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    Lightning Calculator

    Lightning Network Fee Calculator

    Instant payments, minimal fees, real-time network data. Calculate your Lightning Network routing costs before you send.

    Total Nodes

    17,342

    Channels

    41,986

    Capacity

    5706 BTC

    Avg Fee Rate

    850 ppm

    Updated: 10:31:03 AM

    Payment Parameters

    3 hops
    Direct (1)Average (3)Max (10)

    Network avg: 889 msat | Median: 100 msat

    Network avg: 850 ppm | Median: 100 ppm

    Enter channel capacity in sats to calculate routing revenue potential

    Live Network Data
    Nodes: 17,342
    Channels: 41,986
    Avg Base: 889 msat
    Avg Rate: 850 ppm

    Calculating fees...

    Export Report

    Download or share your fee analysis

    Payment Route Finder
    Educational

    Optimal Route

    Best balance of fees and reliability

    32.573 sats
    0.326% of payment
    You
    Strike
    +11.88 sats
    Fold
    +9.17 sats
    Breez
    +11.53 sats
    Recipient
    10.00K sats
    Total Hops
    3
    Est. Time
    ~2 sec
    Reliability
    91%
    Educational illustration only. Routes shown are simulated examples based on network averages. Actual routes are determined by your wallet's pathfinding algorithm at payment time.

    Network Growth (1 Year)

    Capacity

    4284 BTC

    -24.9%

    Channels

    40.7K

    -3.1%

    Nodes

    0.0K

    NaN%

    Data from mempool.space Lightning API

    Fee Economics Comparison

    Lightning vs On-Chain Fees

    Lightning

    Lightning Advantage
    Save 90%

    Pay 28.167 sats instead of 280.000 sats for instant settlement

    Fee Accumulation by Hop

    • Base Fee
    • Proportional

    Hop 1

    Base Fee (fixed)
    Proportional Fee (% of amount)

    Payment Flow

    Sender
    You
    Hop 1
    +9.4
    Hop 2
    +9.4
    Hop 3
    +9.4
    Receiver
    10.00K sats

    Total fees: 28.167 sats (0.282% of payment)

    How It Works

    Calculate Lightning Fees in 4 Simple Steps

    Understand your Lightning Network payment costs with our easy-to-use calculator

    1

    Enter Payment Details

    Specify your payment amount in satoshis, BTC, or USD. Use quick presets for common payment sizes or enter a custom amount.

    2

    Configure Fee Parameters

    Set the expected number of routing hops and fee rates. Use network averages for realistic estimates or customize for specific scenarios.

    3

    Calculate Total Fees

    Get instant fee estimates showing base fee, proportional fee, and total cost. See the effective fee rate as a percentage of your payment.

    4

    Compare and Optimize

    Compare Lightning fees against on-chain transaction costs. See how much you save with instant Lightning payments versus slower on-chain transfers.

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    FAQ

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Everything you need to know about Lightning Network fees and payments

    Disclaimer

    Fee estimates are based on network averages and may vary depending on the actual route taken. Real routing fees depend on channel liquidity, node policies, and network conditions at the time of payment. This calculator provides educational estimates only and should not be considered financial advice.