Maker vs taker fees (perps)
Perp exchanges typically charge maker fees (for adding liquidity) and taker fees (for removing liquidity). Your effective cost depends on order type, execution, and VIP tiers.
- If you frequently market-buy/market-sell, taker fees matter most.
- If you place resting limit orders, maker fees (and maker rebates on some venues) matter.
- Fees are separate from funding. You can pay low fees and still lose to bad funding (and vice versa).
How to reduce fees (realistic tactics)
- Use limit orders where appropriate (but don’t force maker fills in fast markets).
- Consolidate volume to reach better fee tiers if you trade frequently.
- Choose venues with lower baseline fees for your style—especially if you’re a taker.
- Use a referral link when opening a new account (often improves fee rates).
See PerpHQ’s fees overview: /fees.