Max Priority Fee Per Gas
Pronunciation: MAKS pry-OR-uh-tee FEE pur GAS
Definition
Max priority fee per gas specifies the largest tip per gas unit a sender is willing to pay a block proposer on an EIP-1559-type Ethereum transaction. It does not include the protocol's burned base fee.
Overview
What it means and why it exists
Max priority fee per gas specifies the largest tip per gas unit a sender is willing to pay a block proposer on an EIP-1559-type Ethereum transaction. It does not include the protocol's burned base fee.
How it works
The sender provides both maxPriorityFeePerGas and maxFeePerGas. A block's base fee uses part of the total allowed unit price, and the effective tip is constrained by both the priority cap and the remaining difference between max fee and base fee. The proposer receives the effective priority portion for included transactions.
Technical details worth understanding
A high tip may improve inclusion incentives, but it cannot override protocol validity or a max fee lower than the base fee. During congestion, fee estimation should examine recent block conditions and resubmission policies. On some rollups or alternative EVM networks, fee composition and who receives charges can differ from Ethereum mainnet.
What can go wrong
Do not mistake the maximum priority cap for a guaranteed payment to a validator. The actual tip can be lower if maxFeePerGas leaves insufficient room. A tip also does not validate payment recipient, token contract or commercial fulfillment.
Practical checks
Set the tip cap together with a total fee cap that leaves room above the likely base fee. A 5-gwei priority setting has little effect if only 1 gwei fits under maxFeePerGas. Fee estimators should test expected inclusion rather than simply increasing the tip while leaving the total cap unchanged.
Related concepts
Further reading
Example
A sender sets maxFeePerGas to 25 gwei and maxPriorityFeePerGas to 5 gwei. If the base fee is 23 gwei, only 2 gwei of tip fits under the total cap. The sender must raise its total cap to allow the full intended 5-gwei tip at that base fee.
Comparison
Priority fee is the sender's potential incentive payment; base fee is the network's protocol-determined burned component. Together they contribute to effective gas price, subject to the total fee cap.
Key Takeaway
A high tip may improve inclusion incentives, but it cannot override protocol validity or a max fee lower than the base fee.
Sources
- EIP-1559: Fee Market Change — Ethereum Foundation (2026-08-01)