Ethereum Gas Limits Reference — Transfer, Token & Swap Costs
Different operations consume different amounts of gas. This reference gives the one exact figure — a plain ETH transfer — and clearly labeled approximate ranges for common contract operations.
The one exact number
A plain ETH transfer between two externally owned accounts costs exactly 21,000 gas. This is the fixed base cost of a transaction with no contract execution and no extra call data. It is the only gas figure that is fixed by the protocol; everything below is approximate.
Approximate contract costs
An ERC-20 transfer is approximately 45,000 to 65,000 gas — the exact amount varies with the token's implementation and whether the recipient's balance slot is being written for the first time. Treat any token-transfer figure as approximate. NFT mints and token swaps cost more and vary widely by contract; do not rely on a fixed number for them.
Why contract gas varies
Contract gas depends on the exact operations executed, and writing to a previously-empty storage slot costs more than updating an existing one. That is why a first-time token transfer to a new holder costs more than a subsequent one. Always call eth_estimateGas against current state rather than hardcoding a value.
Frequently asked
How much gas does an ETH transfer cost?
Exactly 21,000 gas for a plain transfer between externally owned accounts with no call data. This is the only fixed gas figure; contract operations vary and should be estimated.
Can I hardcode the gas for an ERC-20 transfer?
It is not advisable. A token transfer is roughly 45,000 to 65,000 gas but varies with the implementation and whether the recipient's storage slot is new. Call eth_estimateGas against current state instead of hardcoding.
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