Bridge Fee Comparison: All Major Chains & Routes in 2026

Bridge fees vary enormously by route, protocol, transfer size, and time of day. The same $1,000 USDC transfer costs far more when it starts on Ethereum mainnet than when it starts on an L2, mostly because of source-chain gas. This comparison covers how the bridges on each major chain pair charge according to their own documentation, the transfer times the docs actually state, and what drives the cost difference. Use it as your reference guide — and then verify with live quotes before every transfer.

Understanding Bridge Fee Components

Before the comparison tables, a quick note on what "fee" actually means. Every bridge transfer has multiple cost components:

Bridge protocol fee: What the bridge itself charges. Structures differ: a fixed percentage (Allbridge Core 0.1%, LI.FI 0.25%), a dynamic fee (Stargate V2), or an LP fee plus a relayer fee (Across).
Source chain gas: Gas to initiate the transaction. This is the dominant cost driver when bridging from Ethereum mainnet; on L2s it is usually a small fraction of that.
Destination gas: Some bridges include this; others pass it to the user or absorb it
Slippage: For AMM-based bridges, price impact silently reduces received amount — not always shown as a fee

This article does not list dollar estimates per route: the total depends on gas prices, pool balances and transfer size at the moment you bridge, and most bridges do not publish fixed rates. Instead, each table shows how a bridge charges according to its documentation, and a transfer time only where the docs state one. For a deep dive on fee mechanics, see our cross-chain bridge fees explained guide.

How Each Bridge Charges (Per Its Docs)

Bridge	Fee structure	Transfer time	Source
Across Protocol	LP fee + relayer fee (destination gas, capital cost, risk), plus an optional app fee	Not published	Across docs
Stargate Finance	V2: dynamic fee per route, sometimes a rebate; plus a LayerZero messaging fee in native gas	Not published	Stargate docs
cBridge (Celer)	Base fee for destination gas + protocol fee of 0–2%	5–20 minutes for most transfers	cBridge FAQ
Synapse Protocol	No fee rate published	Not published	Synapse docs

→ Compare real-time bridge fees on BridgeFees.com — no wallet needed

Ethereum ↔ Arbitrum

The highest-volume route in cross-chain DeFi — the Ethereum to Arbitrum USDC route alone accounts for a large share of all stablecoin bridge volume. Deep liquidity on every major bridge.

Bridge	Direction	Fee structure (per docs)	Transfer time (per docs)
Across Protocol	Both	LP fee + relayer fee	Not published
Stargate Finance	Both	Dynamic V2 fee + LayerZero fee	Not published
Native Arbitrum Bridge	ETH→ARB	Gas; no bridge fee listed	Roughly 15–30 minutes
Native Arbitrum Bridge	ARB→ETH	Gas; no bridge fee listed	At least 7 days (the UI shows 7–8 days)

What to use: Compare live quotes from Across and Stargate for most transfers. The native bridge works for ETH→Arbitrum deposits if you are not in a hurry, but a native withdrawal means waiting at least seven days (Arbitrum docs).

Full route guide: cheapest way to bridge Ethereum to Arbitrum and bridging from Arbitrum back to Ethereum.

Ethereum ↔ Optimism

Similar to Arbitrum in fee structure and bridge options. Deep liquidity, multiple good options.

Bridge	Direction	Fee structure (per docs)	Transfer time (per docs)
Across Protocol	Both	LP fee + relayer fee	Not published
Stargate Finance	Both	Dynamic V2 fee + LayerZero fee	Not published
OP Standard Bridge	ETH→OP	Gas; no bridge fee listed	Usually 1–3 minutes
OP Standard Bridge	OP→ETH	Gas; no bridge fee listed	7 days (withdrawal challenge period)

What to use: Across or Stargate for withdrawals, compared on a live quote; the Standard Bridge is a straightforward option for deposits (Optimism docs). Full details in our Ethereum to Optimism bridge guide.

Ethereum ↔ Base

Base is Coinbase's OP Stack chain. Launched in 2023, it now has deep liquidity on major bridges, and bridging ETH from Ethereum to Base is the default onboarding path for new Base users.

Bridge	Direction	Fee structure (per docs)	Transfer time (per docs)
Across Protocol	Both	LP fee + relayer fee	Not published
Stargate Finance	Both	Dynamic V2 fee + LayerZero fee	Not published
Base standard bridge	ETH→Base	Gas; no bridge fee listed	Not published
Base standard bridge	Base→ETH	Gas; no bridge fee listed	5 days, or 1 day on the dual-proof path, plus about 20–60 minutes

What to use: Across or Stargate, compared on a live quote. Base's docs say the old bridge.base.org interface is deprecated and point to third-party interfaces for the standard bridge; withdrawals through it wait for the finalization window, which the Beryl upgrade cut from 7 to 5 days (Base docs). Full details in our best Ethereum to Base bridge guide.

Ethereum ↔ Polygon

A popular route for DeFi and NFT users. Multiple bridge options with varying token delivery, so watch out on Ethereum to Polygon USDC transfers whether you receive native USDC or bridged USDC.e.

Bridge	Direction	Fee structure (per docs)	Transfer time (per docs)
Across Protocol	Both	LP fee + relayer fee	Not published
Stargate Finance	Both	Dynamic V2 fee + LayerZero fee	Not published
Native Polygon Bridge (PoS)	ETH→POL	Gas; no bridge fee listed	Not published
Native Polygon Bridge (PoS)	POL→ETH	Gas; no bridge fee listed	Waits for the next checkpoint, then an exit transaction on Ethereum

What to use: Across or Stargate, compared on a live quote. Polygon PoS's native bridge has no 7-day challenge period: a withdrawal waits for the next checkpoint, which Polygon commits to Ethereum roughly every 30 minutes, and then needs an exit transaction on Ethereum (Polygon docs). Full guide: cheapest Ethereum to Polygon bridge in 2026 and how to bridge USDC from Ethereum to Polygon.

Ethereum ↔ BNB Smart Chain

The BSC route has fewer quality bridge options than the OP/Arbitrum routes, and the Ethereum to BSC USDT route carries most of the volume. Fewer intent-based bridges support it natively.

Bridge	Direction	Fee structure (per docs)	Transfer time (per docs)
Stargate Finance	Both	Dynamic V2 fee + LayerZero fee	Not published
Synapse Protocol	Both	No fee rate published	Not published
cBridge (Celer)	Both	Base fee + protocol fee of 0–2%	5–20 minutes for most transfers

What to use: Which of the three is cheapest depends on the amount and on pool balances at the time, so always verify with live quotes. Full guide: Ethereum to BSC bridge in 2026.

Arbitrum ↔ Optimism

L2-to-L2 transfers. Source gas costs are low since both chains have cheap gas, so the bridge's own fee makes up a larger share of the total.

Bridge	Fee structure (per docs)	Transfer time (per docs)
Across Protocol	LP fee + relayer fee	Not published
Stargate Finance	Dynamic V2 fee + LayerZero fee	Not published

What to use: Compare Across and Stargate on a live quote. L2-to-L2 routes are generally among the cheapest in cross-chain DeFi.

Arbitrum ↔ Base

Both chains have cheap gas, making this one of the lowest-cost routes available.

Bridge	Fee structure (per docs)	Transfer time (per docs)
Across Protocol	LP fee + relayer fee	Not published
Stargate Finance	Dynamic V2 fee + LayerZero fee	Not published

What to use: Compare Across and Stargate on a live quote.

Polygon ↔ Arbitrum

Fewer direct bridge options; multi-hop via Ethereum is sometimes cheaper for large amounts.

Bridge	Fee structure (per docs)	Transfer time (per docs)
Across Protocol	LP fee + relayer fee	Not published
Stargate Finance	Dynamic V2 fee + LayerZero fee	Not published
Synapse Protocol	No fee rate published	Not published

What to use: Compare all three on a live quote. Full guide: Polygon to Arbitrum bridge guide.

Optimism ↔ Base

Two OP Stack chains, both with cheap gas.

Bridge	Fee structure (per docs)	Transfer time (per docs)
Across Protocol	LP fee + relayer fee	Not published
Stargate Finance	Dynamic V2 fee + LayerZero fee	Not published

Token-Specific Guides

Bridge costs and best options also vary by token, not just chain. Some tokens have much thinner liquidity on certain bridges, leading to slippage. See our token-specific guides:

Why Bridge Costs Change — and Why You Need Live Quotes

This article shows how bridges charge, not what a transfer costs today. The actual cost moves because:

Ethereum gas prices fluctuate sharply between calm and busy periods. Mainnet gas is the largest variable in any ETH-origin transfer.
Some bridge fees are dynamic by design. Stargate V2 sets its fee per route and sometimes pays a rebate when a pool needs rebalancing; cBridge charges a higher protocol fee when a transfer unbalances a pool.
Liquidity shifts. Bridge LP capital moves between chains based on yield opportunities. A bridge that has deep liquidity today may have shallow liquidity (and high slippage) next week.
New protocols launch. Better options emerge regularly.

This is why static fee tables — including this one — cannot substitute for live comparison. The right workflow is: use this article to understand how each bridge charges, then verify with live quotes on BridgeFees.com immediately before every transfer.

Protocol-by-Protocol Reviews

For deep dives on each bridge protocol mentioned in this comparison:

Tips to Reduce Bridge Fees Across All Routes

Beyond choosing the right bridge, there are several strategies that apply regardless of route. The most impactful are covered in our 10 tips to save money on bridge fees. Key actions:

Bridge from L2 sources instead of Ethereum mainnet whenever possible
Time Ethereum mainnet transfers for low-gas windows (weekends UTC)
Batch small transfers into one larger transfer
Use intent-based bridges for large transfers to avoid slippage (see our bridge slippage explainer)
Check multi-hop routes when direct liquidity is thin (see our multi-hop routes guide)

Frequently Asked Questions

Which chain pair has the lowest bridge fees in 2026?

Routes between two L2s, such as Arbitrum → Base, usually cost the least, because you pay L2 gas instead of Ethereum mainnet gas to start the transfer. Routes that start on Ethereum mainnet cost more for the same reason. Compare a live quote for your exact amount, because bridge fees and gas both move.

Why is bridging from Ethereum mainnet so expensive?

You pay the source-chain gas in ETH at Ethereum mainnet prices, which are usually far higher than gas on an L2. Even a bridge with no protocol fee cannot avoid that gas. Bridging from an L2 source makes this cost component much smaller.

Does BridgeFees.com cover all the routes in this article?

Yes. BridgeFees.com compares live quotes from several bridge providers and aggregators for the major EVM route combinations, including the chain pairs listed above. It automatically finds the cheapest option including multi-hop routes, and shows the estimated received amount (accounting for slippage) rather than just the headline fee.

Are bridge fees deductible as transaction costs in crypto accounting?

In most jurisdictions, bridge fees are treated as a cost basis adjustment or transaction expense for tax purposes. Consult a crypto-specialized accountant for your specific situation — tax treatment varies significantly by country.

What is the cheapest way to bridge large amounts ($50,000+)?

For very large amounts, Stargate Finance typically offers the best combination of deep liquidity (minimal slippage), native asset delivery, and competitive protocol fees. Across Protocol is also competitive at this size on major EVM routes. Consider splitting very large transfers ($100k+) across two protocols to reduce single-protocol counterparty risk. Always compare live quotes and see our bridge security guide for risk considerations.

How often do bridge fees change?

Continuously. Ethereum gas prices move every block. Some bridge fees are dynamic by design: Stargate V2 sets its fee per route, and cBridge charges a higher protocol fee when a transfer unbalances a pool. Liquidity shifts between chains as well. That is why the tables in this article show how each bridge charges rather than prices — BridgeFees.com shows live quotes for the moment you transfer.