Polymarket Fees 2026: What Does It Actually Cost to Trade?
One of Polymarket's biggest draws is how cheap it is to trade. Here is exactly what you pay, what you do not, and how it stacks up against Kalshi and a traditional sportsbook.
Trading fees: effectively zero
Polymarket has historically charged no fee to enter or exit a position, taking only a small cut on net winnings. In practice that means the price you see is very close to the price you pay, with no spread skimmed off the top.
Because the price of a share is the implied probability, your cost is simply that price. A share at 40 cents costs 40 cents and pays out 1 USDC if it resolves yes. There is no hidden margin baked into the line the way there is at a bookmaker.
How that compares to a sportsbook
A traditional sportsbook prices both sides of a bet at around -110, which bakes in roughly a 9% margin on every wager. That margin is the house edge, and you pay it whether you win or lose. On Polymarket there is no -110 vig: you trade peer-to-peer at the market price, so far more of your stake is actually working for you.
Over many trades, that difference is the gap between a sustainable edge and slowly bleeding out to the house. It is the single biggest reason experienced bettors moved to prediction markets.
Polymarket fees vs Kalshi
Kalshi, the main competitor, charges a per-contract fee that scales with the contract price. For occasional trades the difference is minor, but for active traders Polymarket's near-zero structure is meaningfully cheaper over time. If trading cost is your top priority, Polymarket comes out ahead. See our full Polymarket vs Kalshi comparison for the rest of the picture.
Deposits, withdrawals and network gas
Funding with USDC on the Polygon network costs only a few cents in gas. Card funding converts to USDC for you and may carry a small processor fee. Withdrawals send USDC back to your own wallet and are similarly cheap and fast, usually completing in minutes rather than days.
There is no large minimum to get started, so you can fund a small amount, try a few markets, and withdraw whenever you like without losing a chunk to fees.
Does Polymarket charge fees?
Polymarket charges roughly 0% to trade and takes only a small cut on net winnings. Deposits and withdrawals cost a few cents of network gas on Polygon.
Are Polymarket fees cheaper than a sportsbook?
Yes, by a wide margin. A sportsbook's -110 pricing implies about a 9% house margin per bet, versus Polymarket's near-zero trading cost.
Does Polymarket have lower fees than Kalshi?
Generally yes. Kalshi charges a per-contract fee that scales with price, while Polymarket charges roughly 0% to trade, so Polymarket is cheaper for active traders.
Is there a minimum deposit on Polymarket?
No large minimum. You can fund a small amount in USDC or by card and start trading right away.