Why does my MetaMask say "Insufficient funds for gas"?

Understanding the 'Insufficient Funds for Gas' Error in MetaMask

1. The 'Insufficient funds for gas' message in MetaMask appears when your wallet doesn't contain enough cryptocurrency to cover the network fee required to process a transaction. This fee, commonly referred to as “gas,” is paid to miners or validators on blockchain networks like Ethereum to execute smart contracts or transfer tokens.

2. Even if you're attempting to send a small amount of a token such as USDT or DAI, you still need native currency—typically ETH on Ethereum or BNB on Binance Smart Chain—to pay for gas. Without this base asset, the network cannot validate your transaction, regardless of how much of the token you hold.

3. Users often misunderstand this requirement, believing their token balance alone is sufficient. However, blockchain protocols require computational work to be compensated, and that compensation must come in the form of the chain’s native coin.

4. Another factor contributing to this error is fluctuating gas prices. During periods of high network congestion, gas fees can spike dramatically. A wallet that previously had enough ETH for gas might suddenly fall short if prices increase between transactions.

5. Wallet interfaces like MetaMask estimate gas costs before confirming a transaction, but these estimates are not always precise. If the actual cost exceeds the available balance—even by a small margin—the transaction will fail with this error message.

Common Scenarios Leading to Gas Failures

1. A user holds only ERC-20 tokens on Ethereum but has zero ETH in their wallet. When they attempt to swap or transfer these tokens, MetaMask prompts the gas error because no ETH exists to pay miners.

2. On testnets, developers sometimes forget to claim test ETH from faucets after clearing browser data. Despite having tokens deployed via scripts, the absence of testnet gas currency blocks all interactions.

3. Cross-chain transfers using bridges may require gas on both the source and destination chains. For example, moving assets from Ethereum to Polygon via a third-party bridge could demand MATIC on Polygon to finalize receipt, leading to confusion if users assume one-time payment suffices.

4. Some decentralized applications trigger multiple contract calls in a single action, such as approving and then swapping tokens. Each step consumes gas, effectively doubling the expected cost. If the user miscalculates total expenditure, insufficient funds occur even with partial ETH balance.

5. Wallets imported across devices may show correct token balances but lack visibility into native coin holdings due to incorrect network settings. This misconfiguration gives a false impression of available funds.

How to Resolve the Issue

1. Ensure your wallet contains an adequate amount of the native cryptocurrency for the network you’re using. For Ethereum, acquire ETH; for BSC, obtain BNB; for Polygon, secure MATIC—even if you’re only transacting with other tokens.

2. Switch to the correct network within MetaMask. If you're trying to send BEP-20 USDT on Binance Smart Chain but remain on the Ethereum network, gas will be quoted in ETH instead of BNB, causing mismatches in fund availability.

3. Adjust gas fees manually during low-traffic periods. In MetaMask, expand the fee section before confirming a transaction and select “Low” under gas price suggestions. This reduces the total ETH needed, making it feasible with limited balances.

4. Use layer-2 solutions or alternative chains where gas costs are significantly lower. Networks like Arbitrum, Optimism, or zkSync offer cheaper transactions while maintaining compatibility with most dApps.

5. Verify token standards and network alignment. Sending ERC-20 tokens requires Ethereum gas, whereas TRC-20 tokens on Tron do not use MetaMask in the same way and have separate fee structures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can’t I send my tokens even though I have more than the amount needed?Token balances don’t cover transaction fees. You need the blockchain’s native coin—like ETH—for gas. Holding only tokens isn’t enough to initiate any on-chain activity.

Can I use another token to pay for gas?No, gas fees must be paid in the native cryptocurrency of the respective blockchain. On Ethereum, only ETH can be used for gas. There are no exceptions at the protocol level, even if the dApp offers utility tokens.

Does transferring tokens cost more gas than sending native coins?Yes, typically. Token transfers involve interacting with smart contracts, which require more computational steps than simple native coin transfers. This complexity increases gas consumption.

What happens to my tokens if a transaction fails due to insufficient gas?The tokens remain in your wallet. Failed transactions consume gas for processing but do not deduct the intended transfer amount. Only the gas fee is lost, provided it was partially executed before running out.