Short answer: A post-only order on Bitget Futures ensures your limit order adds liquidity to the order book rather than taking it, which can save you on taker fees.
If you’re trading futures on Bitget, understanding order types can directly impact your profitability. The post-only order is a specialized limit order that rejects execution if it would match immediately with an existing order. This tool is designed for traders who want to act as market makers and earn fee rebates rather than paying the higher taker fees.
Key Takeaways
- Post-only orders on Bitget Futures only execute as limit orders that add liquidity, never as market orders that remove it.
- Using post-only can reduce your trading fees significantly—from 0.04% taker to 0.02% maker on Bitget Futures.
- These orders are ideal for strategies like scalping, grid trading, and arbitrage where fee efficiency matters most.
What Exactly Is a Post-Only Order on Bitget Futures?
A post-only order is a type of limit order with a specific condition: it will only be placed on the order book if it does not immediately match with an existing order. If your limit price crosses the spread and would fill instantly, the exchange cancels the order instead of executing it. This ensures you are always adding liquidity to the market.
On Bitget Futures, you select “Post Only” as an option when placing a limit order. The exchange then checks the current order book depth. If your bid is below the best ask (for a buy) or your ask is above the best bid (for a sell), the order sits on the book. If not, it gets rejected. This mechanism is critical for traders who want to avoid paying taker fees and instead earn maker rebates.
Think of it like this: you’re placing a limit order and saying, “I’m not willing to jump the queue. I’ll wait for someone else to trade with me.” That patience often pays off in lower costs.
Why Would You Use a Post-Only Order Instead of a Regular Limit Order?
The main reason is fees. On Bitget Futures, the taker fee is 0.04% while the maker fee is 0.02%. For a trader executing 100 BTC in volume daily, that 0.02% difference saves $20,000 per day in fees. Over a month, that’s $600,000. For retail traders with smaller accounts, the savings are proportional but still meaningful.
But fees aren’t the only factor. Post-only orders also help you avoid slippage on volatile markets. When a regular limit order fills instantly, it often means the price moved against you before you could react. A post-only order forces you to wait for a better price, which can improve your average entry over time.
Another use case is algorithmic trading. Bots that use Crypto Sar Reporting Requirements Guide – Complete Guide 2026 often rely on post-only orders to maintain their grid levels without incurring taker fees. This keeps the strategy profitable even in low-volatility environments.
So, if you’re patient and fee-conscious, post-only is your friend. If you need to enter or exit quickly, a regular market or limit order might be better.
How to Set Up a Post-Only Order on Bitget Futures (Step-by-Step)
Setting up a post-only order on Bitget Futures is straightforward. Here’s the process:
- Log into your Bitget account and navigate to the Futures trading page.
- Select your trading pair (e.g., BTC/USDT perpetual).
- Choose “Limit” as the order type from the order entry panel.
- Enter your price and quantity just like you would for a normal limit order.
- Check the “Post Only” box—it’s usually located near the order type selector.
- Click “Buy/Long” or “Sell/Short” to submit the order.
If the order would fill immediately, Bitget will display an error message like “Order would be executed immediately” and cancel it. You then need to adjust your price further from the current market price.
One common mistake is setting a limit price too close to the current market price. For example, if BTC is trading at $30,000 and you place a buy limit at $30,005 with post-only, it might fill instantly if there’s a sell order at that price. You’d need to move your bid lower, say to $29,995, to avoid immediate execution.
When Should You Avoid Using Post-Only Orders on Bitget?
Post-only orders aren’t always the right choice. Here are scenarios where you should skip them:
- Fast-moving markets: If price is spiking and you need to enter immediately, a post-only order will likely get rejected repeatedly. Use a market order or a limit order without post-only instead.
- News events: During major announcements, spreads widen and liquidity thins. Your post-only order might sit unfilled while the price runs away from you.
- Small accounts: If you’re trading with less than $500, the fee savings might not justify the risk of missing a trade. Focus on execution speed instead.
- Stop-loss orders: You cannot use post-only for stop-loss orders. Those need to execute immediately to limit losses.
Remember, a post-only order that never fills is worse than a filled order with a slightly higher fee. Always consider your time horizon and urgency.
What Are the Fee Implications of Post-Only Orders on Bitget Futures?
Fee structures are where post-only orders shine. On Bitget Futures, all users start with a standard maker fee of 0.02% and a taker fee of 0.04%. VIP traders can get even lower rates—down to 0.012% maker and 0.030% taker for VIP 5.
Here’s a quick breakdown of potential savings:
| Trade Volume (Monthly) | Taker Fee (0.04%) | Maker Fee (0.02%) | Savings with Post-Only |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $4.00 | $2.00 | $2.00 |
| $100,000 | $40.00 | $20.00 | $20.00 |
| $1,000,000 | $400.00 | $200.00 | $200.00 |
These savings compound over time. For active traders, using post-only can reduce total fee costs by 50% or more. However, you only save if the order fills. An unfilled post-only order generates zero fees but also zero profit.
Also note that Bitget occasionally runs promotions where maker fees are even lower or rebated entirely. Always check the latest fee schedule on their website.
What Most People Get Wrong About Post-Only Orders
Mistake 1: “Post-only guarantees lower fees.” It does not. If your order never fills, you pay no fees but also make no profit. The fee saving is hypothetical until execution happens.
Mistake 2: “Post-only orders are always better than market orders.” They are not. In fast markets, a market order might be the only way to get a fill. Waiting for a post-only order could cause you to miss a profitable move entirely.
Mistake 3: “You can use post-only for any strategy.” Wrong. Strategies like momentum trading or breakout trading require immediate execution. Post-only is best suited for mean-reversion, scalping, and market-making strategies where you’re adding liquidity.
Understanding these misconceptions can save you from costly errors. Always match your order type to your strategy, not the other way around.
Key Risks and Pitfalls of Post-Only Orders on Bitget Futures
Using post-only orders isn’t without downsides. The biggest risk is order rejection. In volatile markets, your order might get rejected repeatedly, causing you to miss a trade entirely. This can be especially painful if the price moves sharply in your intended direction.
Another pitfall is partial fills. A post-only order might fill partially if only part of your order sits on the book. You then have an awkward position size that’s hard to manage. On Bitget, partial fills are possible, so monitor your orders closely.
There’s also the risk of adverse selection. When you place a post-only order, you’re essentially waiting for someone else to take the other side. If the market is informed, they might only trade against you when it’s advantageous for them. This can lead to worse execution prices over time.
Finally, don’t forget exchange downtime. If Bitget experiences technical issues, your post-only orders might not get placed or filled as expected. Always have a backup plan, such as a stop-loss or limit order without post-only.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Trading futures carries substantial risk, and you could lose more than your initial deposit.
Our Take
From our research and analysis, we believe post-only orders are a powerful tool for fee-conscious traders on Bitget Futures. They are not a magic bullet, but when used correctly, they can reduce costs and improve execution quality for certain strategies.
We recommend starting with a small account to test the behavior of post-only orders in real market conditions. Pay attention to fill rates, rejection messages, and how your strategy performs with and without post-only enabled. Over time, you’ll develop an intuition for when to use them and when to switch to a regular limit or market order.
For more on order types and trading strategies, check out our guide on Filecoin FIL Futures Position Sizing Strategy.
Sources & References
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