Lightning Network Fee Calculator
Instant payments, minimal fees, real-time network data. Calculate your Lightning Network routing costs before you send.
Lightning moves Bitcoin off-chain, so fees are a tiny base amount plus a rate measured in parts per million of the payment. This calculator prices a Lightning payment, compares it with the same transfer on-chain, and shows the channel capacity your route needs.
16,521
34,008
3960 BTC
848 ppm
Payment Parameters
Network avg: 894 msat | Median: 500 msat
Network avg: 848 ppm | Median: 100 ppm
Enter channel capacity in sats to calculate routing revenue potential
Fee Estimate
Fee Breakdown
vs On-Chain Transaction
Fee per Hop
| Hop | Base | Prop. | Total | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | 0.894 | 8.480 | 9.374 | 0.094% |
| #2 | 0.894 | 8.480 | 18.748 | 0.187% |
| #3 | 0.894 | 8.480 | 28.122 | 0.281% |
Payment Summary
Send 10.00K sats ($6.50) for only 28.122 sats in fees
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Payment Route FinderEducational
Optimal Route
Best balance of fees and reliability
Network Growth (1 Year)
Capacity
5369 BTC
Channels
42.9K
Nodes
0.0K
Fee Economics Comparison
Lightning vs On-Chain Fees
Pay 28.122 sats instead of 280.000 sats for instant settlement
Fee Accumulation by Hop
- Base Fee
- Proportional
Payment Flow
Total fees: 28.122 sats (0.281% of payment)
Calculate Lightning Fees in 4 Simple Steps
Understand your Lightning Network payment costs with our easy-to-use calculator.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Lightning Network fees and payments
Read Article
Bitcoin Transaction Fees Explained
Understand Layer 1 fees and how Lightning Network provides near-zero cost transfers
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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.