How to Use Post-Only Orders on OKX Futures

By Editorial Team · July 2026

If you’ve ever placed a market order on a futures exchange only to watch it get eaten by a massive spread, you already know the frustration. You pay more than expected, and your entry is worse than it should be. That’s where post-only orders come in. These are limit orders that refuse to take liquidity. They sit on the order book, waiting to be matched, and they can save you a bundle on fees. On OKX Futures, using a post-only order is a straightforward process, but there are a few important nuances to understand. This walkthrough will show you exactly how to set one up, avoid common mistakes, and use them effectively for your trading strategy.

Who This Is For

This guide is for intermediate futures traders who want to reduce trading fees, improve order execution, and learn how to add liquidity on OKX Futures instead of taking it.

What You’ll Need

• An active OKX account with futures trading enabled
• Sufficient USDT or collateral in your futures wallet
• Basic understanding of limit orders and order book mechanics
• Access to the OKX web platform or mobile app (version 6.2 or later)
• A specific price level where you want to place your order

Step 1: Open the OKX Futures Trading Interface

First, log into your OKX account and navigate to the Derivatives section. Click on “Futures” from the top menu. You’ll see the main trading interface with the order book on the right, the chart in the center, and the order entry panel on the left. Make sure you’re on the correct contract — for example, BTCUSDT perpetual futures or ETHUSDT quarterly futures. The post-only option works for all futures contracts on OKX, including perpetual, quarterly, and bi-quarterly.

If you’re using the mobile app, tap the “Futures” icon on the bottom navigation, then select your contract. The order entry panel is at the bottom of the screen. On both platforms, you’ll see a row of order type options: Limit, Market, Stop, and Post-Only. By default, the platform usually shows Limit orders first.

Step 2: Select the Post-Only Order Type

On the order entry panel, look for a drop-down menu or a toggle switch labeled “Order Type” or “Advanced Options.” Click or tap it, and you’ll see a list of order types. Select “Post-Only” from the list. On the web version, you might find it under a gear icon or a small “Advanced” button next to the price and quantity fields. Some users miss this because the option is tucked away. If you can’t find it, try switching to the “Limit” order type first, then look for a checkbox that says “Post-Only” or “Maker Only.”

Once selected, the interface will display a small label or icon indicating that your order is now a post-only order. On the mobile app, the button might turn a different color — often blue or green — to confirm the selection. Double-check this. A common mistake is selecting “Limit” instead of “Post-Only,” which could result in paying taker fees if your order gets filled immediately.

Step 3: Enter Your Price and Quantity

Now enter the price at which you want to buy or sell. Remember, a post-only order will only be placed on the order book if it does not immediately match an existing order. So, if you’re buying, your price must be lower than the current best ask price. If you’re selling, your price must be higher than the current best bid price. This ensures you’re adding liquidity to the book.

For example, imagine Bitcoin is trading at $60,000 with a bid of $59,950 and an ask of $60,050. If you want to place a post-only buy order, you should set your price at $59,950 or lower. If you set it at $60,000, it would likely match immediately with the $60,050 ask, and OKX would reject the order. The platform will show a warning message like “Order would immediately match — consider using a different price or order type.” Enter your quantity in contracts or USDT value. On OKX, 1 contract typically equals 1 USD for BTCUSDT perpetual, but check your contract specifications.

Step 4: Review and Submit the Order

Before hitting the “Buy/Long” or “Sell/Short” button, review your order details. Check that the post-only label is active. Look at the order book — your intended price should be on the passive side of the spread. If you’re buying, your price should be in the green bid column. If you’re selling, it should be in the red ask column. This confirms you’re adding liquidity.

OKX also shows you the estimated fee for your order. For a post-only order, the fee will be the maker fee, which is typically 0.02% on OKX Futures (compared to 0.04% for takers). Some VIP tiers get even lower rates. So, a $10,000 post-only order costs about $2 in fees, versus $4 for a taker order. That’s a 50% savings. Once you’re satisfied, click the submit button. The order will appear in your open orders list, marked with a “Post-Only” badge.

Step 5: Monitor and Manage Your Post-Only Order

Once submitted, your order sits on the order book until it’s filled, canceled, or expired. You can view it under the “Open Orders” tab. OKX allows you to modify the order — change the price or quantity — but be careful: modifying a post-only order might cause it to be re-evaluated as a taker order. In most cases, OKX will keep the post-only status if the modified price still doesn’t match immediately. But if you move the price to a more aggressive level, the order could be canceled and replaced as a taker order, which would incur higher fees. To be safe, cancel the old order and place a new post-only order with the updated price.

If the market moves against your order, it might remain unfilled for hours or days. That’s fine. Post-only orders are ideal for traders who are patient and want to capture the spread. If the price reaches your level, the order fills automatically. If not, you can cancel it anytime without penalty. Just remember that unfilled orders tie up your margin, so factor that into your risk management.

Common Pitfalls and Risks

⚠️ Risk: Order gets canceled without notice. If your post-only order would immediately match against an existing order, OKX cancels it instantly. This can be frustrating if you’re trying to enter a position quickly. To mitigate this, always check the order book spread before placing the order. If the spread is very tight (e.g., $0.10 on a $60,000 asset), you might need to set your price slightly away from the current best bid/ask.

⚠️ Risk: Using post-only during high volatility. In fast-moving markets, the spread can widen and narrow in milliseconds. Your post-only order might be placed at a price that becomes aggressive as the market moves, causing it to get skipped or matched unexpectedly. For volatile conditions, consider using a standard limit order with a wider price buffer, or use a stop-limit order instead.

⚠️ Risk: Forgetting to switch back from post-only. If you use post-only for one trade and then switch to a different strategy, you might accidentally place another post-only order that gets rejected because the price is too aggressive. Always double-check the order type before submitting. Set a habit of reviewing the “Order Type” indicator every time you trade.

What Next?

Once you’re comfortable with post-only orders, try combining them with a stop-loss and take-profit to create a fully automated, fee-efficient trading strategy on OKX Futures.

Sources & References

• OKX Support — Order Types Explained
• Investopedia — Post-Only Order Definition
• CoinDesk — Maker and Taker Fees in Crypto Trading

For more on trading fundamentals, check out our guide on SUI Low Leverage Day Trading Setup and AI Basis Trading with 5x Conservative.

— Editorial Team