Guide · 3 min read
Minimum and maximum swap amounts explained
By the AltoSwap team · Reviewed and updated · Editorial policy
Short answerEvery pair has a minimum, usually worth a few US dollars, because below it the network fees would eat the swap. The maximum depends on how much the route can convert at once and is far above ordinary amounts for most pairs. The form shows the limit as soon as you enter an amount outside it. Never send less than the minimum shown.
Why there is a minimum
A swap pays two network fees: one when your deposit is collected and one when you are paid out. On a network with high fees those can add up to several dollars. Below a certain size nothing would be left to pay out, so the route refuses the swap.
The minimum therefore changes with the pair and with how busy the networks are. A pair that pays out on Ethereum has a higher minimum than one that pays out on Solana.
Why there is a maximum
A route holds a limited amount of each coin ready to pay out. A swap above that amount would move the price against you or could not be filled at all. For a larger amount, make several swaps.
Where to see the limits
Enter the amount in the swap form. If it is too small or too large, the form says so and names the limit before a swap can be created. The pair's page also lists the usual minimum and maximum.
What happens to a deposit below the minimum
On some routes a deposit below the network's minimum cannot be recovered at all. This is why a swap page may tell you to send the full amount in one payment, with no small test payment first. Follow it.
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