EIP-1559 Base Fee vs Priority Fee: How Gas Really Works
After **EIP-1559**, you pay a **base fee** (burned) plus an optional **priority fee** (tip to validators). Total gas = units × (base + priority), capped by your **max fee**.
Step by step
1. Read base fee trend
Base fee moves with block demand—spikes during NFT mints or airdrops.
2. Set priority for speed
Higher priority = faster inclusion when blocks are full.
3. Use max fee headroom
Max fee must exceed base + priority or the tx stalls.
Base vs priority
You cannot remove base fee; priority is the lever for urgency.
- Base fee: Protocol-set, burned, rises with congestion.
- Priority fee: Tip to validators; you choose for speed.
Use our calculators
Common mistakes
- Max fee too low during volatility
- Ignoring L2 for small transfers
FAQ
Why did my tx cost more than estimated?
Base fee rose between estimate and mining.