Post-Only Orders on Bybit Futures: A Complete Guide

By Editorial Team · July 2026

You’re about to enter a trade on Bybit Futures, and you want to avoid paying the taker fee. That’s where the post-only order comes in. This order type ensures your limit order adds liquidity to the order book, saving you up to 0.055% per trade compared to market orders. Understanding how to use post-only orders correctly can slash your trading costs and improve your overall strategy. Let’s break down exactly how this tool works and when you should use it.

What Is a Post-Only Order on Bybit Futures?

A post-only order is a specific type of limit order that tells the exchange: “Only place this order if it adds liquidity to the order book.” If your limit price would immediately match an existing order, Bybit cancels the post-only order instead of executing it. This is fundamentally different from a standard limit order, which would execute immediately if the price is reachable.

The name comes from the idea that you’re “posting” liquidity to the order book rather than “taking” it away. On Bybit Futures, makers (those who add liquidity) pay a fee of just 0.02% for perpetual contracts. Takers (those who remove liquidity) pay 0.055%. That difference of 0.035% might sound small, but for active traders moving large volumes, it adds up fast. A trader doing $100,000 in daily volume could save over $800 per year just by using post-only orders consistently.

For context, Bybit’s fee structure is competitive, but the maker-taker model rewards patient traders. If you’re scalping or using automated strategies, post-only can be a game-changer. But it requires you to be willing to wait for your order to fill, rather than jumping in immediately.

When Would You Use a Post-Only Order?

You’d use a post-only order in three main scenarios. First, when you’re placing a limit order that’s not at the current best bid or ask, and you expect price to move toward your level. Second, when you’re running a market-making strategy that relies on earning the rebate. Third, when you’re trying to avoid the higher taker fee on large orders that could cause slippage.

Let’s say Bitcoin is trading at $60,000, and you want to buy at $59,800. You set a limit order at $59,800 with the post-only option enabled. Your order sits on the book as a bid. If price drops to $59,800, your order gets filled, and you pay the 0.02% maker fee instead of 0.055%. If price never reaches $59,800, the order stays there or expires — no harm done.

But here’s the catch: if you set your limit price at $60,000 (the current market price), Bybit will cancel your post-only order immediately. Why? Because at that price, your order would execute straight away as a taker. The exchange prevents this to protect you from accidentally paying the higher fee. So post-only forces you to be patient and place orders away from the immediate market.

This is especially useful during volatile periods. When the market is moving fast, limit orders can get eaten up instantly, and you’d end up paying taker fees without realizing it. Post-only prevents that by cancelling any order that would fill immediately.

How to Set Up a Post-Only Order on Bybit Futures (Step-by-Step)

Setting up a post-only order on Bybit is straightforward once you know where to look. Here’s the process:

Step 1: Open the Futures Trading Interface

Navigate to the Bybit Futures trading page. Make sure you’re on the correct contract — USDT perpetual, coin-margined, or inverse futures. The post-only option works across all contract types. You’ll see the order entry panel on the left side of the screen.

Step 2: Select Limit Order Type

Click the dropdown menu that says “Market” by default. Change it to “Limit.” The post-only option only applies to limit orders, not market orders or stop orders. You can’t use post-only with market orders because they always take liquidity.

Step 3: Enable the Post-Only Toggle

Below the price and quantity fields, you’ll see a small checkbox or toggle labeled “Post Only.” Click it to enable the feature. The toggle turns blue or green when active. Some versions of Bybit show it as “Reduce Only” or “Post Only” — make sure you select the right one. Post-only and reduce-only can be combined, but they serve different purposes.

Step 4: Set Your Price and Quantity

Enter your desired limit price and contract quantity. Remember: your price must be off the current best bid or ask. If you’re buying, set a bid below the current market price. If you’re selling, set an ask above the current market price. The exchange will warn you if your price would cause immediate execution.

Step 5: Submit and Monitor

Click the green “Buy/Long” or “Sell/Short” button. Your order appears in the open orders tab. You’ll see a small “P” icon next to it, indicating it’s a post-only order. Monitor the order book — your order will sit there until it fills or expires. You can cancel it anytime without penalty.

If you accidentally set a price that would execute immediately, Bybit will show a red error message: “Order will be executed immediately. Please adjust price or disable Post Only.” This is your safety net — don’t ignore it.

Post-Only vs. Other Order Types: A Quick Comparison

Understanding the differences helps you choose the right tool. Here’s a breakdown:

• Market Order: Executes instantly at best available price. Always a taker. Highest fee (0.055%). Best for urgent entries or exits.
• Limit Order: Executes at your specified price or better. Can be maker or taker depending on whether it fills immediately. Variable fees.
• Post-Only Limit Order: Only adds liquidity. Cancels if it would be a taker. Lowest fee (0.02%). Best for patient strategies.
• Stop Market Order: Triggers a market order when price hits your stop level. Always a taker. Used for stop-losses.
• Stop Limit Order: Triggers a limit order when price hits your stop level. Can be maker or taker. More control but may not fill.

The post-only order sits in a unique category. It’s not a separate order type per se — it’s a modifier applied to a standard limit order. But the behavioral difference is critical. Without post-only, a limit order at market price would execute as a taker, and you’d pay the higher fee. With post-only, that same order gets cancelled, protecting your fees.

Advanced Strategies Using Post-Only Orders

Experienced traders use post-only orders in several sophisticated ways. One common approach is the “iceberg” strategy. You place multiple small post-only orders at different price levels to accumulate a position without moving the market. For example, instead of buying 10 Bitcoin at once, you place 10 post-only orders of 1 BTC each at prices $100 apart. Each order that fills pays the maker fee, and you average into your position.

Another strategy involves using post-only for scalping on liquid pairs. On Bybit, pairs like BTCUSDT and ETHUSDT have tight spreads — often just $1-2. A scalper might place post-only bids $1 below the current ask, hoping to get filled quickly. When filled, they immediately place a post-only ask $1 above the new bid. This “market making” approach can capture small profits while paying minimal fees. But it requires fast execution and careful risk management.

Grid trading bots also benefit from post-only. Many Bybit users run grid bots that place limit orders at regular intervals. By enabling post-only, these bots ensure they never accidentally pay taker fees during volatile spikes. This can boost grid strategy profitability by 5-15% over time, depending on market conditions.

For a deeper understanding of order book mechanics, check out our guide on The Core Problem With Most SAND Reversal Attempts. It explains how your post-only orders interact with existing bids and asks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use post-only orders on Bybit spot trading?

Yes, Bybit spot trading also supports post-only orders. The mechanics are identical — you enable the toggle on a limit order, and the exchange cancels it if it would execute immediately. The fee benefits are similar, though spot fees are generally lower than futures fees.

What happens if my post-only order is cancelled?

Your order simply disappears from the order book. You receive no fill, and no fee is charged. You can immediately place a new order at a different price or keep the same price and wait. The cancellation is automatic and happens within milliseconds.

Does post-only work with stop-loss orders?

No. Stop-loss orders are always market or limit orders that trigger when price hits a certain level. A stop-loss market order will always take liquidity. A stop-loss limit order can be set to post-only, but this is risky — if the limit price is too aggressive, the order may never fill, and your position could suffer larger losses.

How much can I save using post-only orders?

On Bybit Futures, the difference between maker and taker fees is 0.035% per trade. If you trade $10,000 daily, that’s $3.50 per day in savings, or about $1,277 annually. For high-frequency traders doing $100,000 daily, savings exceed $12,000 per year. These numbers are hypothetical and depend on your trading volume and fill rates.

Can I combine post-only with reduce-only?

Yes. Bybit allows you to enable both options on the same order. This is useful when you want to close a position while paying the maker fee. For example, if you’re short and want to buy back at a lower price, you can set a post-only reduce-only buy order. It will only fill if it adds liquidity and reduces your position.

Does post-only affect order execution speed?

Not directly. Your order enters the matching engine like any other limit order. The only difference is the automatic cancellation if it would be a taker. Once on the book, execution speed depends on market conditions and order book depth. In fast markets, post-only orders may sit unfilled for longer than standard limit orders.

Key Risks to Consider

Post-only orders are not a magic bullet. The biggest risk is missed opportunity. If the market moves quickly in your direction, your post-only order might never fill because it was set too far from the market price. You could miss a profitable move while waiting for a cheaper entry. This is especially dangerous during strong trends — a patient post-only order might leave you on the sidelines while the market runs away.

Another risk involves liquidity assumptions. On low-volume altcoin pairs, the spread can be wide, and your post-only order might sit for hours or days without filling. Meanwhile, you could be losing money on open positions elsewhere. Always check the order book depth before relying on post-only for execution. Thin markets require wider spreads, which reduces your probability of getting filled.

Finally, there’s the risk of over-optimizing for fees. Saving 0.035% per trade is great, but not if it causes you to enter at worse prices or miss trades entirely. Sometimes paying the taker fee is worth it for immediate execution. A 0.055% fee on a profitable trade is better than a 0.02% fee on a trade that never happens. Balance fee savings with execution quality.

Remember: past fee savings do not guarantee future results. Market conditions change, and your fill rates will vary. This content is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.

Sources & References

• Bybit Help Center: Order Types Explained
• Investopedia: Maker-Taker Fee Structure
• CoinDesk: How Limit Orders Work in Crypto Trading

For more on trading strategies, see our article on Hedera HBAR 1 Hour Futures Strategy.

— Editorial Team