Every time you do something on a blockchain — send crypto, swap tokens, mint an NFT — you pay a gas fee. Here's what that actually means.
What is a gas fee?
A gas fee is the cost of using a blockchain network. It pays the validators (or miners) who process your transaction. Think of it like postage for sending a letter — you pay for the delivery service.
Why do gas fees change?
Gas fees are based on supply and demand. When lots of people want to use the network at the same time, fees go up (like surge pricing for Uber).
On Ethereum, gas fees can range from $0.50 to $50+ depending on network congestion.
Check current gas prices with our Gas Fee Estimator or use Should I Send Now? for a plain-English recommendation.
Gas fees by network
| Network | Typical Transfer Fee | Typical Swap Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Ethereum L1 | $1-15 | $5-50 |
| Arbitrum | $0.01-0.10 | $0.05-0.30 |
| Base | $0.001-0.01 | $0.01-0.10 |
| Optimism | $0.01-0.10 | $0.05-0.30 |
| Solana | $0.001 | $0.01-0.05 |
| Polygon | $0.001-0.01 | $0.01-0.10 |
Compare all L2 fees side-by-side with our L2 Fee Comparison tool.
5 ways to pay less gas
1. Use Layer 2 networks
L2s like Arbitrum, Base, and Optimism process transactions off Ethereum mainnet for 10-100x lower fees. Same security, much cheaper.
See our Bridge Comparison tool to find the cheapest way to get your assets onto an L2.
2. Time your transactions
Gas fees are lower when fewer people are using the network. Generally: weekends and early mornings (US time) are cheapest.
3. Set a gas limit
Most wallets let you set a maximum gas price. If the network is too expensive, your transaction will wait until fees drop.
4. Batch transactions
If you need to do multiple things, some protocols let you batch them into one transaction — paying gas once instead of three times.
5. Use the right network
If you're sending USDC, does it need to be on Ethereum? Sending on Arbitrum or Base costs 99% less and arrives in seconds.
Use our Cost Optimizer to find the cheapest route for any action.
Related tools
- Gas Fee Estimator — check current gas fees
- Should I Send Now? — live send recommendation
- L2 Fee Comparison — compare Layer 2 fees
- Bridge Comparison — cheapest bridging routes
- Cost Optimizer — find cheapest path for any action
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