Why the fee peaks near 50c
Because the formula multiplies price by one minus price, a trade near 50c produces a larger fee than the same share count near 1c or 99c. Polymarket states the fee is symmetric around 50% probability.
Fee research
Polymarket fees: formula, category rates, and examples
Last checked July 15, 2026. Polymarket documents category-based taker fees on certain markets. Makers are not charged fees in the published schedule. The fee formula is shares traded multiplied by fee rate multiplied by price multiplied by one minus price.
Quick answer
Polymarket's documented fee formula is C x feeRate x p x (1 - p). Makers are listed at 0. Taker fee rates vary by category, with geopolitics listed at 0 in the current documentation.
Polymarket Fees
Last updated 2026-07-16
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Polymarket Fees comparison table
Use the table as a research summary, then follow the linked sources for time-sensitive details.
| Field | Current documented value | Source / note |
| Formula | fee = C x feeRate x p x (1 - p) | Polymarket fee documentation, checked July 15, 2026. |
| Who pays | Takers pay applicable fees; makers are listed at 0. | Applied at match time according to Polymarket documentation. |
| Crypto | Taker fee rate 0.07; maker fee rate 0; maker rebate 20%. | Category table in Polymarket fee documentation. |
| Sports | Taker fee rate 0.05; maker fee rate 0; maker rebate 15%. | Category table in Polymarket fee documentation. |
| Finance / Politics / Tech / Mentions | Taker fee rate 0.04; maker fee rate 0; maker rebate 25%. | Category table in Polymarket fee documentation. |
| Economics / Culture / Weather / Other | Taker fee rate 0.05; maker fee rate 0; maker rebate 25%. | Category table in Polymarket fee documentation. |
| Geopolitics | Taker fee rate 0; maker fee rate 0. | Listed fee-free in Polymarket documentation. |
| Example: $10 notional at 50c, crypto | 20 shares x 0.07 x 0.5 x 0.5 = 0.35 USDC. | Illustrative calculation from documented formula. |
| Example: $100 notional at 50c, crypto | 200 shares x 0.07 x 0.5 x 0.5 = 3.50 USDC. | Illustrative calculation from documented formula. |
| Example: $1,000 notional at 50c, crypto | 2,000 shares x 0.07 x 0.5 x 0.5 = 35.00 USDC. | Illustrative calculation from documented formula. |
| Non-fee cost | Bid/ask spread, depth, funding flow, and resolution risk can still matter. | ForecastIndex practical-cost note. |
Maker vs taker treatment
The published Polymarket fee table lists maker fee rates at 0. Taker fees are calculated at match time, and Polymarket says users do not include fee information inside orders.
Practical cost is broader than the formula
The formula does not capture spread, available depth, funding friction, withdrawal flow, or the cost of misunderstanding market resolution criteria.
Update rule
ForecastIndex should update this page when Polymarket changes the fee table, adds fee-bearing categories, changes maker rebates, or changes how fees are exposed through market metadata.
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What is the Polymarket fee formula?
The documented formula is fee = C x feeRate x p x (1 - p), where C is shares traded and p is the share price.
Do Polymarket makers pay fees?
The current Polymarket fee table lists maker fee rates at 0.
Do all Polymarket markets have fees?
No. Polymarket documents different fee parameters by category and lists geopolitics at 0.
Are spreads part of fees?
No, but spread and liquidity affect the practical cost of entering or exiting a position.
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