5 min read
Kalshi fees explained

Last updated · fact-checked against live Kalshi and Polymarket data
Quick answer
Key takeaways
- › Trading fee formula: round(0.07 × contracts × price × (1 − price)) cents per fill.
- › Maximum fee per contract is ~1.75¢, hit at $0.50.
- › Fees drop toward zero as price approaches $0.00 or $1.00.
- › ACH and debit deposits free; ACH withdrawals free; wire withdrawals have a small fee.
- › Reported net of fees on your 1099 at year-end.
Certain limitations apply. The offer is available to new users only, subject to the terms and conditions at kalshi.com/tc/500. 18+ only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Please carefully consider if it is appropriate for you in light of your personal financial circumstances. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. See kalshi.com/regulatory for more information.
The trading fee formula
Per fill, Kalshi charges: round(0.07 × C × P × (1 − P)) in cents, where C is contracts filled and P is the fill price between 0 and 1.
The shape: zero at the extremes ($0 or $1), peak at $0.50. That's why pros price-shop into mispricings — fees compress when you trade tails.
Worked examples
| Trade | Cost | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 100 contracts @ $0.50 | $50.00 | ~$1.75 |
| 100 contracts @ $0.10 | $10.00 | ~$0.63 |
| 100 contracts @ $0.90 | $90.00 | ~$0.63 |
| 1,000 contracts @ $0.50 | $500.00 | ~$17.50 |
Deposit and withdrawal costs
- ACH deposits: free, 1–3 business days.
- Debit card deposits: free, instant.
- Wire deposits: free on Kalshi's side (your bank may charge).
- ACH withdrawals: free, 1–3 business days.
- Wire withdrawals: small platform fee.
Kalshi fees vs Polymarket — cost comparison
| Trade | Kalshi | Polymarket |
|---|---|---|
| $50 fill @ $0.50 | ~$0.88 | $0 platform + ~1¢ spread |
| $500 fill @ $0.50 | ~$8.75 | $0 platform + spread |
| $500 fill @ $0.10 | ~$3.15 | $0 platform + spread |
| Deposit $500 | Free ACH | Free debit/bank deposit |
| Withdraw $500 | Free ACH | Off-ramp 0.5–2% + bridge |
Kalshi's fee is transparent and USD-native. Polymarket's zero platform fee is only truly zero if you already hold USD in the U.S. app — on/off-ramp costs are the real hidden line.
Florida angle
Florida has no state income tax, so the only tax on Kalshi gains is federal — reported on the 1099 Kalshi issues automatically. Free ACH deposits and withdrawals make Kalshi cheaper end-to-end for a Florida trader than any crypto-based alternative once on-ramp costs are counted.
Welcome offer · Kalshi
Trade $25 and get $25
New users: open a Kalshi account, trade $25 in event contracts with the code, and get $25 back.
Certain limitations apply. The offer is available to new users only, subject to the terms and conditions at kalshi.com/tc/500. 18+ only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Please carefully consider if it is appropriate for you in light of your personal financial circumstances. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. See kalshi.com/regulatory for more information.

Play responsibly
Prediction markets are real-money trading and you can lose your full stake. We recommend 21+. If trading stops feeling fun, call 1-800-GAMBLER or text 988.
Reviewed by Catie Di Stefano. Every guide follows our editorial standards & review methodology. Affiliate links are disclosed under our affiliate disclosure.