Trading Fees Calculator: Estimate Forex, Crypto & Stock Trading Costs

When you trade online—whether in Forex, stocks, or cryptocurrency—trading fees are an unavoidable part of the process. If you don’t factor them in, they can significantly reduce your profits over time.

In Forex trading, the primary cost is the spread—the difference between the buy and sell price of a currency pair. In crypto trading, exchanges typically charge commission-based fees or maker-taker fees, depending on the type of order you place.

Understanding these costs is crucial. Knowing exactly how much you're paying per trade allows you to manage risk effectively and maximise returns. That’s why we’ve created a Trading Fee Calculator to help South African traders estimate trading costs in advance and choose the most cost-effective broker or exchange.

What Are Trading Fees?

Trading fees are charges applied when you buy or sell an asset—whether that’s a currency pair, a stock, or a cryptocurrency. These fees are how brokers and trading platforms make money, and they vary widely depending on:

• The market you trade in (Forex, stocks, crypto).
• The broker or exchange you use.
• The type of trade you place (market order, limit order, leveraged position).

At first, these fees may seem small, but frequent trading adds up quickly. For active traders, even small percentage-based fees can significantly impact profitability over time.

What Are The Types of Trading Fees in South Africa?

Different markets have different fee structures, but the most common trading costs include:

Spreads (Forex & CFDs)

• The spread is the difference between the buy (bid) price and sell (ask) price of an asset.
• The wider the spread, the higher the trading cost.
• Forex brokers in South Africa, such as Exness, FXTM, and HotForex, offer variable spreads depending on liquidity and volatility.

Commissions (Stocks & Crypto)

• Some brokers charge a flat fee per trade or a percentage-based commission on stock or crypto trades.
• South African stockbrokers like EasyEquities, Standard Bank Online Share Trading, and PSG Wealth charge commissions per trade.

Overnight Fees (Swap Fees on CFDs & Forex)

• If you hold a leveraged position overnight, you’ll be charged interest on the borrowed amount.
• This applies to Forex, CFD, and margin trading accounts.

Deposit & Withdrawal Fees

• Some brokers charge fees for funding your trading account or withdrawing money.
• Most South African stockbrokers and forex brokers offer free deposits, but some crypto exchanges charge for blockchain withdrawals.

Let’s look at these in more detail and see how they affect your trading costs.

How Are Trading Fees Calculated?

Unlike stock trading, where commissions are common, most Forex brokers make money through spreads.

For example, when trading USD/ZAR, you’ll see two prices—one for buying and one for selling. The spread is measured in PIPs (the smallest unit of price movement).

If the spread on USD/ZAR is 2.5 PIPs, then:

• A Standard Lot trade would cost R25 (2.5 × R10).
• A Mini Lot trade would cost R2.50 (2.5 × R1).
• A Micro Lot trade would cost R0.25 (2.5 × R0.10).

For day traders who place multiple trades per day, these costs can add up quickly.

Stock Trading Fees on South African Platforms

Stock trading fees depend on which broker you use. Some platforms offer low-cost or commission-free trading, while others charge a fee per trade.

If you trade stocks regularly, choosing a broker with lower commissions can save you money over time.

Crypto Trading Fees: Maker & Taker Fees

Cryptocurrency exchanges typically charge fees based on the maker-taker model:

• Maker Fees – Apply when you add liquidity by placing a limit order.
• Taker Fees – Apply when you remove liquidity by placing a market order.

Expert advice

To reduce fees:

• Use limit orders instead of market orders (maker fees are usually lower).
• Choose exchanges with lower trading fees.

How to Use Our Trading Fee Calculator?

Using our Trading Fee Calculator is simple. Just follow these steps:

• Select Your Market – Choose Forex, stocks, or crypto.
• Enter Your Trade Details – Add trade size, entry and exit price, and leverage (if applicable).
• Choose Your Broker or Exchange – Compare different brokers and their fees.
• Get Your Results – See your total fees and how they affect your profit.

By understanding your trading costs in advance, you can adjust your strategy and avoid unnecessary charges.

How to Reduce Trading Fees in South Africa?

While trading fees are unavoidable, there are ways to minimise them:

• Use a Broker with Commission-Free Trading – Some brokers offer zero-commission trading on stocks and ETFs. In South Africa, EasyEquities has lower trading fees than traditional platforms.
• Choose a Low-Fee Crypto Exchange – VALR and Binance SA offer lower fees than most platforms.
• Use Limit Orders Instead of Market Orders – Market orders trigger taker fees, which are higher than maker fees.
• Avoid Overnight Fees – CFD traders can close positions before markets close to avoid swap fees.
• Trade on Fee-Free Days – Some crypto exchanges offer zero-fee promotions on specific days.
• Look for Cashback & VIP Discounts – High-volume traders can qualify for lower fees or rebates.

Understanding trading fees is essential for Forex, stock, and crypto traders. By comparing broker costs, using a Trading Fee Calculator, and adopting cost-saving strategies, you can optimise your trading expenses and increase profitability.

To take control of your trading costs, use our free Trading Fee Calculator today and trade smarter! 

P. Laurore

Finance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and holder of a Master's degree in finance, Pauline has recognised expertise in personal finance, which she uses to help users better understand and optimise their financial choices. At HelloSafe, Pauline plays a key role in designing clear, educational content on savings, investments and personal finance. Passionate about financial education, Pauline strives, with every piece of content she oversees, to provide reliable, transparent and unbiased information for independent and informed financial management. To this end, she has tested over 100 trading platforms to help internet users make the right choices.