Base network fees explained

Base fees are tiny — usually a few cents — because it is an Ethereum layer-2 that batches transactions. You pay them in ETH, the same coin used on Ethereum.

How Base fees work

You pay Base fees in ETH. Because Base is a layer-2 that bundles many transactions before settling on Ethereum, the cost per action is a small fraction of Ethereum mainnet — typically a few cents.

Why Base is so cheap

Batching spreads Ethereum's settlement cost across many users, and Base's efficient design keeps fees low even when busy. You get Ethereum security without Ethereum prices.

Getting ETH on Base

You need ETH on Base for fees. Bridge ETH from Ethereum, or withdraw directly to Base from exchanges that support it (including Coinbase).

Cost to create a token on Base

Deploying an ERC-20 on Base costs just cents of ETH gas plus a flat service fee — one of the most affordable ways to launch. See the Base creator and our cost calculator.

How are Base gas fees calculated?

A Base gas fee is not a fixed number — it is the amount of computational work your transaction needs (measured in gas units) multiplied by the price per unit (the gas price, set by network demand). A simple transfer uses little gas; a contract interaction such as deploying a token uses more. On Base you pay this fee in ETH, the network’s native asset, and the price rises and falls with how busy the network is. Base is designed for low-cost transactions, so fees stay small even for contract interactions. To understand the mechanics across every network, see our general guide to gas fees explained.

Keeping Base fees low when you create a token

For anyone launching a token, Base fees matter most at one moment: deploying the contract. The good news is that creating a token on Base costs only the network gas fee in ETH — there is no separate platform cost beyond any small tool fee. Because the fee tracks network demand, deploying when Base is less congested can reduce it further. And since every chain has its own fees, choosing the right network is the biggest factor in what you pay overall; our guide to the best blockchain to create a token and multichain deployment compare the options. When you are ready, you can create your token on Base paying just the ETH gas fee, with full ownership kept in your hands.

Frequently asked questions