# Perpetual Futures Fees: How to Compare the Total Cost

> Understand the complete cost of a perpetual trade with clear examples of entry, exit, funding, spread, and slippage.

- Canonical: https://www.liquid.trade/learn/perpetual-futures-fees
- Published: 2026-09-18
- Category: Perps Trading
- Tags: Trading Fees, Perpetual Futures, Funding Rates

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The lowest-cost perpetual futures platform depends on your market, order type, trading volume, and holding time. **Compare the total cost of opening, holding, and closing the same position.** Separating execution fees from funding and the bid-ask spread makes that comparison easier.

Liquid publishes a [venue-specific fee schedule](https://docs.liquid.trade/trading/fees) and displays the applicable execution fee on the order ticket. You can review the cost of the selected market before confirming your trade.

## What Are the Lowest Fee Perpetual Futures Platforms?

The most useful comparison starts with the exact market, account tier, maker or taker execution, and holding period. Convert the fees into dollars for equivalent exposure, then include the expected cost of holding the position. A universal lowest-fee ranking would require a defined, current comparison across those terms.

Liquid combines a multi-asset interface with Co-Invest access. Its [fee documentation](https://docs.liquid.trade/trading/fees) distinguishes between routes, including a crypto perpetual schedule that combines a venue fee with a Liquid fee. The live ticket lets you inspect the execution charge for your order; include funding and likely slippage separately when comparing the full trade.

## What Does a Perpetual Trade Actually Cost?

<CompareTable
  caption="Costs to include in a like-for-like comparison"
  columns={["Cost", "When it applies", "What to check"]}
  rows={[
    { label: "Execution fees", values: ["On entry, exit, or both depending on the route", "All-in maker/taker rate and your actual volume tier"] },
    { label: "Spread", values: ["When crossing between bid and ask", "The live quote, not just a recent chart price"] },
    { label: "Slippage", values: ["When fills move away from the expected price", "Depth at your size and your slippage setting"] },
    { label: "Funding", values: ["While holding across payment intervals", "Rate direction, interval, and changes over time"] },
    { label: "Transfers", values: ["When funding or withdrawing", "Network, bridge, withdrawal, or payment-provider charges"] }
  ]}
/>

Trading fees usually apply to **position notional**, not just the margin you deposit. Leverage therefore makes fees larger relative to your collateral even when the percentage fee is unchanged.

## A Worked Round-Trip Example

Suppose a hypothetical platform charges 0.05% on entry and 0.05% on exit. You open a $5,000 position backed by $500 of margin and close it at the same notional value.

- Entry fee: $5,000 × 0.05% = **$2.50**.
- Exit fee: $5,000 × 0.05% = **$2.50**.
- Round-trip execution fees: **$5**, or 1% of the $500 margin.

If the position also pays 0.01% funding per interval for three intervals, unchanged notional would add $1.50. That produces $6.50 before spread, slippage, or transfer costs. The funding assumption is illustrative; live rates can change sign and magnitude.

A competing route charging 0.10% only on entry also costs $5 in execution fees at this size. That does not make the two routes equivalent: their funding, pricing, and execution mechanics can differ.

## How to Read Liquid's Fee Schedule

As checked on September 18, 2026, Liquid's crypto perpetual table lists tier-zero all-in rates of **0.095% taker and 0.065% maker** for that schedule. Those figures include the documented Liquid fee on top of the venue base rate. They are not universal rates for every Liquid route or asset.

The same documentation describes different pricing for other execution routes, including routes with no additional Liquid charge. Consult the [full fee schedule](https://docs.liquid.trade/trading/fees) and the actual ticket for current terms, discounts, and market-specific treatment.

<Callout variant="key" title="Compare the same trade">
Keep the underlying, position size, maker/taker assumption, collateral, and holding period constant. Record costs in dollars as well as basis points. A cheaper entry can be outweighed by a more expensive exit or several days of funding.
</Callout>

## How Maker and Taker Orders Affect Fees

A limit order that immediately crosses the book can execute as a taker. A resting order may earn maker treatment if it adds liquidity under that venue's rules. Post-only behavior, if supported, helps enforce that intent. Resting orders depend on a counterparty trading at your price, so allow for the possibility of remaining unfilled.

Choose the order type that fits your timing and price requirements. A maker order may suit a patient entry, while a time-sensitive exit calls for a different decision. Include funding paid or received in the overall result alongside the position's price movement.

Read [how funding rates work](/learn/what-are-funding-rates) and [how to compare perpetual platforms](/learn/best-perpetual-futures-platforms). To evaluate Liquid, [open a market](/markets) and inspect the order's current cost before confirming.