How to Use This Calculator
- 1
Enter Your Trade Amount
Input the total dollar value of the cryptocurrency you plan to buy or sell on Kraken.
- 2
Select Order Type
Choose Taker (0.26% - market orders that fill immediately) or Maker (0.16% - limit orders that add liquidity to the order book).
- 3
Review Your Results
See your Net Amount, fee charged, and Gross Trade Amount. The Trade Fee Insights panel compares maker vs taker costs and projects annual fees if you trade daily.
Example Calculation
A crypto trader executes a $1,000 market order (taker) on Kraken to buy Bitcoin.
Trade Amount
$1,000
Order Type
Taker (0.26%) - Market orders
Results
Net Amount
$997.40
Taker Fee
$2.60
Gross Trade Amount
$1,000.00
Tips
Use Limit Orders to Save on Fees
Maker orders (limit) cost 0.16% vs taker orders (market) at 0.26%. On a $1,000 trade, that's $1.60 vs $2.60 — a $1.00 savings per trade that compounds quickly for active traders.
Track Your Annual Fee Exposure
The Insights panel projects your annual fees if you trade daily. A $1,000 daily taker trade costs ~$949/year in fees. Switching to maker orders reduces that to ~$584/year.
Volume Tiers Can Lower Fees Further
Kraken Pro offers tiered discounts based on 30-day trading volume. At $50,000-$100,000 monthly volume, taker fees drop to 0.22% and maker fees to 0.12%. Check Kraken's fee schedule for current tiers.
The Kraken Fee Calculator estimates your trading fees on Kraken based on your trade amount and order type (maker or taker).
Kraken charges 0.26% for taker orders (market) and 0.16% for maker orders (limit).
On a $1,000 trade, the taker fee is $2.60 while the maker fee is just $1.60 — a $1.00 difference that adds up for active traders.
Kraken's Maker-Taker Fee Model
Kraken uses a maker-taker fee model where the fee depends on whether your order adds or removes liquidity from the order book.
Taker Fee = Trade Amount x 0.0026
Maker Fee = Trade Amount x 0.0016
Net Amount = Trade Amount - Applicable Fee
Where:
Trade Amountis the total dollar value of your crypto trade.Taker Feeapplies to market orders that fill immediately (0.26%).Maker Feeapplies to limit orders that add liquidity (0.16%).Net Amountis the value you receive after the fee deduction.
Worked Example: $1,000 Taker Trade on Kraken
A trader places a $1,000 market order to buy Bitcoin on Kraken.
- Gross trade amount: $1,000
- Identify order type: Market order = taker fee (0.26%)
- Calculate taker fee:
Taker Fee = $1,000 x 0.0026 = $2.60 - Calculate net amount:
Net Amount = $1,000 - $2.60 = $997.40
The trader receives $997.40 worth of Bitcoin.
If they had used a limit order (maker), the fee would be $1.60, netting $998.40 — a $1.00 savings on this single trade.
Kraken Fee Tiers for High-Volume Traders in 2026
Kraken's standard fees apply to retail traders, but higher-volume traders qualify for reduced rates through Kraken Pro's tiered fee schedule:
- $0 - $50,000/month: 0.26% taker, 0.16% maker (standard)
- $50,000 - $100,000/month: 0.22% taker, 0.12% maker
- $100,000 - $250,000/month: 0.18% taker, 0.08% maker
- $1,000,000+/month: 0.10% taker, 0.02% maker
- $10,000,000+/month: 0.10% taker, 0.00% maker
For a trader with $100,000 monthly volume, the reduced 0.18% taker fee on a $1,000 trade would cost $1.80 instead of $2.60 — a 31% reduction.
Maker vs Taker: Which Saves More?
The 0.10% difference between maker (0.16%) and taker (0.26%) fees may seem small, but it compounds with volume.
On a $1,000 trade, maker saves $1.00.
Over 365 daily trades, that is $365/year in savings.
For a $10,000 daily trade, the annual savings grow to $3,650.
Active traders should default to limit orders whenever market conditions allow, using the calculator to quantify the impact on their specific trade sizes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between maker and taker fees on Kraken?
Taker fees (0.26%) apply when your order fills immediately from the order book, such as market orders. Maker fees (0.16%) apply when your order adds liquidity, such as limit orders that don't execute right away. On a $1,000 trade, taker costs $2.60 vs maker at $1.60.
How do Kraken's fees compare to other exchanges?
Kraken's 0.26% taker and 0.16% maker fees are competitive. Coinbase Pro charges 0.40-0.60% for lower volumes, while Binance charges 0.10% for both maker and taker. Kraken's tiered structure offers discounts at higher volumes, dropping as low as 0.10% taker and 0.00% maker.
How can I reduce my Kraken trading fees?
Three strategies: (1) use limit orders for maker pricing (0.16% vs 0.26%), (2) increase your 30-day volume to qualify for tiered discounts, and (3) trade stablecoin pairs which often have reduced fee schedules.
Does Kraken charge for deposits or withdrawals?
Crypto deposits are generally free. Crypto withdrawals include a small network fee that varies by coin. Fiat deposits and withdrawals may incur fees depending on the method (wire transfer, ACH, etc.). These are separate from trading fees.
How much do Kraken fees cost per year?
It depends on your trade size and frequency. Trading $1,000/day as a taker costs ~$949/year in fees. Using maker orders instead reduces that to ~$584/year — a savings of ~$365 annually.
