Bitcoin fees are inputs minus outputs, priced by size in sat/vB, not by amount sent. Learn what sets fees, how to pay less and how to fix a stuck payment.
The fee is the leftover
There is no "fee" field in a transaction. The fee is implied:
fee = total of inputs − total of outputsWhy fees exist
Blocks have limited space (Block size and the weight limit). When more people want to transact than fit in the next block, they compete. Miners choose transactions that pay them the most for the space used.
Space, not amount
Sending 1 BTC or 100 BTC costs the same fee if the transaction is the same size. What matters is the fee rate: sats per virtual byte. A transaction with many inputs is bigger and needs a higher total fee for the same speed.
| Situation | Effect on fee |
|---|---|
| Many inputs | Bigger transaction, higher total fee |
| Busy mempool | Higher fee rate needed |
| SegWit or Taproot addresses | Smaller transactions, lower fees |
| Not in a hurry | Choose a low rate and wait |
Stuck transaction?
If you paid too little, you can often speed it up with Replace-by-fee (RBF) or Child pays for parent (CPFP).
How to pay less
- Use SegWit or Taproot addresses: their inputs are much smaller than legacy ones.
- Avoid spending many tiny coins: consolidate when fees are low. See Dust and UTXO consolidation.
- Pick a slower target when you're not in a hurry.
- Batch payments if you pay several people. See Transaction batching.
Check current fees
The MyBitcoinExplorer fee page shows our node's live estimates for the next block, about 30 minutes and about an hour. The mempool page shows how much is waiting right now.
Key takeaways
- Fee = inputs − outputs; it isn't a separate field.
- Fees are priced by size (fee rate), not by amount sent.
- A busy mempool raises the fee rate needed for fast confirmation.
Common questions
What is a normal Bitcoin fee?
It varies with demand. A typical payment uses roughly 140 to 225 vB, so at 5 sat/vB it costs around 700 to 1,100 sats.
Who gets the fee?
The miner whose block includes the transaction, through the coinbase transaction.
Why are Bitcoin fees sometimes high?
When more transactions are waiting than fit in the next blocks, people bid higher fee rates to get in first.
Does a bigger amount mean a bigger fee?
No. Fees depend on the transaction's size in vbytes and the fee rate, not on how much bitcoin moves.