How to reduce trading fees on KuCoin Futures?

KuCoin Futures offers lower fees for makers using limit orders, with extra discounts via KCS holdings, high trading volume, and referral links—optimize all four to minimize costs.

Jul 29, 2025 at 08:01 am

Understanding KuCoin Futures Fee Structure

KuCoin Futures operates on a maker-taker fee model, which means fees differ depending on whether you add liquidity (maker) or remove liquidity (taker). Makers typically pay lower fees or even receive rebates, while takers incur higher charges. To reduce fees, it's critical to understand that maker orders are limit orders that don’t execute immediately, sitting in the order book until matched. Taker orders, like market orders, execute instantly against existing orders. By prioritizing limit orders over market orders, you automatically shift into the lower fee bracket. KuCoin also offers fee discounts based on 30-day trading volume and KCS (KuCoin Shares) holdings, which directly reduce both maker and taker fees.

How Holding KCS Lowers Your Fees

KuCoin allows users to pay trading fees using KCS tokens, which provides an automatic 20% discount on all futures fees. This applies to both maker and taker fees. To activate this:

• Ensure KCS is available in your main account
• Go to “Futures” > “Account” > “Fee Settings”
• Toggle “Use KCS to Pay Fees” to ON
  If KCS balance is insufficient, the system will automatically convert other assets to cover the fee, but you’ll lose the discount. For maximum savings, maintain a minimum KCS balance proportional to your expected monthly trading volume. For example, if your monthly fees are $100, hold at least $20 worth of KCS to cover the 20% discount portion. This small step can compound into significant savings over time.
  

  Leveraging Tiered Fee Discounts via Trading Volume

  
  KuCoin calculates your 30-day rolling futures trading volume to assign you a fee tier. Higher volume = lower fees. You don’t need to apply—this happens automatically. To benefit:
• Monitor your volume in “Futures” > “Account” > “Fee Tier”
• Stay in higher tiers by maintaining consistent trading activity
• Avoid spreading volume across multiple accounts—consolidate trades
  For instance, users with $10M+ in 30-day volume pay 0.01% maker fee and 0.03% taker fee, compared to 0.02% and 0.05% for the base tier. Even if you’re not a high-volume trader, batching trades or focusing on fewer contracts can help you reach a better tier faster. The key is consistent volume within a single 30-day window.
  

  Using Referral Links for Additional Fee Benefits

  
  KuCoin offers a referral program where both referrer and referee receive fee discounts. If you’re new to KuCoin Futures, use a referral link from a trusted source—this can unlock an extra 10–20% off taker fees permanently. To set this up:
• Register using a referral link before depositing funds
• Confirm your referral status in “Referral Center”
• Ensure the referee (you) meets minimum trading volume (usually $1,000/month)
  Existing users who missed this step can’t retroactively apply it, so act early. Some third-party communities also offer exclusive referral codes with added perks like monthly KCS airdrops or bonus fee credits. Always verify the legitimacy of the referral source to avoid scams.
  

  Optimizing Order Types to Maximize Rebates

  
  To reduce fees, focus on becoming a maker as often as possible. This means:
• Placing limit orders at non-market prices
• Avoiding immediate execution by setting prices slightly away from current market
• Using post-only orders (available in advanced trading mode) to guarantee maker status
  If your limit order gets filled instantly, it becomes a taker order and incurs higher fees. Post-only orders prevent this by canceling the order if it would execute immediately. In KuCoin’s trading interface:
• Enable “Post Only” toggle before placing a limit order
• Set price 0.5–1% below/above market to avoid slippage while staying in order book
  This strategy is especially effective in low-volatility markets where orders are more likely to sit in the book. Over time, consistently using post-only limit orders can reduce your effective fee rate to 0.00% or even negative (rebate).
  

  Frequently Asked Questions

  Can I reduce fees if I’m a low-volume trader?
  
  Yes. Even with minimal volume, you can still benefit by holding KCS and using it to pay fees (20% discount), placing only limit orders (maker fees), and signing up via a referral link (extra 10–20% off taker fees). These steps don’t require high volume.

  What happens if I run out of KCS while paying fees?
  
  If your KCS balance is insufficient, KuCoin will automatically convert other assets (like USDT or BTC) to cover the fee—but you’ll lose the 20% discount. Always maintain a small buffer of KCS to avoid this.

  Do I need to manually switch to a lower fee tier after increasing volume?
  
  No. KuCoin updates your fee tier automatically based on your 30-day rolling volume. Just keep trading—the system applies the correct rate instantly.

  Is it better to trade one contract type or spread volume across multiple?
  
  Stick to one or two contracts. Spreading volume dilutes your 30-day total per contract, making it harder to reach higher fee tiers. Concentrating trades boosts your tier faster.