KALSHI FEES, ACTUALLY EXPLAINED

On this page · 4

1. Worked example: a 50¢ contract
2. Kalshi vs Polymarket fees
3. Open an account
4. Pick your venue

The short version: Kalshi's trading fee is a curve, not a flat percent. It peaks near 50¢ (where outcomes are most uncertain) and approaches zero at 1¢ and 99¢. A round-trip on a 50¢ contract costs roughly 1.4%. ACH deposits and withdrawals are free.

TL;DR:

• 💰 Per-trade fee scales with price — max near 50¢, min near 1¢/99¢
• 🏦 ACH in/out: free. Debit card in: small processor fee.
• 📅 No monthly, inactivity, or account fee
• ⚖️ Higher than Polymarket's 0% — but you get fiat rails and a 1099

Worked example: a 50¢ contract

You buy 100 YES contracts at 50¢ each. Notional: $50. Kalshi charges roughly $0.35 in fees (~0.7% one-way). You exit at 60¢ — another ~$0.35 round-trip. Net: $10.00 gross profit minus ~$0.70 in fees = $9.30. The closer you trade to the edges (1¢ or 99¢), the lower the fee in absolute and relative terms.

Kalshi vs Polymarket fees

Cost	Kalshi	Polymarket
Trading fee	Scaled, peak ~0.7% one-way	Shown on each order
Deposit	ACH free · debit small fee	Dollars in the app
Withdrawal	Free ACH	To your bank from the app
Tax records	P&L statement	App statements + your records

Open an account

See the live fee schedule in your account when you place an order — Kalshi shows the exact fee before you confirm. New to event contracts? How to use Kalshi from Texas.

More: Kalshi taxes (Texas) · How to use Kalshi · Compare all platforms →

Pick your venue

Four CFTC-regulated exchanges that accept Texans (status in Texas: Available, as of 3 October 2026). Full comparison →

Frequently asked questions

What are Kalshi's trading fees?

Kalshi charges a per-trade fee that scales with price, not a flat percentage. The fee is highest near 50¢ (where uncertainty is largest) and approaches zero at 1¢ and 99¢. For a typical 50¢ contract the round-trip fee works out to roughly 1.4% of the position. There is no monthly fee, no inactivity fee, and no ACH withdrawal fee.

Does Kalshi charge deposit or withdrawal fees?

ACH deposits and withdrawals are free. Debit-card deposits incur a small processor fee. Wire transfers are free in but may be charged out by your bank. Kalshi itself does not take a cut on deposit or withdrawal.

How do Kalshi fees compare to Polymarket?

Both are CFTC-regulated and both fund in US dollars. Kalshi publishes a scaled per-contract fee; Polymarket US shows its fee on every order before you confirm. Compare the fee preview on the same market in each app — the cheaper venue depends on the contract price and liquidity.

Are Kalshi fees the same on sports markets?

Sports event contracts on Kalshi use the same scaled fee schedule. Fees are charged on filled orders regardless of whether you were the maker or taker.

Can I avoid Kalshi fees?

No, but you can minimize them: trade contracts priced far from 50¢, use limit orders, and avoid churning in and out of the same position.