Tools / Fee Calculator
Fee Calculator
Kalshi charges a formula fee on every taker trade. Polymarket's standard markets are free. This is the Polymarket vs Kalshi fee calculator: same contracts, same price, real fee schedules — and the all-in price that actually decides which platform is cheaper.
Kalshiformula fee
Polymarket0% standard markets
How much are Kalshi's fees?
Kalshi's trading fee is a formula, not a flat rate — it scales with how uncertain the contract is. Polymarket charges no trading fee on standard markets. Both schedules as of August 2026 (see FAQ for what can change).
Kalshi trading fees
Charged on taker orders (the side that crosses the spread): 0.07 × contracts × P × (1 − P), rounded up to the next cent. Resting maker orders pay a quarter of the taker rate on eligible markets. There is no settlement fee.
Does Polymarket charge fees?
Not on standard binary markets — no maker fee, no taker fee; the price you see is what you pay and settlement is free. Real costs that do exist: the bid–ask spread, USDC network costs on deposit/withdrawal, and taker rates on a few product categories (hence the adjustable field above).
Why Kalshi fees peak at 50¢
The fee tracks P × (1 − P) — largest when the outcome is a coin flip, near zero when it's practically decided. Fee per 100 contracts, taker:
Kalshi fees vs Polymarket fees — quick reference
Taker fee per 100 contracts at each price. Polymarket standard markets are $0.00 at every price.
| Price | Kalshi taker | Kalshi maker | Polymarket | Kalshi effective price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5¢ | $0.34 | $0.09 | $0.00 | 5.3¢ |
| 10¢ | $0.63 | $0.16 | $0.00 | 10.6¢ |
| 25¢ | $1.32 | $0.33 | $0.00 | 26.3¢ |
| 40¢ | $1.68 | $0.42 | $0.00 | 41.7¢ |
| 50¢ | $1.75 | $0.44 | $0.00 | 51.8¢ |
| 60¢ | $1.68 | $0.42 | $0.00 | 61.7¢ |
| 75¢ | $1.32 | $0.33 | $0.00 | 76.3¢ |
| 90¢ | $0.63 | $0.16 | $0.00 | 90.6¢ |
| 95¢ | $0.34 | $0.09 | $0.00 | 95.3¢ |
Questions people ask
How are Kalshi trading fees calculated?+–
Taker trades pay 0.07 × contracts × P × (1 − P), rounded up to the next cent — about $1.75 per 100 contracts at 50¢, and far less near the extremes. Type any trade into the calculator above to see the exact number.
What is Kalshi's taker fee vs maker fee?+–
The taker (crossing the spread) pays the full formula fee. A resting maker order pays a quarter of that on eligible markets — $0.44 instead of $1.75 on 100 contracts at 50¢. Patience is literally priced in.
Does Polymarket charge trading fees?+–
Not on standard binary markets — no maker fee, no taker fee, free settlement. Your real costs are the bid–ask spread, USDC network costs on deposits/withdrawals, and taker rates on a few specific product categories.
Polymarket vs Kalshi: which has lower fees?+–
On sticker price alone you can't tell. A 1–2¢ better quote on Kalshi can be erased by the taker fee near 50¢, while deep favorites and longshots trade nearly fee-free on both. Compare the effective, fee-inclusive price — the calculator above does exactly that.
Do Kalshi fees differ by market?+–
A few series carry their own multipliers, and maker-fee eligibility varies by market. The general formula above covers standard event contracts; Kalshi's published fee schedule is authoritative for the exceptions.
Are these numbers guaranteed?+–
No — fee schedules change. Figures here reflect the published schedules as of August 2026. This page is a comparison tool, not financial advice.
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