If you’ve ever placed a market order on Bybit Futures and watched the price slip against you, you already know the pain of slippage. Post-only orders offer a way around that—but only if you use them right. These orders let you add liquidity to the order book, which can save you on fees and improve your fills. But they come with a catch: your order gets canceled if it would execute immediately. Here’s how to use them effectively.
At a Glance
| # | Key Point | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Post-only orders add liquidity to the order book | You pay maker fees instead of taker fees, which are typically 50-80% lower on Bybit |
| 2 | They cancel automatically if they’d match immediately | This protects you from accidentally paying taker fees, but requires careful price selection |
| 3 | Use limit orders priced away from the current market | Set buy orders below the bid and sell orders above the ask to stay post-only |
| 4 | Combine with stop-loss orders for risk control | Post-only orders alone don’t protect against adverse moves; pair them with stops |
| 5 | Monitor order book depth before placing | Thin order books increase the chance your order fills immediately and gets canceled |
1. Understand the Maker-Taker Fee Model Before You Trade
Bybit Futures uses a maker-taker fee structure that rewards liquidity providers. When you place a post-only order, you’re signaling to the exchange: “I only want to be a maker.” A maker adds an order to the book that doesn’t immediately match an existing order. Bybit charges a maker fee of 0.01% for most perpetual contracts, compared to a taker fee of 0.06%. That’s a 5x difference.
So if you’re trading a $10,000 position, a taker fee costs $6. A maker fee costs $1. Over 100 trades, that’s $500 in savings—just by choosing post-only. But here’s the thing: post-only orders require discipline. You can’t chase the market. You have to wait for your order to get filled, which might take minutes or hours. That’s the trade-off.
For context, many retail traders lose money not because their directional calls were wrong, but because they overpaid on fees. A 2023 study from CoinDesk noted that active traders who switched to maker strategies saved an average of 40% on trading costs over six months. Post-only orders are the tool that enables that.
2. Set Your Limit Price Away From the Current Spread
The golden rule of post-only orders: your limit price must not cross the spread. On Bybit, the spread is the difference between the best bid and best ask. If you place a buy limit order at a price equal to or higher than the best ask, it will execute immediately as a taker—and Bybit will reject it if you selected “post-only.”
So how far away should you set your price? It depends on volatility. For Bitcoin perpetuals with tight spreads, setting a buy order 0.05% below the best bid is often safe. For altcoins with wider spreads, you might need 0.2-0.5% below. The key is to check the order book depth first. If there’s a wall of bids at $30,000 and the current best bid is $30,050, placing a post-only buy at $30,000 is likely safe because there are existing orders ahead of you.
But here’s a common mistake: traders set post-only orders too close to the spread, and the order gets canceled repeatedly. Then they give up and use a market order, paying taker fees. So start with a wider gap—say 0.1-0.3% from the current price—and tighten it as you gain experience. And remember, if your order gets canceled, it’s not a failure. It’s the system working as designed.
3. Use Post-Only Orders for Scalping Without the Slippage
Scalping on Bybit Futures is brutal with taker orders. The constant slippage eats into small profits. But post-only orders let you scalp without that friction. Here’s the strategy: identify a support or resistance level on the 1-minute chart, then place a post-only limit order at that level. If the price bounces, you get filled at your price—no slippage. Then you exit with a market order, paying the taker fee on the exit only.
Let’s say you’re scalping Ethereum with a $5,000 position. Your target profit is 0.5%, or $25. With a taker entry fee of $3 (0.06%) and a taker exit fee of another $3, your net profit is $19. But with a post-only entry fee of $0.50 (0.01%), your net profit jumps to $21.50. That’s a 13% improvement in net profit per trade. Over 50 trades, that’s an extra $125.
Of course, this assumes your post-only order gets filled. If it doesn’t, you miss the trade. So you need to be selective. Only use post-only when you have a clear reason to believe the price will reach your level. Don’t just throw orders into the book and hope.
And combine this with a tight stop-loss. Scalping is high-frequency and high-risk. A single bad trade can wipe out ten good ones. So set a stop at 0.3-0.5% below your entry, and never move it wider. This is not financial advice—it’s a risk-managed approach for educational purposes only.
4. Pair Post-Only Orders With Limit Exit Orders
Here’s a trick that experienced Bybit traders use: when you get filled on a post-only entry, immediately place a post-only limit exit order at your target price. This creates a round-trip where both legs are maker fees. On Bybit, that means 0.01% entry + 0.01% exit = 0.02% total fees. Compare that to 0.06% entry + 0.06% exit = 0.12% total fees for a taker round-trip. That’s a 6x reduction in fees.
For a $10,000 position, that’s $2 in fees versus $12. Over 200 trades per month, that’s $2,000 in savings. Not bad for clicking a checkbox. But there’s a catch: your exit order might not fill if the price doesn’t reach your target. So you need to monitor the trade and be ready to use a market exit if the trend reverses. Post-only exit orders are for profit-taking, not for emergency exits.
Also, be aware that if the market moves quickly, your post-only exit might get canceled because it would execute as a taker. That’s fine—just place another one at the same price. The order book updates in milliseconds, and your second attempt might work. This is especially useful in ranging markets where price oscillates between clear support and resistance levels.
5. Know When NOT to Use Post-Only Orders
Post-only orders are powerful, but they’re not for every situation. Avoid them during high-impact news events. When the Fed announces interest rates or when a major exchange reports a hack, volatility spikes. Your post-only order will likely get canceled instantly because the spread widens and then narrows unpredictably. In those moments, a market order—even with higher fees—is safer because you get immediate execution.
Also, don’t use post-only orders for stop-losses. A stop-loss needs to execute immediately to limit losses. If you try to use a post-only stop, it might get canceled, and you’ll be left holding a losing position. Always use market or limit orders for stops, and accept the taker fee as the cost of protection.
Finally, avoid post-only orders on illiquid pairs. Bybit lists dozens of altcoin futures with thin order books. On those pairs, the spread might be 0.5-1%, and any limit order you place might get filled immediately, triggering cancellation. Stick to BTC, ETH, and top-10 altcoins for post-only strategies. For everything else, use limit orders without the post-only checkbox—but be aware you’ll pay taker fees if you cross the spread.
Risks and Pitfalls to Watch For
Post-only orders are not a magic bullet. Here are the key risks:
- Order cancellation risk: Your order might get canceled repeatedly if the market is moving toward your price. This can lead to missed opportunities and frustration. Always have a backup plan, like a market order or a limit order without post-only.
- Opportunity cost: Waiting for a post-only fill means you might miss a strong trend. If Bitcoin surges 2% while you’re waiting for a fill 0.1% below the bid, you’ve lost the move. Balance fee savings against the cost of missing trades.
- False sense of control: Some traders think post-only orders make them “smart money.” They don’t. You’re still taking directional risk. The market can move against you after your fill. Always use stop-losses and position sizing. This content is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
The One Thing to Remember
Post-only orders are a fee-saving tool, not a trading strategy. The best traders on Bybit use them to reduce costs, but they don’t rely on them for execution. If a trade is worth taking, it’s worth taking at the best available price—even if that means paying taker fees. Use post-only when the setup is slow and the spread is tight. Use market orders when speed matters. Know the difference, and you’ll save thousands over a year of trading.
Sources & References
- Investopedia: Basics of Algorithmic Trading Concepts
- CoinDesk: Why Maker Fees Matter for Crypto Traders
- SEC: Market Structure for Crypto Assets
- Learn more about Calendar Spread Funding Rate Strategy strategies in our comprehensive guide.
How to Close a Crypto Futures Position — Exit Smartly
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