Gas page: Ethereum

What Is Ethereum Gas and How Does It Work?

Ethereum gas measures the computational effort required to execute tasks on the blockchain. Just as a car needs fuel, Ethereum transactions need gas to pay validators to process them. Gas fees are paid and denominated in gwei, a fraction of Ether (ETH), and depend on transaction complexity, network demand, and the base fee set by the network.

For example, simply sending ETH might cost 21,000 gas units, while interacting with a decentralized application (dApp) could require hundreds of thousands of units. Further, if the network is congested, fees will often increase as users compete for limited block space.

Strategies to Reduce Ethereum Gas Costs

Ethereum gas fees can be difficult to manage, especially during high-traffic periods. As a result, they could cost you a sizable portion of your total transaction, even if you attempt to process a simple action. While Layer-2 (L2s) solutions and future upgrades aim to bring long-term improvements, here are some practical strategies that you can pair with reading the charts above to save on gas fees.

Layer-2 Solutions

Layer-2 solutions like Arbitrum and Optimism were made to solve these issues, processing transactions offchain on a different network before settling to Ethereum to significantly reduce fees. Using Layer-2 networks is one of the most effective ways to lower costs without compromising security.

Timing Your Transactions

While gas fees fluctuate based on network activity, overtime trends have developed, which can help you time your transactions to pay lower gas costs. For example, transactions during weekends or off-peak hours (late night or early morning, UTC) — like on Sunday at 2 AM UTC — tend to be cheaper. 

Simulating Transactions

Many wallets, like MetaMask, for instance, show estimate fees when connected to dApps, giving you a chance to tweak settings and know what a transaction will cost before completing it. Further, tools like DeFi Saver can give you further insights into what to adjust gas settings to while still making sure your transaction goes through.

Exploring Alternative Networks

Consider other blockchain platforms with lower transaction costs. For instance, Solana offers fees as low as $0.00025 per transaction, while Sui or Aptos are other cost-effective options that pride themselves on low fees. These networks can be a practical choice for non-critical tasks like simple transfers or NFT minting.

In summary, to minimize gas fees effectively:

• Use Layer-2 networks like Optimism, Arbitrum, or Base for frequent transactions.
• Plan your transactions during low-traffic periods using gas trackers.
• Simulate and optimize transactions with tools like MetaMask or DeFi Saver.
• Explore alternative blockchains like Solana or Sui for non-essential activities.

By combining these strategies, you can navigate Ethereum’s ecosystem more affordably while maximizing efficiency.

FAQs

Why are ETH gas fees high?

ETH gas fees are driven by supply and demand for block space. When the network experiences heavy activity, such as during NFT drops or token launches, users compete by offering higher fees to validators, which raises costs.

What happens if my ETH gas fee is too low?

If you set your gas fee too low, your transaction might remain unconfirmed in the mempool (a queue of pending transactions) until gas prices drop. If prices don’t decrease or your fee is far below the required threshold, the transaction could fail altogether. This wastes the gas fee you initially set, as fees are consumed even for failed transactions.

Which blockchain has the lowest gas fees?

For low-cost transactions, consider both Layer-2 solutions and alternative Layer-1 blockchains:

• Layer-2 Solutions: Networks like Arbitrum, Optimism, and Base process transactions off-chain and settle them to Ethereum, offering significantly reduced fees while maintaining Ethereum’s security.
• Alternative Layer-1 Blockchains: Blockchains such as Solana and Sui are designed for speed and efficiency, with fees as low as $0.00025 per transaction on Solana. These platforms are ideal for simple transfers or high-frequency tasks.

How do I lower the gas fee on MetaMask?

MetaMask allows you to customize your gas fees to suit your needs:

1. Adjusting Gas Settings:When initiating a transaction, click the pencil icon next to the gas fee estimate.
   • Select from predefined options:
     • Low: Lower fees but longer processing times.
     • Market: Matches current network rates.
     • Aggressive: Higher fees for faster confirmation.
   • Alternatively, use the Advanced option to directly set the gas limit, max priority fee, and max fee for precise control.
2. Saving Gas Settings:After customizing gas settings, check the option to save them as your default for future transactions on the same network.

By leveraging these features and strategies, you can optimize your MetaMask transactions and reduce gas costs significantly.