Ethereum gas fees explained
Ethereum gas fees are the cost of doing anything on the network, paid in ETH and measured in gwei. They rise with demand — but layer-2s like Base and Arbitrum cut the cost dramatically.
What is gas on Ethereum?
Every action uses computing power measured in gas, and you pay for it in ETH. Fees are quoted in gwei (one billionth of an ETH). A simple transfer is cheap in gas units; deploying a token costs more.
Why Ethereum fees are high
Ethereum has limited block space and huge demand, so users effectively bid for inclusion. When the network is busy, the price per gas rises and fees can reach several dollars or more.
How to pay less
- Use a layer-2 like Base or Arbitrum — same ERC-20 format, cents instead of dollars.
- Transact during quieter hours.
- For a low-cost token launch, consider BNB Chain or Solana.
Compare costs in our calculator.
Getting ETH for gas
Keep some ETH in your wallet to cover fees. You need ETH whether you transact on Ethereum mainnet or on its L2s (where you bridge ETH over).
Cost to create a token on Ethereum
Deploying an ERC-20 on mainnet costs more gas than other chains. To keep it affordable, many creators use Base or Arbitrum, which use the same standard for a fraction of the fee.
Frequently asked questions
What is gwei?
Gwei is a small unit of ETH (one billionth) used to price gas. Lower gwei means cheaper transactions.
Why is my Ethereum transaction so expensive?
Fees spike when the network is congested. Using a layer-2 or transacting during off-peak times reduces the cost.
Is it cheaper to create a token on Base or Arbitrum?
Yes — both are Ethereum layer-2s using the same ERC-20 standard at a tiny fraction of mainnet gas.
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