Does this article need to be translated?
Contribute to the Help Center
Submit translations, corrections, and suggestions on GitHub, or reach out on our Community forums.
The Ethereum network requires gas to execute transactions. When you send tokens, interact with a contract, send ETH, or do anything else on the blockchain, you must pay for that computation. That payment is calculated in gas, and gas is always paid in ETH. (Other networks that use gas, or have a similar model, usually pay gas in their native token: e.g. BNB, POL (previously MATIC), etc.)
Okay, yes, I get that, but why are they so high?
The price of gas is dynamic and is essentially a product of demand: the more people that are trying to get their transactions processed by the network, the higher it will be. Each additional person can—if they have the means—increase their priority fee to raise the chances that their transaction will get processed sooner.
In addition to being under the sway of demand, one of the reasons Ethereum can be costly to transact on is because of its security. In a way, security is the feature for which you're paying a premium. Ethereum's high level of security is a product of its age (it has weathered a lot more challenges and attacks than most blockchains) and its distributed, decentralized nature. Ethereum is, as a rule, far more decentralized than many other blockchains, and although many alternatives have much cheaper transactions, they are likely to have compromised on the'security' element of the blockchain trilemma (although many claim to have solved this challenge).
Some other contributors to the price of Ethereum's gas fees include:
- The popularity of NFTs on Ethereum. Many spikes in gas prices can be attributed to highly anticipated NFT drops.
- Ethereum is the home of DeFi (decentralized finance). Many of the largest, most established dapps were built on Ethereum, and continue to be the biggest players in DeFi. This DeFiLlama chart, comparing TVL (total value locked) in DeFi across major networks, shows Ethereum comprises ~58% of the DeFi market at the time of writing. All the transactions that accompany this popularity naturally raise computational demands on the network.
Is there anything I can do about it?
You are paying for the computation of your transaction, regardless of whether it succeeds or fails. Even if it fails, the validators must confirm and execute your transaction, which takes computational power. You must pay for that computation, just like you would pay for a successful transaction. This means there's no way around paying gas fees if you want to use a network.
However, if you have a bit of time and flexibility, you may be able to reduce costs:
- You can try to lower gas fees in your transaction settings. Please keep in mind that overriding MetaMask's suggested gas settings with a much lower total will result in your transaction being processed very slowly, and could even result in you wasting your money if it becomes'stale' and isn't picked up at all.
- Develop an understanding of peak times. Although crypto is global, peaks will typically be during the waking hours of the North American continent (between UTC-5 and UTC-8), which you could plan to avoid.
- Investigate alternative networks. You can use MetaMask to take advantage of the multi-chain web3 that is emerging. Whether you stay directly within Ethereum's orbit on layer 2s, or emigrate to one of many EVM-compatible chains, there are cheaper alternatives (though you will have to bridge tokens to them first).
For current network gas conditions, see https://etherscan.io/gastracker.
info
Gas on networks other than Ethereum mainnet
Most EVM-compatible networks—those that you can use with MetaMask—have similar gas mechanisms to Ethereum, so the principles on this page apply more broadly. However, since other chains do not necessarily have ETH as their native token, you need to pay for gas in different ways. Gas on Polygon, for example, is paid in POL, the network's native token, and BNB Chain fees are paid in BNB.
FAQs
The price of gas is dynamic and is essentially a product of demand: the more people that are trying to get their transactions processed by the network, the higher it will be.
Why is my gas fee so high? ›
The exact price of gas is influenced by supply, demand, and the network's capacity at the time of the transaction. During periods of high network congestion, gas prices can rise significantly. Conversely, when the network is quieter, gas fees tend to be lower.
How to minimize gas fees on MetaMask? ›
Click on the fee, and a menu will appear with a slider, and another option to click on 'Advanced Options'. The slider lets you pick between three options that describe how much gas you want to pay: 'Low' involves paying less for gas, and most likely waiting longer for your transaction to complete.
How do you optimize gas fees? ›
- Optimize the transaction timing.
- Take advantage of rebate offers.
- Choose transaction type carefully.
- Monitor network congestion to avoid delays.
- Benefit from gas tokens.
- Calculate payable gas fees beforehand.
- Switch to Ethereum 2.0.
To reduce Ethereum gas fees, choose off-peak hours for transactions, batch similar transactions, use gas tokens and estimation tools, and explore Layer 2 solutions like Optimism. Whether you're an avid DeFi user, a DApp developer, or simply a casual Ethereum enthusiast, high gas fees are equally frustrating for us all.
Why are gas prices so high all of a sudden? ›
Gas prices surged in 2021 and 2022 amid economic disruptions caused by the pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine — and they've never been the same. Today, gas prices are 30% higher than they were five years ago.
How to avoid gas fees? ›
To avoid Ethereum gas fees, consider timing transactions during off-peak periods and utilizing layer-2 solutions like Polygon or Arbitrum for cheaper and faster transactions. Exploring alternative blockchains such as Solana or Avalanche can also offer lower fees.
Why are gas fees so expensive on MetaMask? ›
The price of gas is dynamic and is essentially a product of demand: the more people that are trying to get their transactions processed by the network, the higher it will be.
What time are gas fees lowest? ›
Transact when network demand is low
Prices fluctuate in response to network demand, meaning you can reduce fees by transacting when network demand is low. Gas fees are generally cheaper on weekends and when most people are asleep in the United States.
How do I withdraw from MetaMask without gas fees? ›
Unfortunately, it is not possible to withdraw USDT (Tether) to a MetaMask wallet without paying a gas fee. Gas fees are required to process transactions on the Ethereum network, which is the underlying blockchain for USDT. Gas fees are paid to miners who validate and process transactions.
Gas fees are transaction costs on the Ethereum blockchain, paid in Ether (ETH) or its fraction, gwei. These fees serve as a form of remuneration for validators who maintain and secure the network. Gas fees fluctuate based on supply, demand, and network capacity, and may increase during periods of network congestion.
How do I avoid high gas prices? ›
Some of these steps include:
- Slow down. * Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.15 per gallon for gas. ...
- Keep your car maintained and running smoothly. * Tune ups. ...
- Use your engine wisely. * Avoid Excessive Idling. ...
- Be smart about driving. ...
- Keep your car light.
Looking for simple low cost and no cost ways to reduce your energy usage? One of the tips below may be right for you.
- Turn Down Your Thermostat. ...
- Take Care of Your Furnace. ...
- Let the Heat Circulate. ...
- Keep the Cold Out. ...
- Cook Smart. ...
- Turn Down the Tank. ...
- Think Before You Wash and Dry Clothes.
Please make sure you have the latest version here.
- Confirming an action in the FOAM Map brings up the MetaMask window 'Confirm Transaction'.
- Find 'Gas Fee'.
- Click 'Edit' next to 'Gas Fee' to set a custom Gas Price and Gas Limit.
- Next, you need to find the average Gas Price at that time on the Ethereum network.
Ethereum Average Gas Price is at a current level of 11.76, up from 3.924 yesterday and down from 12.18 one year ago. This is a change of 199.7% from yesterday and -3.45% from one year ago.
Is ETH 2.0 going to lower gas fees? ›
Ethereum 2.0 introduces key upgrades like the Beacon Chain, The Merge, and sharding to improve network efficiency and reduce transaction costs. Ethereum 2.0 is expected to significantly lower gas fees by increasing the network's capacity to handle transactions.
Why was I charged so much for gas? ›
Your gas bill will fluctuate depending on natural gas prices and increase energy use, but may also change due to the season, a change in lifestyle or the addition of family members. Some commonly used appliances that consume natural gas are: Clothes Dryers. Water Heaters.
Why is my gas usage so high? ›
Consistently high bills, or high bills in the summer when heating costs drop for most households, can often be attributed to high gas supply rates, older, inefficient appliances, a need to better maintain or service your gas appliances, window and door drafts, heat loss through the attic or chimney, or opportunities to ...
Why is my gas bill so high so Cal? ›
Increased use of appliances can impact your bill. For example, water heaters work longer and harder during colder weather and could increase your natural gas usage. Having guests at home, cooking more, and leaving appliances on could also impact your bill.
Why do gas stations charge so much for gas? ›
That's not an anomaly — Californians consistently pay more for gas than the rest of the country. A confluence of factors join together to increase the price of gas in The Golden State, including environmental restrictions, higher taxes and a shrinking number of regional refineries.
