If you have been wondering if any fees apply when you trade event contracts on Kalshi, the answer is yes. In fact, the platform’s charges can be confusing, which is why we’ve explained Kalshi fees in the simplest way possible.
There are a couple of things to factor in, including transaction costs and how fees scale per contract. In this guide, we will unpack the complete Kalshi fee structure and how they work in practice. We’ll tell you which numbers are most important to you as a trader and which are avoidable so you can factor them into your strategy.
What are the Kalshi fees and costs?
Kalshi transaction fees are one of the ways the platform makes its money and they only apply when you trade event contracts. The good thing is that unlike brokers, Kalshi doesn’t charge commission on your total dollar amount when you trade. They use a variable fee system, so your charges look different depending on your trade’s
Kalshi odds. More on that later on when we discuss Kalshi trading fees, but for now, here’s a quick list of all of the charges:
- Trading fees
- Kalshi deposit and withdrawal fees
All these fees matter when you trade
Kalshi event contracts
because they help you decide whether short-term trading or scalping around small price edges is viable.
| Fee type | Method | Amount | What to note |
| Maker trading fees | Resting order fill | 1.75% of C x P x (1-P)* | Only charged on execution |
| Deposit–ACH | Bank transfer | Free | Takes 2-4 business days |
| Deposit—debit card | Instant deposits | 2% of deposit amount | Make $100 deposit and receive $98 in your balance |
| Deposit—wire transfer | Large transfers | Free (bank may charge) | Min. $1,000 |
| Deposit—crypto | Crypto wallets | Network fees may apply | Up to 30 minutes processing |
| Withdrawal–ACH | Bank transfer | Free | 2-4 business days |
| Withdrawal—debit card | Card withdrawal | $2 flat fees | 30 min processing |
| Withdrawal—crypto | Crypto wallet | Network fees may apply | Prior crypto deposit required |
| Settlement fee | Contract resolution | None | No charges at payout |
| Cancellation fee | Canceling a resting order | None | Free cancellation |
* C = the number of contracts being traded; P = the price of a contract in USD (e.g. 60 cents is 0.6)
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Kalshi trading fees: taker vs. maker
There are two types of Kalshi fees per contract and they work with very distinct logic. If you place an order, and it is immediately matched with an existing order on the book, you’re a taker. However, when your order is not immediately filled and instead rests on the order book until someone else takes it, you are considered a maker. For both types, you calculate the applicable fees with different formulas.
During our
Kalshi review, we found this formula on the site for how taker fees are calculated: taker fees = 0.07 x C (this is the number of contracts) x P (this is the price of a contract) x (1 – P). You pay the highest possible fees here as a taker when your contract price is exactly 50 cents because trades on the platform cost between $0 and $1, which makes 50 cents the midpoint.
This applies to limit orders, which is when you have set an instruction to only buy or sell your contracts at a set price or better. So, when you place a limit order that doesn’t get filled right away, you become a maker and calculate applicable fees as 0.0175 x C x P x (1-P). We’ve found that this is always cheaper than the taker fees, but it is best suited for patient traders. Plus, when you cancel a resting order, you don’t pay fees; they only charge on executed trades.
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Platform lets you pay with crypto
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Trading couldn’t be made more easier
Kalshi fees explained: structure for deposits and withdrawals
Transaction fees are always expected from the side of the payment processor, but Kalshi itself doesn’t always charge which makes the
Kalshi sign up bonus
even better. For instance, all your top-up transactions are free of Kalshi deposit fees unless you use debit cards. The same applies for withdrawals on the platform.
Deposits on Kalshi—supported methods and fees
- ACH bank transfers:
Free of charge, with deposits settling within 2 to 4 business days
- Debit cards:
A 2% processing fee applies, which means for every $200 deposit, you get $196 in your balance. Transactions here are instant, so you can start trading right away.
- Wire transfer:
No fees from Kalshi, but your bank may charge you a token. You can only deposit at least $1000 using wire transfers.
- Crypto:
The platform lets you pay with crypto via a partner processor called Zero Hash, but no fees apply. You will only need to worry about the standard blockchain network fees. Processing time is around 30 minutes, so you can start trading on the same day.
Upon making your first deposit and trading with at least $10, you get the Kalshi sign-up bonus of an additional $10. That’s a great way to offset any fees early on. If you want to see how that stacks up against what other platforms offer, our
Underdog Predict welcome bonus
page, lets you make a comparison for yourself.
Kalshi withdrawal fees —all supported methods
- ACH bank transfers:
Free of charge to your linked bank account within 2 to 4 business days
- Debit cards:
A $2 flat fee applies per transaction and processing takes around 30 minutes
- Crypto:
Transaction fees may apply from the third-party processor’s end, and you can only withdraw with this method if you deposit with it.
Transaction safety at Kalshi
Because
Kalshi is legal, the platform has to maintain a high standard of security. All the payment methods are secure, such that neither the details of your payment nor your personal information are compromised. Still, you have to keep your account secure from third-party access by using a strong password, which you shouldn’t share with anyone.
Kalshi fees pros and cons
While Kalshi fees are generally low, there’s still a disadvantage to consider:
Pros and Cons
- Fee ACH transactions
- No fees for cancelling unmatched orders
- Maker fees are 75% cheaper than takers
- Mid-priced contracts carry high trading costs
Final thoughts – Kalshi has clear, unhidden fees
Kalshi fees are structured very transparently. You know every single applicable cost before you even register, which makes it easy for you to plan. While trading itself has variable fees, where you get to save the most on charges is your preferred banking method. Opt for those that cost you nothing to make deposits and withdrawals if you can. Get started now by clicking the link above to sign up. You get a $10 sign-up bonus to boost your balance.
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Kalshi fees FAQs
💰 Do fees apply to every single trade on Kalshi?
Yes, fees apply to every single trade that goes through on the platform. The only exceptions are standing orders that you choose to cancel.
🔗 How much are crypto deposit fees on Kalshi?
There are no crypto deposit fees on Kalshi, but you may incur standard blockchain processing costs.
🔍 Are there any other hidden fees on Kalshi?
No, Kalshi is transparent with all its charges, with no hidden fees or random costs to worry about.
