What are Lightning Network fees?

Lightning Network fees are small charges for routing payments through payment channels. They consist of a base fee (fixed per transaction) and a fee rate (proportional to payment amount). Total fees are typically fractions of a cent for small payments.

How much cheaper is Lightning vs on-chain?

Lightning transactions are typically 100-1000x cheaper than on-chain Bitcoin transactions. While an on-chain transaction might cost $1-50+ depending on network congestion, a Lightning payment of the same amount usually costs less than 1 satoshi in routing fees.

Why do Lightning fees vary?

Fees depend on payment amount, route length (number of hops), channel liquidity, and individual node fee policies. Longer routes with more hops accumulate more fees, while well-connected nodes with ample liquidity tend to charge less.

Is there a minimum Lightning payment?

The Lightning Network can handle payments as small as 1 satoshi (the smallest Bitcoin unit). This makes it ideal for micropayments, tipping, and pay-per-use services that would be impractical on the main Bitcoin blockchain.

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

17,369

Channels

42,215

Capacity

5701 BTC

Avg Fee Rate

836 ppm

Updated: 6:33:26 PM

Payment Parameters

Payment Amount

Quick Presets

Routing Hops

3 hops

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

Fee Parameters

Base Fee (msat/hop)

Network avg: 891 msat | Median: 100 msat

Fee Rate (ppm)

Network avg: 836 ppm | Median: 99 ppm

Channel Economics (Optional)

Enter channel capacity in sats to calculate routing revenue potential

Live Network Data

Nodes: 17,369

Channels: 42,215

Avg Base: 891 msat

Avg Rate: 836 ppm

Calculating fees...

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Payment Route Finder
Educational

Optimal Route

Best balance of fees and reliability

26.682 sats

0.267% of payment

You

Strike

+9.97 sats

Fold

+7.52 sats

Breez

+9.20 sats

Recipient

10.00K sats

Total Hops

Est. Time

~2 sn

Reliability

93%

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

4163 BTC

-27.0%

Channels

40.9K

-3.2%

Nodes

0.0K

NaN%

Data from mempool.space Lightning API

Fee Economics Comparison

Lightning vs On-Chain Fees

Lightning

Lightning Advantage

Save 90%

Pay 27.753 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

+9.3

Hop 2

+9.3

Hop 3

+9.3

Receiver

10.00K sats

Total fees: 27.753 sats (0.278% of payment)

How It Works

Calculate Lightning Fees in 4 Simple Steps

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

01

Enter Payment Details

Specify your payment amount in satoshis, BTC, or USD. Use quick presets for common payment sizes or enter a custom amount.
02

Configure Fee Parameters

Set the expected number of routing hops and fee rates. Use network averages for realistic estimates or customize for specific scenarios.
03

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.
04

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.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about Lightning Network fees and payments

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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.

Lightning Network Fee Calculator

Share & export

Payment Route FinderEducational

Optimal Route

Network Growth (1 Year)

Fee Economics Comparison

Lightning vs On-Chain Fees

Fee Accumulation by Hop

Payment Flow

Enter Payment Details

Configure Fee Parameters

Calculate Total Fees

Compare and Optimize

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Lightning Network and how does it work?

How are Lightning Network fees calculated?

What is a routing node and why do hops matter?

What's the difference between base fee and proportional fee?

How do Lightning fees compare to on-chain fees?

Is Lightning suitable for large payments?

What is channel capacity and why does it matter?

How can I minimize Lightning Network fees?

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Disclaimer

Payment Route Finder
Educational