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PolymarketDocumentation/docs/market-makers/trading.md
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> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.polymarket.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Trading
> Order entry, management, and best practices for market makers
Market makers interact with Polymarket through the CLOB API — posting two-sided quotes, managing inventory across markets, and rebalancing positions. The SDK clients handle order signing and submission, so you can focus on strategy.
<Info>
This page covers MM-specific workflows and best practices. For full order
mechanics, see [Create Orders](/trading/orders/create) and [Cancel
Orders](/trading/orders/cancel).
</Info>
***
## Two-Sided Quoting
The core market making workflow is posting a bid and ask around your fair value. Use `createAndPostOrder` to place each side:
<CodeGroup>
```typescript TypeScript theme={null}
import { ClobClient, Side, OrderType } from "@polymarket/clob-client-v2";
const client = new ClobClient({
host: "https://clob.polymarket.com",
chain: 137,
signer: wallet,
creds: credentials,
signatureType,
funderAddress: funder,
});
// Bid at 0.48
const bid = await client.createAndPostOrder({
tokenID: "3409705850427531082723332342151729...",
side: Side.BUY,
price: 0.48,
size: 1000,
});
// Ask at 0.52
const ask = await client.createAndPostOrder({
tokenID: "3409705850427531082723332342151729...",
side: Side.SELL,
price: 0.52,
size: 1000,
});
```
```python Python theme={null}
from py_clob_client_v2 import OrderArgs, OrderType
from py_clob_client_v2.order_builder.constants import BUY, SELL
token_id = "3409705850427531082723332342151729..."
# Bid at 0.48
bid = client.create_and_post_order(
OrderArgs(token_id=token_id, side=BUY, price=0.48, size=1000),
order_type=OrderType.GTC,
)
# Ask at 0.52
ask = client.create_and_post_order(
OrderArgs(token_id=token_id, side=SELL, price=0.52, size=1000),
order_type=OrderType.GTC,
)
```
```rust Rust theme={null}
use polymarket_client_sdk_v2::clob::types::Side;
use polymarket_client_sdk_v2::types::dec;
let token_id = "3409705850427531082723332342151729...".parse()?;
// Bid at 0.48
let bid = client.limit_order()
.token_id(token_id).price(dec!(0.48)).size(dec!(1000)).side(Side::Buy)
.build().await?;
let signed = client.sign(&signer, bid).await?;
client.post_order(signed).await?;
// Ask at 0.52
let ask = client.limit_order()
.token_id(token_id).price(dec!(0.52)).size(dec!(1000)).side(Side::Sell)
.build().await?;
let signed = client.sign(&signer, ask).await?;
client.post_order(signed).await?;
```
</CodeGroup>
### Batch Orders
For tighter spreads across multiple levels, use `postOrders` to submit up to 15 orders in a single request:
<CodeGroup>
```typescript TypeScript theme={null}
const orders = await Promise.all([
client.createOrder({ tokenID, side: Side.BUY, price: 0.48, size: 500 }),
client.createOrder({ tokenID, side: Side.BUY, price: 0.47, size: 500 }),
client.createOrder({ tokenID, side: Side.SELL, price: 0.52, size: 500 }),
client.createOrder({ tokenID, side: Side.SELL, price: 0.53, size: 500 }),
]);
const response = await client.postOrders(
orders.map((order) => ({ order, orderType: OrderType.GTC })),
);
```
```python Python theme={null}
from py_clob_client_v2 import OrderArgs, OrderType, PostOrdersV2Args
from py_clob_client_v2.order_builder.constants import BUY, SELL
response = client.post_orders([
PostOrdersV2Args(
order=client.create_order(OrderArgs(
price=0.48, size=500, side=BUY, token_id=token_id,
)),
orderType=OrderType.GTC,
),
PostOrdersV2Args(
order=client.create_order(OrderArgs(
price=0.47, size=500, side=BUY, token_id=token_id,
)),
orderType=OrderType.GTC,
),
PostOrdersV2Args(
order=client.create_order(OrderArgs(
price=0.52, size=500, side=SELL, token_id=token_id,
)),
orderType=OrderType.GTC,
),
PostOrdersV2Args(
order=client.create_order(OrderArgs(
price=0.53, size=500, side=SELL, token_id=token_id,
)),
orderType=OrderType.GTC,
),
])
```
```rust Rust theme={null}
let mut signed_orders = Vec::new();
for (price, side) in [
(dec!(0.48), Side::Buy), (dec!(0.47), Side::Buy),
(dec!(0.52), Side::Sell), (dec!(0.53), Side::Sell),
] {
let order = client.limit_order()
.token_id(token_id).price(price).size(dec!(500)).side(side)
.build().await?;
signed_orders.push(client.sign(&signer, order).await?);
}
let response = client.post_orders(signed_orders).await?;
```
</CodeGroup>
<Tip>
Batching reduces latency by submitting multiple quotes in a single request.
Always prefer `postOrders()` over multiple individual `createAndPostOrder()`
calls.
</Tip>
***
## Choosing Order Types
| Type | Behavior | When to Use |
| ------- | ------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------- |
| **GTC** | Rests on the book until filled or cancelled | Default for passive quoting |
| **GTD** | Auto-expires at a specified time | Expire quotes before known events |
| **FOK** | Must fill entirely and immediately, or cancel | Aggressive rebalancing — all or nothing |
| **FAK** | Fills what's available immediately, cancels rest | Rebalancing where partial fills are OK |
**GTC** and **GTD** are your primary tools for passive market making — they rest on the book at your specified price. **FOK** and **FAK** are for rebalancing inventory against resting liquidity.
### Time-Limited Quotes with GTD
Auto-expire quotes before known events like market close or resolution:
<CodeGroup>
```typescript TypeScript theme={null}
// Expire in 1 hour
const expiringOrder = await client.createAndPostOrder(
{
tokenID,
side: Side.BUY,
price: 0.5,
size: 1000,
expiration: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000) + 3600,
},
undefined,
OrderType.GTD,
);
```
```python Python theme={null}
import time
from py_clob_client_v2 import OrderArgs, OrderType
from py_clob_client_v2.order_builder.constants import BUY
# Expire in 1 hour
expiring_order = client.create_and_post_order(
OrderArgs(
token_id=token_id,
side=BUY,
price=0.50,
size=1000,
expiration=int(time.time()) + 3600,
),
order_type=OrderType.GTD,
)
```
```rust Rust theme={null}
use chrono::{TimeDelta, Utc};
use polymarket_client_sdk_v2::clob::types::OrderType;
// Expire in 1 hour
let order = client.limit_order()
.token_id(token_id)
.price(dec!(0.50))
.size(dec!(1000))
.side(Side::Buy)
.order_type(OrderType::GTD)
.expiration(Utc::now() + TimeDelta::hours(1))
.build().await?;
let signed = client.sign(&signer, order).await?;
client.post_order(signed).await?;
```
</CodeGroup>
***
## Managing Orders
### Cancelling
Cancel individual orders, by market, or everything at once:
<CodeGroup>
```typescript TypeScript theme={null}
await client.cancelOrder(orderId); // Single order
await client.cancelOrders(orderIds); // Multiple orders
await client.cancelMarketOrders(conditionId); // All orders in a market
await client.cancelAll(); // Everything
```
```python Python theme={null}
client.cancel(order_id=order_id) # Single order
client.cancel_market_orders(market=condition_id) # All orders in a market
client.cancel_all() # Everything
```
```rust Rust theme={null}
client.cancel_order(order_id).await?; // Single order
client.cancel_market_orders(&request).await?; // All orders in a market
client.cancel_all_orders().await?; // Everything
```
</CodeGroup>
See [Cancel Orders](/trading/orders/cancel) for full details.
### Monitoring Open Orders
<CodeGroup>
```typescript TypeScript theme={null}
const order = await client.getOrder(orderId);
const orders = await client.getOpenOrders({
market: "0xbd31dc8a...",
asset_id: "52114319501245...",
});
```
```python Python theme={null}
from py_clob_client_v2 import OpenOrderParams
order = client.get_order(order_id)
orders = client.get_orders(
OpenOrderParams(market="0xbd31dc8a...")
)
```
```rust Rust theme={null}
use polymarket_client_sdk_v2::clob::types::request::OrdersRequest;
let order = client.order(order_id).await?;
let request = OrdersRequest::builder()
.market("0xbd31dc8a...".parse()?)
.build();
let orders = client.orders(&request, None).await?;
```
</CodeGroup>
***
## Tick Sizes
Your order price must conform to the market's tick size, or it will be rejected. Look it up with the SDK before quoting:
<CodeGroup>
```typescript TypeScript theme={null}
const tickSize = await client.getTickSize(tokenID);
// Returns: "0.1" | "0.01" | "0.001" | "0.0001"
```
```python Python theme={null}
tick_size = client.get_tick_size(token_id)
# Returns: "0.1" | "0.01" | "0.001" | "0.0001"
```
```rust Rust theme={null}
let resp = client.tick_size(token_id).await?;
// resp.minimum_tick_size: TickSize::Tenth | Hundredth | Thousandth | TenThousandth
```
</CodeGroup>
***
## Fees
Most markets charge a small taker fee. Makers are never charged fees. **Geopolitical and world events markets are fee-free.**
Taker fees fund the [Maker Rebates Program](/market-makers/maker-rebates), which pays daily USDC rebates to liquidity providers.
<Note>
Fees apply only to markets deployed on or after the activation date. Pre-existing markets are unaffected. Markets with fees enabled have `feesEnabled` set to `true` on the market object.
</Note>
See [Fees](/trading/fees) for the full fee schedule, rates by category, and calculation details.
***
## Best Practices
### Quote Management
* **Quote both sides** — Post bids and asks to earn maximum [liquidity rewards](/market-makers/liquidity-rewards)
* **Skew on inventory** — Adjust quote prices based on your current position to manage exposure
* **Cancel stale quotes** — Pull orders immediately when market conditions change
* **Use GTD for events** — Auto-expire quotes before known catalysts to avoid stale exposure
### Latency
* **Batch orders** — Use `postOrders()` to submit multiple quotes in a single request
* **WebSocket for data** — Subscribe to real-time feeds instead of polling REST endpoints
### Risk Controls
* **Size limits** — Check token balances before quoting and don't exceed your available inventory
* **Price guards** — Validate prices against the book midpoint and reject outliers
* **Kill switch** — Call `cancelAll()` immediately on errors or position breaches
* **Monitor fills** — Subscribe to the WebSocket user channel for real-time fill notifications
***
## Next Steps
<CardGroup cols={2}>
<Card title="Inventory" icon="boxes-stacked" href="/market-makers/inventory">
Split, merge, and redeem outcome tokens
</Card>
<Card title="Liquidity Rewards" icon="gift" href="/market-makers/liquidity-rewards">
Earn rewards for providing two-sided liquidity
</Card>
<Card title="Create Orders" icon="plus" href="/trading/orders/create">
Full order creation reference with all options
</Card>
</CardGroup>