Bitcoin ATM Fees: What You'll Really Pay

The average Bitcoin ATM fee in 2026 ranges from 15% to 23% of the transaction amount, depending on the operator and location. This total cost includes both the explicit transaction fee and any exchange rate markup. The effective fee you pay is the difference between the market price of Bitcoin and the price the ATM charges you. Some operators advertise lower base fees but add a wider spread to the exchange rate, so the actual cost can be higher than the stated fee.

Bitcoin ATMs carry significantly higher costs than online exchanges. Operators must purchase and maintain physical hardware ($5,000–$15,000 per machine), pay rent at retail locations ($200–$600/month per site), handle physical cash through armored car services, maintain state-by-state money transmitter licenses, operate KYC/AML compliance programs, and provide customer support. Online exchanges avoid all of these physical infrastructure costs, which is why they can charge under 2%. The premium you pay at a Bitcoin ATM is the cost of instant, cash-based convenience.

Fee rates vary by operator, location, and transaction size, making it difficult to name a single lowest-fee operator. Some operators with A+ trust grades offer competitive rates, particularly when promotional codes are applied. The most reliable approach is to compare operators available at your specific location using the ATM locator map. Fee data on individual ATM pages is crowdsourced from user reports and gives you the most current picture of what each machine actually charges.

Most Bitcoin ATMs charge a percentage-based fee rather than a flat dollar amount. This means the fee scales with your transaction size. If a machine charges 20% and you insert $100, you pay $20 in fees and receive $80 worth of Bitcoin. If you insert $500, you pay $100. Some operators add a small flat fee on top of the percentage for very small transactions (under $20), but this is not common. Always review the fee summary screen before confirming your transaction.

For most individuals, Bitcoin ATM fees are not directly tax deductible. However, the fee is factored into your cost basis. When you buy Bitcoin at an ATM for $100 (with fees included in that amount), your cost basis for that Bitcoin is $100. If you later sell it for $150, your taxable capital gain is $50. The fee effectively reduces your gain (or increases your loss) when you sell. Business transactions may have different rules. Consult a tax professional for advice specific to your circumstances — this information is not tax advice.

Visit the individual ATM page for the machine where you observed the fee. You can find it by searching for the address on our ATM locator map. Each ATM page has a fee reporting feature where you can submit the percentage fee, transaction type (buy or sell), and the approximate transaction amount. Your report is added to our crowdsourced fee database, which helps other users compare costs. All fee reports are moderated before publication to ensure accuracy.

Yes. Selling Bitcoin (receiving cash from the ATM) typically carries a higher fee than buying. Sell fees commonly range from 8% to 25%, while buy fees range from 6% to 23%. The higher sell fees reflect additional costs for cash dispensing, including maintaining cash reserves in the machine and more frequent armored car replenishment. Not all Bitcoin ATMs support selling — many smaller operators deploy buy-only machines.

Individual transaction fees at a Bitcoin ATM are set by the operator's software and cannot be negotiated at the machine. However, you can reduce your effective fee in other ways: use available promo codes (displayed on ATM location pages), compare operators in your area before visiting, and check whether the operator offers lower rates for larger transactions. Some operators also run time-limited promotions with reduced fees for new customers.