subject to maker or taker fees independently. If you open with a market order (taker) and close with a limit order (maker), you pay the taker fee on entry and the maker fee on exit.

Do referral programs affect perpetual trading fees?No, Coinbase does not currently offer referral-based fee reductions for perpetual trading. Fee tiers are determined solely by trading volume and asset holdings.

Is there a minimum trade size for perpetuals on Coinbase?Yes, each perpetual contract has a minimum order size. For example, BTC-USD requires a minimum of 0.001 BTC per order. This information is available in the trading pair’s contract specifications on the platform.