BitMex Fees Explained

BitMEX fees can look simple at first glance, then get expensive fast once you add funding, spreads, and leverage into the mix. If you trade perpetuals or futures on BitMEX, you need to know what you are actually paying before you size a position.

This guide breaks down the main BitMEX fee types, how maker and taker fees work, where funding fits in, and why the cheapest-looking trade is not always the cheapest trade in practice.

What fees does BitMEX charge?

BitMEX charges different costs depending on the product and how your order is executed. In broad terms, traders should watch four things:

• Trading fees for opening or closing a position
• Funding payments on perpetual contracts
• Settlement fees on some futures products, where applicable
• Network fees for withdrawals, rather than a standard exchange withdrawal fee

The exact rate can change by market, account type, and product. That is why the safest approach is to treat the official BitMEX fee schedule as the live source of truth rather than relying on old screenshots or outdated tables.

Maker vs taker fees on BitMEX

The biggest fee difference on BitMEX usually comes down to whether your order adds liquidity or removes it.

Maker orders add liquidity to the order book. This usually happens when you place a limit order that does not fill immediately. On some BitMEX markets, makers may receive a rebate instead of paying a fee.

Taker orders remove liquidity. This usually happens when you use a market order or a limit order that executes instantly against existing orders. Taker fees are normally higher than maker fees.

That sounds straightforward, but there is a catch: chasing maker rebates while missing your entry can cost more than simply paying the taker fee. Fees matter, but execution matters too.

BitMEX perpetual contract fees

Perpetual contracts are one of BitMEX’s best-known products. Unlike dated futures, they do not expire, but they do include funding, which is a separate cost from the trading fee.

When you trade a perpetual contract, your total cost may include:

• the fee to enter the trade
• the fee to exit the trade
• any funding paid or received while the position stays open

This is where many traders underestimate costs. A position that looks cheap to open can become expensive if funding stays against you for several intervals.

BitMEX publishes contract-specific fee details in its support documentation and product pages, including which markets offer maker rebates and how funding is calculated for each perpetual market.

How BitMEX funding rates work

Funding is a periodic payment exchanged between long and short traders in perpetual contracts. It is designed to help keep the perpetual price close to the underlying spot market.

Here is the simple version:

• If funding is positive, longs typically pay shorts
• If funding is negative, shorts typically pay longs

A common simplified formula is:

Funding payment = position value × funding rate

The exact mechanics depend on the contract specification, timing, and whether you hold the position at the funding timestamp. BitMEX explains these details in its official support material.

Two practical points matter here:

• Funding is not the same as a trading fee. You can pay low entry fees and still lose money to repeated funding payments.
• Leverage magnifies the impact. Even a small funding rate can become meaningful when your position size is large relative to your margin.

If you are new to derivatives, it helps to understand the mechanics of crypto trading before using high leverage on perpetuals.

#

Traditional futures fees on BitMEX

BitMEX also offers futures contracts with expiry dates. These differ from perpetuals because they do not use ongoing funding in the same way. Instead, traders should focus on maker or taker trading fees, any settlement fee listed for that contract, and the spread and slippage around entry and exit.

Older fee guides often list fixed percentages for specific coins and leverage caps. The problem is that exchange product menus and fee schedules change over time. A static list from a past year can become misleading quickly, especially when new markets are added or fee tiers are updated.

For that reason, this article avoids publishing a hard-coded fee table that may age badly. Use the live BitMEX fee page for current contract-by-contract rates.

Deposits and withdrawals

BitMEX has historically not charged a standard deposit fee, while withdrawals are generally subject to the relevant blockchain network cost rather than a flat exchange withdrawal charge. That said, operational policies can change, so it is still worth checking the latest wallet and support pages before moving funds.

Also remember that a “no deposit fee” exchange is not automatically a cheap exchange. Your real trading cost still depends on execution quality, funding, and how often you trade.

The hidden costs traders forget

Most fee guides stop at maker and taker rates. That is only half the story.

When comparing BitMEX trading fees, also consider:

• Spread: the gap between bid and ask
• Slippage: the difference between expected and actual fill price
• Funding drag: repeated funding payments on longer-held perpetual positions
• Liquidation risk: leverage can turn small costs into large losses

A trader paying a slightly higher fee on a liquid market may still come out ahead versus a trader chasing rebates in poor conditions.

How to reduce your BitMEX trading costs

You cannot eliminate fees, but you can manage them better.

• Use limit orders when execution conditions allow
• Avoid overtrading just because leverage makes positions look cheap
• Check the funding rate before holding a perpetual position through the next funding window
• Compare the total trade cost, not just the headline maker or taker fee
• Keep position sizing disciplined so fees do not quietly eat your edge

If you want more structure around entries, exits, and trade management, you can explore the AltAlgo indicator or review AltSignals trading signals.

Final take

BitMEX fees are not just about one percentage on the order ticket. The real cost of trading comes from the combination of execution fees, funding, spreads, and leverage.

If you trade BitMEX regularly, the smart move is simple: check the live fee schedule, understand whether you are acting as a maker or taker, and never ignore funding on perpetuals. That alone will put you ahead of a lot of traders who only notice costs after the trade is already open.

Risk reminder: leveraged crypto derivatives are high risk. Fees may look small, but leverage can magnify both trading costs and losses very quickly.

FAQ