Taker and Maker in Trading: How Order Choice Affects Profit

2026-02-21 15:21:06

In cryptocurrency trading, two main types of orders determine not only execution speed but also the amount spent on fees. Understanding the difference between a taker order and a maker order is critically important for any trader looking to optimize their trading strategy. These two approaches reflect opposing philosophies of market interaction: one requires urgency, the other patience.

What is a Taker Order and Why Is It More Expensive

A taker order is an instant execution tool. When a trader places such an order, they “take” liquidity directly from the order book by matching existing maker offers. This immediacy comes at a cost—literally.

A trader using a taker order pays a higher fee for the privilege of instant entry or exit from a position. For perpetual contracts, this fee is 0.055%, whereas using an alternative approach results in a significantly lower fee. This structure incentivizes active speculators to decide: pay more for speed or seek more economical trading methods.

How Makers Enrich the Market and Save on Fees

A maker order operates on the opposite principle. Instead of grabbing existing offers, a maker adds a new order to the order book and waits for it to be matched with another participant’s order. This passive approach is rewarded by the market—by a much lower fee of 0.02%.

Makers play a key role in market health. Their orders narrow the spreads between buy and sell prices, improving liquidity for all participants. Instead of “taking” liquidity, they provide it. As a thank you for this service, platforms apply a reduced fee.

Comparison Table: Taker Order vs. Maker Order

Characteristic	Maker Order	Taker Order
Action principle	Added to the book before execution	Executed immediately
Market impact	Provides liquidity	Consumes liquidity
Fee	0.02%	0.055%
Order type	Limit only	Market or limit
Speed	Slower (depends on matching)	Faster (instant)

Note: Data provided for perpetual contracts and futures. Fee structures may differ for other trading products.

Real-World Calculation: How Choosing Taker or Maker Affects Profit

Let’s consider a specific scenario with a BTCUSDT perpetual contract:

Trade parameters:

Position size: 2 BTC
Entry price: $60,000 USDT
Exit price: $61,000 USDT
Profit before fees: 2 × (61,000 − 60,000) = $2,000 USDT

Scenario 1: Trader uses a maker order (lower fee)

Fee expenses:

Entry: 2 × 60,000 × 0.02% = $24 USDT
Exit: 2 × 61,000 × 0.02% = $24.40 USDT
Total fees: $48.40 USDT

Net result: $2,000 − $48.40 = $1,951.60 USDT

Scenario 2: Trader uses a taker order (higher fee)

Fee expenses:

Entry: 2 × 60,000 × 0.055% = $66 USDT
Exit: 2 × 61,000 × 0.055% = $67.10 USDT
Total fees: $133.10 USDT

Net result: $2,000 − $133.10 = $1,866.90 USDT

Conclusion from calculations: The difference of $84.70 USDT per trade may seem small, but over a year of active trading, it accumulates to significant amounts. A trader favoring maker orders retains about 4.3% more profit under identical market conditions.

How to Properly Place a Maker Order for Maximum Savings

If you decide to switch to a more economical approach using maker orders, follow these steps:

1. Choose a Limit Order
Market orders always execute as takers. For makers, you need to place a limit order where you set your desired price.

2. Enable Post-Only Mode
This setting ensures your order is not filled immediately and remains in the order book as a maker. If the market moves and your price matches an active offer, your order will be canceled instead of executing as a taker.

3. Set the Price Strategically

For buy (long) orders: set the price below the best available ask
For sell (short) orders: set the price above the best available bid

This approach increases the likelihood that the market will move toward your price, allowing you to execute as a maker and save on fees.

Key Takeaways

Choosing between a taker and a maker order is not just about speed; it’s about trading costs. A taker order is suitable when urgency is critical and you’re willing to pay for instant execution. Conversely, a maker order requires patience but rewards you with significantly lower fees.

Understanding this difference and strategically using both types of orders enables traders to build a more profitable long-term trading system. Remember: every penny saved on fees is additional profit in your pocket.

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