On Binance's fee page, you've probably seen the terms Maker and Taker. Many beginners don't understand the difference and don't pay attention to which rate they're being charged. But understanding these concepts and intentionally choosing your order type can save you a significant amount in trading costs.
Log in through the Binance website to check your current fee tier, or download the Binance App for more flexibility when placing orders.
A Simple Analogy
Imagine a farmers' market. Some vendors have already set up their stalls with produce and price tags, waiting for buyers — they are the Makers, "making" the supply available.
Some shoppers walk in, see a fair price, and buy immediately — they are the Takers, "taking" the existing supply.
On Binance:
- Maker (order placer): You place a limit order at a price that doesn't have a matching counterpart on the order book, so your order sits there waiting to be filled. You're adding liquidity to the market.
- Taker (order taker): You place a market order, or your limit order's price matches an existing order on the book and fills immediately. You're removing liquidity from the market.
Fee Rate Differences
Using Binance VIP 0 (standard user) as an example:
| Spot | USDT-M Futures | Coin-M Futures | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maker | 0.1% | 0.02% | 0.01% |
| Taker | 0.1% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
For spot trading, VIP 0 Maker and Taker rates are the same. But for futures, the Maker rate is noticeably lower than the Taker rate. As your VIP level increases, the gap widens further.
At the highest VIP tiers, Makers can even enjoy negative fees — meaning Binance actually pays you a rebate when your limit order is filled.
When Are You a Maker
Typical Maker scenarios:
-
Limit buy below current price: BTC is at 65,000 USDT and you place a buy order at 64,000 USDT. This won't fill immediately — it sits on the order book waiting for the price to drop.
-
Limit sell above current price: BTC is at 65,000 and you place a sell order at 66,000. Same idea — it won't fill right away.
-
Post-Only orders: Binance offers a Post-Only option. These orders will only execute as Maker — if they would fill immediately, the system cancels them instead.
When Are You a Taker
Typical Taker scenarios:
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Market orders: No price specified, fills at the current best price. Always Taker — 100% of the time.
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Limit buy at or above the best ask: If the lowest ask is 65,000 and you place a buy at 65,000 or higher, it fills immediately.
-
Limit sell at or below the best bid: Same principle in reverse.
How to Use This Knowledge to Save Money
Spot Trading
For VIP 0 users, spot Maker and Taker rates are identical (both 0.1%), so order type makes no fee difference. But starting at VIP 1 and above, Maker rates become lower than Taker rates.
Futures Trading
In futures, the Maker/Taker fee gap exists from VIP 0:
- Taker: 0.05%
- Maker: 0.02%
That's a 0.03 percentage point difference. Sounds tiny, but futures involve leverage, which amplifies the actual trade value.
Example: You open a 10,000 USDT position with 10x leverage, meaning the actual trade value is 100,000 USDT.
- Taker fee: 100,000 × 0.05% = 50 USDT
- Maker fee: 100,000 × 0.02% = 20 USDT
- Difference: 30 USDT
That's 30 USDT on a single trade. If you open several positions per day, the monthly difference is substantial.
Practical Tips
Use limit orders when you're not in a rush: If you don't need immediate execution (e.g., you expect BTC to pull back to a certain level), place a limit order at your target price. You'll get Maker rates and your preferred entry price.
Use Post-Only to guarantee Maker rates: In Binance's advanced order interface, there's a "Post-Only" option (sometimes labeled "Maker Only"). When selected, if your limit order would fill immediately (becoming a Taker), the system cancels it — ensuring you always trade as a Maker.
Use market orders when it's urgent: If the market is moving fast and you need to enter or exit quickly, don't worry about Maker vs Taker — getting filled is what matters most. Saving on fees is great, but not at the cost of missing optimal entry or exit points.
Impact on Slippage
Beyond fees, order type also affects execution price:
Maker (limit order): You specify the price, so you fill at exactly that price. Zero slippage.
Taker (market order): On liquid pairs like BTC/USDT, slippage is usually negligible. But on low-liquidity altcoin pairs, market orders can fill at prices far from what you expected.
When trading illiquid assets, limit orders not only give you lower fees but also protect you from unfavorable slippage.
A Common Misconception
Some people think using a limit order automatically makes you a Maker. That's not true.
If your limit order's price matches existing orders on the book, it fills immediately — and you're a Taker. You're only a Maker when your limit order sits on the order book waiting to be matched.
The only way to guarantee Maker status every time is to use the Post-Only option.
Summary
The core difference between Maker and Taker is whether you're adding liquidity to the market or removing it. Once you understand this, you can consciously use limit orders (Maker) when there's no urgency — especially in futures trading, where it significantly reduces costs. But when speed matters, don't let fee optimization hold you back from executing at the right moment.