Kalshi fees explained: maker, taker, and withdrawals
Published 2026-05-17 · Last reviewed 2026-05-17
TL;DR
- Kalshi trading fees are a function of the contract's distance from $0.50 — the closer to 50¢, the higher the fee. Roughly 1–7% per trade.
- Deposits via ACH and debit card are free. Wire transfers cost $10. Withdrawals via ACH are free; wires cost $30.
- No platform fee on settlement, no inactivity fee, no monthly minimum.
Kalshi's fees aren't "free" — they're just hidden behind a formula. Once you see it, you can price any trade in your head.
The fee formula
Kalshi's trading fee for any order is:
fee = round_up(0.07 × contracts × price × (1 − price))
That formula has one important property: fees peak in the middle of the price range. A contract trading at 50¢ has the highest fee per contract; one trading at 5¢ or 95¢ has almost none. Practically:
- 100 contracts at 50¢ → ~$1.75 fee (≈3.5% of the $50 outlay)
- 100 contracts at 10¢ → ~$0.63 fee (≈6.3% of the $10 outlay)
- 100 contracts at 90¢ → ~$0.63 fee (≈0.7% of the $90 outlay)
Deposit and withdrawal costs
- ACH deposit — free, 1–3 business days
- Debit card deposit — free, instant
- Wire deposit — $10
- ACH withdrawal — free, 1–3 business days
- Wire withdrawal — $30
How to keep fees low
Trade contracts priced far from 50¢ when you can — the fee structure rewards conviction. Use ACH for funding unless you need same-day liquidity. Size orders deliberately; many small round-trips add up faster than a single larger position.
How this compares to Polymarket
Polymarket charges 0% on trades but moves all funds on Polygon, so you pay gas on every deposit and withdrawal (typically pennies, but not free). For an active US trader running many small positions, the net cost on Kalshi and Polymarket usually lands within a percent or two of each other.
Fee schedule current as of 2026. Kalshi can update its fee table; always check the latest on their site before sizing a position.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Kalshi charge per trade?
Kalshi's trading fee is calculated as 0.07 × contracts × price × (1 − price), capped at 0.0175 × contracts. In plain terms: 1–7% of your trade size, with the highest rates near the middle of the price range (around 50¢).
Are makers and takers charged the same?
Yes. Unlike traditional crypto or equity exchanges, Kalshi applies the same fee to limit orders and market orders. There is no maker rebate.
Do I pay a fee when a contract settles?
No. Settlement is free. Kalshi only charges on order execution, not on resolution to $1 or $0.
What does it cost to deposit and withdraw?
ACH and debit card deposits are free. Wire deposits cost $10. ACH withdrawals are free; wire withdrawals cost $30. There are no minimums or inactivity fees.
Are Kalshi fees lower than Polymarket?
Polymarket charges 0% on trades but you pay Polygon gas to fund and withdraw. For small frequent trades Polymarket is cheaper; for larger deposits held longer, Kalshi can be cheaper once you factor in gas and on-ramp fees.
Independent coverage. Some outbound links are affiliate links — see footer disclosure.