Bybit market, limit and conditional orders determine when a trade reaches the order book, while settings such as Post-Only, Reduce-Only, Close on Trigger and TP/SL control how that order may execute or close risk. No order type guarantees both a fill and a fixed price: market orders can slip, marketable limit orders can become taker orders, and triggered conditional orders can still fail or remain unfilled. Choose the market first, then verify the symbol rules, live fee rate, trigger price and closing instructions before submitting an order.
Verified on August 19, 2026. This guide uses Bybit’s current order-type, execution, slippage, fee, TP/SL, Post-Only and Close on Trigger documentation. Bybit can change product availability, order parameters, fee rates and regional access after that date.
Bybit order types at a glance
| Trading objective | Order or setting | What it does | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execute quickly | Market | Matches the best available liquidity immediately. | Execution price can move across the order book; a taker fee normally applies. |
| Control the worst acceptable price | Limit | Executes at the limit price or a better available price. | A fill is not guaranteed; an immediately marketable limit order can execute as a taker. |
| Wait for a price condition | Conditional market or limit | Places the selected order only after the chosen trigger price is reached. | Triggering is not the same as filling; margin, price rules and liquidity are checked at execution. |
| Require maker placement | Post-Only | Allows a limit order to rest on the book instead of matching immediately. | The order is canceled if it would execute immediately. |
| Only reduce derivatives exposure | Reduce-Only | Prevents a limit order from increasing or reversing the existing position. | It cannot open a new position and may be adjusted or rejected when no reducible position remains. |
| Close after a trigger | Close on Trigger | Treats a derivatives conditional order as a closing instruction. | It is canceled if there is no position to close; a conditional limit still may not fill. |
| Automate exits | TP/SL or OCO | Links profit-taking and loss-control conditions to an order or position. | Behavior, asset reservation and availability differ between Spot and Derivatives. |
Bybit’s current overview lists market, limit and conditional orders as the three basic types. It also lists advanced tools including TP/SL, Iceberg, Post-Only, GTC/IOC/FOK, Trailing Stop, TWAP, Scaled, Chase Limit, RPI and POV. OCO is listed for Spot, while Reduce-Only and Close on Trigger are listed for Derivatives. A control visible in one market or account should not be assumed to exist for every symbol, region or interface.
1. Market orders: fastest execution, least price control
A market order removes available liquidity from the order book. A buy starts from the best ask and a sell starts from the best bid. If the requested size is larger than the quantity available at the first price level, the remaining amount can fill at progressively worse prices. This difference between the expected and average filled price is slippage.
Bybit currently offers a Slippage Tolerance option for Spot, Spot Margin and Futures market orders. When enabled, the market order behaves like a price-limited instruction: only the portion inside the permitted range can fill and any amount beyond that range is canceled. Bybit states that the setting is disabled by default, that BTC and ETH use an amount rather than a percentage, and that it is not supported for OCO, Conditional or Trailing Stop orders. Confirm the current order ticket because these implementation details can change.
When a market order may be reasonable
- The priority is exiting risk quickly rather than obtaining an exact price.
- The order is small relative to visible market depth.
- The spread is narrow and liquidity is deep.
- You have reviewed the confirmation screen and, where available, set a tolerable slippage boundary.
A market order does not make a trade safe. During volatility, thin liquidity or a platform disruption, the final fill can differ materially from the last displayed price. A stop-loss that triggers a market order can also slip.
2. Limit orders: price protection does not guarantee a maker fee
A limit order sets the worst price you accept. A buy can fill at the limit price or lower; a sell can fill at the limit price or higher. If the price never reaches executable liquidity, the order remains open or expires according to its time-in-force setting.
The common mistake is assuming every limit order is a maker order. Suppose the best ask is 60,000 USDT. A buy limit at 59,800 normally rests below the market and can add liquidity. A buy limit at 60,050 is immediately executable against asks up to that limit, so it removes liquidity and can be charged as a taker. If maker placement is essential, use Post-Only and accept that the order may be canceled.
Why maker or taker classification can change the fee
| Product | Published VIP 0 maker rate | Published VIP 0 taker rate |
|---|---|---|
| Spot crypto-to-crypto | 0.1000% | 0.1000% |
| Perpetual and Futures | 0.0200% | 0.0550% |
| Options | 0.0200% | 0.0300% |
Using the published VIP 0 derivatives rates only as an example, a 10,000 USDT filled value would produce a 2.00 USDT maker fee or a 5.50 USDT taker fee. Actual rates can differ by VIP level, product, region, account entity, campaign and later policy changes. Bybit explicitly directs users to the logged-in My Fee Rate page after identity verification. The execution record, not the button label, determines whether a fill was maker or taker.
For a broader comparison and current caveats, read the Bybit fee guide.
3. Conditional orders: a trigger is not a guaranteed fill
A conditional order waits for a selected reference price—such as Last Traded Price, Mark Price or Index Price—to reach the trigger. The system then submits either a market order or a limit order. A conditional market order prioritizes execution and can slip. A conditional limit order controls price but can remain unfilled after triggering.
Bybit’s current execution FAQ says an untriggered conditional order does not reserve margin, but margin is checked when it triggers. That creates a practical failure mode: an order can reach its trigger and still be rejected because available margin is insufficient. Price restrictions, Post-Only settings and contract rules can also prevent execution.
Last, Mark or Index Price?
- Last Traded Price: follows recent trades, but a brief print can trigger an order.
- Mark Price: is commonly used for liquidation logic and can help align a protective trigger with liquidation risk, but the resulting order still executes against the live order book.
- Index Price: reflects a composite reference and may ignore an isolated venue spike, but it can lag the traded market.
Trigger reference and execution price are different concepts. Even when Mark Price triggers a stop, the resulting market order fills against available trading prices and may slip. For liquidation mechanics, see the Bybit liquidation and risk-control guide.
4. Post-Only and time in force: control how a limit order rests
Post-Only is available as an additional option for limit or conditional limit orders in Spot and Derivatives. If the order would match immediately, Bybit cancels it instead of allowing a taker fill. This can protect maker intent, but it also creates missed-entry risk when the market moves quickly.
| Time in force | Execution rule | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| GTC — Good Till Canceled | Leaves the unfilled quantity open until it fills or is canceled. | Patient limit entry or exit. |
| IOC — Immediate or Cancel | Fills immediately in full or in part, then cancels the remainder. | Take available liquidity without leaving a resting remainder. |
| FOK — Fill or Kill | Requires the full quantity to fill immediately or cancels the entire order. | A trade where a partial fill is unacceptable. |
Post-Only and time in force solve different problems. Post-Only controls maker placement; GTC, IOC and FOK control how long the order remains available and whether partial execution is accepted. Check which combinations the selected market supports.
5. Reduce-Only versus Close on Trigger
These two derivatives controls are designed to prevent an intended exit from becoming a new position, but they attach to different order logic.
| Control | Attached to | Core purpose | If no position remains |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reduce-Only | Limit order | Only reduce the current position; do not increase or reverse exposure. | The order can be reduced, rejected or canceled because there is nothing to close. |
| Close on Trigger | Conditional order | Submit a closing order only when the trigger condition is reached. | Bybit cancels the triggered instruction rather than opening an opposite position. |
Bybit states that a conditional market order with Close on Trigger can close at the best available price even when additional margin is unavailable. A conditional limit with Close on Trigger becomes a Reduce-Only limit order after triggering, so execution is still not guaranteed. Built-in TP/SL for Perpetual and Expiry Contracts includes a Close on Trigger mechanism.
6. TP/SL, OCO and advanced execution tools
Take Profit and Stop Loss orders automate exits, but Spot and Derivatives do not use identical reservation and closing rules. Bybit’s Spot documentation says a TP/SL order occupies assets when placed, a conditional order occupies the required assets only after triggering, and an OCO order reserves only one side because one condition cancels the other. Always review the market-specific help page and confirmation screen.
Bybit also lists Iceberg, TWAP, Scaled, Chase Limit, Trailing Stop, RPI and POV tools. These can divide size, follow liquidity or automate execution, but they do not eliminate spread, slippage, partial fills, latency or market impact. Advanced order availability can depend on product, interface, account and region; start with a small test and inspect the order history before using large size.
7. Pre-order checklist
- Confirm the market: Spot, Spot Margin, Perpetual, Expiry or Options.
- Check eligibility: verify KYC, regional access and the entity serving your account.
- Review margin mode: Isolated, Cross or Portfolio Margin changes how collateral risk can spread. The Bybit UTA guide explains the broader account structure.
- Choose the priority: immediate execution, price limit, trigger condition or maker placement.
- Confirm the trigger reference: Last, Mark or Index Price where applicable.
- Protect exits: use Reduce-Only or Close on Trigger when the intention is to close derivatives exposure.
- Preview fees: check My Fee Rate and whether the order is expected to add or remove liquidity.
- Model a partial fill: decide what happens if only part of the order executes.
- Review live details: quantity, order value, leverage, estimated cost, TP/SL and slippage settings.
- Verify afterward: inspect order status, filled price, maker/taker classification and charged fee.
8. Using BYBITDC without assuming a fee or reward
If you choose to open a Bybit account, you can use referral code BYBITDC through the official signup page: check the Bybit registration screen with BYBITDC. Before submitting personal information, confirm that the code is displayed and read the fee, reward, product-access and regional-eligibility terms presented to your account.
A referral link does not prove a fixed fee reduction, bonus, VIP rate or product entitlement. The controlling evidence is the live signup screen, campaign terms and logged-in My Fee Rate page. Keep a copy of the terms you actually accept.
Frequently asked questions
Is every Bybit limit order a maker order?
No. A marketable limit order can match immediately and become a taker order. Post-Only is the relevant setting when maker placement is required, but the order will be canceled if it would execute immediately.
Why did my conditional order trigger but not fill?
Possible reasons include insufficient margin at trigger time, a conditional limit price that the market has not reached, insufficient liquidity, a Post-Only conflict, an invalid closing instruction or a symbol-level price rule. Check the order history and current Bybit execution FAQ for the exact rejection reason.
Does a stop-loss guarantee protection from liquidation?
No. The trigger may use a different reference from the execution price, a market stop can slip, a limit stop can remain unfilled, and a fast move can reach liquidation logic first. Maintain adequate margin and size the position so the plan does not rely on one order working perfectly.
Does Post-Only always lower my fee?
If the Post-Only order fills, it is intended to fill as a maker. Whether the numerical maker rate is lower depends on the product and your account. For example, Bybit’s published VIP 0 Spot crypto-to-crypto maker and taker rates are currently both 0.1000%, while the published derivatives rates differ. Verify your own fee page.
Which Bybit order type is safest?
There is no universally safest type. A limit order controls price but may not fill; a market order prioritizes execution but can slip; a conditional order automates timing but can fail at the trigger; and closing flags reduce operational mistakes but cannot remove market, liquidity or liquidation risk. Match the order to the failure you can tolerate.
Official Bybit sources
- Types of Orders Available on Bybit
- FAQ — Order Execution and Liquidation
- Post-Only Order
- Close On Trigger
- Market Order with Slippage Tolerance
- Bybit Trading Fee Structure
- Take Profit and Stop Loss — Spot Trading
- Service Restricted Countries
- Bybit Risk Disclosure Statement (PDF)
Source review date: August 19, 2026. Bybit can amend order logic, fees, supported markets, symbols and eligibility. Recheck the official pages, live order ticket and your account immediately before acting.
Affiliate disclosure: BYDITT is an independent educational and affiliate website, not Bybit.com. BYDITT may receive compensation from eligible registrations or trading through BYBITDC. That relationship does not automatically change your fee rate, order execution or eligibility and does not replace checking your own account terms.
Risk disclosure: Crypto and leveraged derivatives can produce rapid losses and liquidation. Market, liquidity, slippage, leverage, custody, counterparty, technology, regulatory and conflict-of-interest risks remain. Order controls can reduce operational mistakes but cannot guarantee execution, price or loss prevention. Nothing here is investment, legal or tax advice.
