How to use Kraken Pro for limit orders? (Reducing trading fees)

Understanding Kraken Pro Interface Layout

1. Kraken Pro presents a clean, multi-panel interface with order book, trade history, and charting tools visible simultaneously.

2. The order entry section is located at the bottom left, featuring fields for price, size, and order type selection.
3. Users must toggle between “Buy” and “Sell” tabs before entering any parameters to ensure correct directional execution.
4. Order type dropdown defaults to “Market”, but selecting “Limit” activates additional controls including time-in-force options like GTC or IOC.
5. Real-time fee estimates appear dynamically as values are entered, showing both maker and taker rates based on account tier.

Placing a Limit Order Correctly

1. Input the desired asset pair, such as BTC/USD, using the symbol search bar above the order form.

2. Enter the exact price at which you wish to buy or sell—this must be outside the current best bid or ask to qualify as a maker order.
3. Specify the quantity in base currency (e.g., BTC) or quote currency (e.g., USD), depending on the selected unit toggle.
4. Choose “Good Til Cancelled” if intending long-term exposure; avoid “Immediate Or Cancel” unless targeting rapid partial fills.
5. Click “Buy” or “Sell” only after verifying all fields—no confirmation modal appears post-submission.

Fee Structure and Maker-Taker Dynamics

1. Kraken assigns fee tiers based on 30-day trading volume denominated in USD, ranging from 0.16% taker down to 0.00% for top-tier institutional accounts.

2. Limit orders that add liquidity—i.e., rest on the order book without immediate execution—are classified as maker orders and incur lower fees, sometimes zero.
3. Market orders and limit orders that match instantly against existing resting orders are labeled taker orders and attract higher rates.
4. Fee discounts apply automatically when using KRAKEN tokens for payment, reducing standard charges by up to 25% depending on balance held.
5. Volume thresholds reset daily at 00:00 UTC, so consistent activity across calendar days sustains elevated tier status.

Monitoring and Managing Active Orders

1. Open orders appear in the “Open Orders” tab below the chart, displaying price, size, remaining amount, and age.

2. Right-clicking an active limit order reveals options to edit price/size or cancel outright—no batch cancellation feature exists.
3. Partially filled orders remain visible until fully executed or manually canceled, with updated remaining size reflected instantly.
4. The “Order History” tab logs all past executions, including timestamps, fees deducted, and whether each was categorized as maker or taker.
5. Sorting columns by “Type” or “Fee” helps identify patterns in cost efficiency over multiple sessions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I place a limit order below the current bid without it executing immediately?A: Yes—if placing a buy limit order below the best ask or a sell limit order above the best bid, it will rest on the book as a maker order provided no matching counterparty exists at that level.

Q: Does Kraken Pro display real-time fee impact before order submission?A: Yes—the interface shows estimated fee amounts in both base and quote currencies beneath the order form, updated live as price and size fields change.

Q: What happens to my limit order during a flash crash?A: Orders remain active unless triggered manually or matched automatically; Kraken does not auto-cancel due to volatility unless configured with stop-limit logic, which requires separate setup.

Q: Is there a minimum order size for limit trades on Kraken Pro?A: Minimums vary per asset pair—for example, BTC/USD requires 0.0001 BTC while XRP/USD mandates 10 XRP—but these thresholds are enforced server-side and prevent submission if violated.