How does choosing between a taker and a maker affect your profit in crypto trading

When entering the cryptocurrency market, you face one of the most important choices — how to execute your orders. This decision affects not only the speed of entering a position but also the amount of fees you pay and ultimately your profit size. Taker and maker are two fundamentally different trading approaches, each with its advantages and disadvantages.

Two Market Interaction Strategies: Urgency vs. Patience

The difference between a taker and a maker is based on a simple idea: some traders are in a hurry, while others are willing to wait.

What is a taker? A trader who doesn’t want to wait. When you place a market order or a limit order that immediately matches existing orders in the order book, you act as a taker. You “take” liquidity provided by other market participants. In exchange for this immediacy, you pay a higher fee — a fee for convenience and speed. For traders chasing opportunities and wanting to lock in prices quickly, the taker is the right choice despite the extra costs.

What is a maker? A patient trader. By placing a limit order at a price that hasn’t been reached yet, you create new liquidity in the order book. You wait for another participant (a taker) to come and “take” your liquidity. As a contribution to market stability, you receive a benefit — a reduced fee. For long-term traders and strategic players, the maker often turns out to be a more profitable option.

Why does a taker pay more than a maker? Market Economics

At first glance, it may seem strange that exchanges penalize takers and reward makers. In reality, this is a carefully designed system that serves the interests of the entire market.

A taker pays a higher fee because they extract liquidity that already exists in the market. When many traders only use taker orders, market liquidity quickly depletes, spreads (the difference between buy and sell prices) widen, and the market becomes less healthy. The taker fee is the price paid for the convenience of immediate execution.

Meanwhile, makers are rewarded with a lower fee for enriching the market with their liquidity. Every maker’s limit order added to the order book makes the market more efficient, improves spreads, and attracts other traders. Exchanges incentivize makers through lower fees because they understand that a healthy depth of the order book is the foundation of a thriving trading platform.

Concrete Numbers: Fee Structures in Practice

Let’s look at real figures. On major platforms, taker fees typically range around 0.055–0.06%, while maker fees are only about 0.02%. This difference may seem small in percentage terms, but when trading large sums or at high frequency, it results in significant costs.

The standard structure looks like this:

Maker orders: 0.02% fee — for traders who provide liquidity via limit orders not yet executed at the time of placement.

Taker orders: 0.055–0.06% fee — for traders who immediately match existing orders in the order book.

These rates apply, for example, to perpetual contracts and futures. Spot trading and other instruments may have their own fee schedules.

From Theory to Practice: Comparing Two Traders

Imagine two traders using the same trading scenario on a BTCUSDT perpetual contract:

• Volume: 2 BTC
• Entry: $60,000 per BTC
• Exit: $61,000 per BTC
• Position: Long (buy)

Maker trader:

Enters via a limit order below the current ask price and patiently waits for execution.

• Opening fee: 2 × 60,000 × 0.02% = $12
• Closing fee: 2 × 61,000 × 0.02% = $12.40
• Profit before fees: 2 × (61,000 − 60,000) = $2,000
• Net profit: $2,000 − $12 − $12.40 = $1,975.60

Taker trader:

Enters via a market order or a limit order at the current price for immediate execution.

• Opening fee: 2 × 60,000 × 0.06% = $72
• Closing fee: 2 × 61,000 × 0.06% = $73.20
• Profit before fees: $2,000
• Net profit: $2,000 − $72 − $73.20 = $1,854.80

What does this difference show? The first trader’s net profit is $1,975.60, while the second’s is $1,854.80. The difference exceeds $120, or about 6.5% of the initial profit. These aren’t just numbers — they represent real income lost solely due to the choice of order type.

When Does a Taker Make Sense Despite Higher Fees?

A maker isn’t always the best choice. There are situations where the higher taker fee is justified:

Urgency takes precedence. When you see a fleeting opportunity that could close in seconds, waiting might cost you more than the fee. Markets move fast, and sometimes it’s better to close a position with a profit immediately rather than wait for the perfect price.

Sharp market movements. During volatility, when prices change rapidly, a taker order protects you from slippage. A maker limit order might not fill at all if the price quickly passes your level.

Small positions. If you’re trading small volumes, the difference in fees between taker and maker becomes less critical in absolute terms.

How to Maximize Benefits from Maker Orders

If you want to pay lower fees and participate in market formation, here’s what to do:

Use limit orders strategically. Place them at relevant but not yet reached prices. For buying (long) — set the price below the best bid. For selling (short) — above the best ask.

Enable Post-Only mode. This option ensures your order remains a maker order and doesn’t accidentally execute as a taker. If your order matches existing liquidity, it will be canceled rather than filled.

Plan ahead. Maker orders require foresight. If you know you want to enter a position in an hour, set a maker order at a forecasted price and focus on other tasks. Market makers often earn not by speed but by predicting movements.

Balance patience and action. Some traders use a combined approach: open the main position with maker orders (saving on fees), and make additional adjustments with taker orders (when urgency is needed).

Summary: Using Taker and Maker as Risk and Cost Management Tools

Understanding the difference between a taker and a maker isn’t just theoretical — it’s a practical tool for optimizing your trading. Every time you place an order, you choose between speed and savings, between risking missing an opportunity and overpaying in fees.

Successful traders don’t stick to one approach. They understand when a taker’s urgency is justified and when a maker provides a competitive advantage through lower costs. If you learn to use both types of orders effectively, you gain not only knowledge but a real edge in the market.

Remember: a one-percent saving on fees in high-frequency trading can turn into thousands of dollars in difference by year’s end. Pay attention to these details, and your profits will thank you.