Trading Fees Calculator: Understanding Costs & How to Minimise Them

When you trade Forex, stocks, or cryptocurrencies online, trading fees are unavoidable. If you don’t account for them properly, they can significantly impact your profits over time.

In Forex trading, the primary cost is the spread—the difference between the buy and sell price of a currency pair. In crypto trading, exchanges charge commission-based fees or maker-taker fees, depending on the type of order you place.

Knowing exactly how much you’re paying per trade helps you manage your risk and maximise your returns. That’s why we’ve created a Trading Fee Calculator to help you estimate your costs in advance and choose the most cost-effective broker or exchange.

How much are you paying in fees? Use our free Trading Fee Calculator to find out instantly!

What Are Trading Fees?

Trading fees are the charges applied when you buy or sell an asset, whether it’s a currency pair, stock, or cryptocurrency. These fees vary depending on:

• The market you trade in (Forex, stocks, or crypto)
• The broker or exchange you use
• The type of trade you place (market order vs limit order)

Even though individual fees might seem small, they add up over time, especially if you trade frequently.

What are the Types of Trading Fees?

Every market has different fee structures, but the most common types of charges traders in Ireland encounter include:

• Spreads (Forex & CFDs) – The difference between the buy (bid) price and sell (ask) price of an asset. A wider spread increases your trading costs.
• Commissions (Stocks & Crypto) – Some brokers charge a percentage-based commission (brokerage charges) per trade.
• Overnight Fees (Swap Fees) – If you hold a leveraged position overnight in Forex or CFDs, you’ll be charged interest.
• Deposit & Withdrawal Fees – Some brokers charge you for transferring funds in and out of your trading account.

Let’s take a closer look at how these fees work across different markets.

What are Forex Trading Fees?

Unlike stock trading, where brokers charge commissions, most Forex brokers make money through spreads.

If you trade EUR/USD, you’ll see two prices: one for buying and one for selling. The spread is the difference between these two prices, measured in PIPs.

How Much Do Forex Spreads Cost?

For example

If the spread on EUR/USD is 1.5 PIPs, then:

A Standard Lot trade would cost: €15 (1.5 × €10)
A Mini Lot trade would cost: €1.50 (1.5 × €1)
A Micro Lot trade would cost: €0.15 (1.5 × €0.10)

If you’re a frequent trader, choosing a broker with lower spreads can save you a significant amount over time.

Commission-Based Costs: What are Stock Trading Fees in Ireland?

Stock trading fees vary by broker. Some platforms offer zero-commission trading, while others charge a flat fee per trade.

Stock Trading Fees on Popular Irish & UK Platforms

Expert advice

If you trade Irish or UK stocks frequently, using a commission-free broker like eToro or Revolut could significantly reduce your trading costs.

Maker & Taker Costs: What are Crypto Trading Fees?

Cryptocurrency exchanges charge fees based on the maker-taker model:

• Maker Fees – Apply when you add liquidity to the exchange by placing a limit order.
• Taker Fees – Apply when you remove liquidity by placing a market order.

Crypto Trading Fees on Major Exchanges

Example Calculation:
You buy €5,000 worth of Bitcoin on Binance, which charges a 0.1% taker fee.

€5,000 × 0.1% = €5 in fees

If you later sell your Bitcoin for €6,000:

€6,000 × 0.1% = €6 in fees

Total fees for both trades = €11 (€5 + €6).

Expert advice

To reduce crypto trading fees, use limit orders instead of market orders, as maker fees are usually lower.

Why Use a Trading Fee Calculator?

A Trading Fee Calculator helps you estimate trading costs before placing a trade.

Why It’s Useful:

• Know your costs upfront – Avoid unexpected charges.
• Compare different brokers and exchanges – Choose the cheapest option.
• Optimise your strategy – Adjust your trading style to lower fees.

Try our free Trading Fee Calculator and take control of your trading costs!

How to Avoid High Trading Fees?

While trading fees can’t be eliminated entirely, there are ways to reduce them:

• Use a Broker with Commission-Free Trading: eToro, Freetrade, and Revolut offer commission-free stock trading.
• Choose a Low-Fee Crypto Exchange: Binance and Kraken charge lower trading fees than Coinbase Standard.
• Use Limit Orders Instead of Market Orders: Taker fees apply to market orders, which are executed immediately. By placing limit orders, you avoid taker fees and may even pay lower maker fees.
• Trade on Fee-Free Days: Some brokers and exchanges offer zero-fee promotions on certain days.
• Hold Exchange Tokens for Discounts: Binance (BNB) and Kraken (KRK) offer trading fee discounts if you hold their native tokens.
• Increase Your Trading Volume: High-volume traders qualify for lower fees on exchanges like Binance and Kraken.
• Look for Rebates & Cashback Offers: Some brokers offer cashback on fees if you maintain a high account balance or refer new users.

Whether you're trading Forex, stocks, or crypto, understanding your fees is key to maximising profits.

Expert advice

Follow these tips to reduce your trading fees:

• Use our Trading Fee Calculator to estimate costs in advance
• Choose the right broker or exchange for the lowest fees
• Avoid unnecessary fees by trading strategically

Get started now! Try our free Trading Fee Calculator and optimise your trading expenses today.

P. Laurore

Finance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and holder of a Master's degree in finance, Pauline has recognised expertise in personal finance, which she uses to help users better understand and optimise their financial choices. At HelloSafe, Pauline plays a key role in designing clear, educational content on savings, investments and personal finance. Passionate about financial education, Pauline strives, with every piece of content she oversees, to provide reliable, transparent and unbiased information for independent and informed financial management. To this end, she has tested over 100 trading platforms to help internet users make the right choices.