My Kalshi order shows 'filled' but isn't in my positions — what do I do?

Rare but it happens, usually around market resolution or settlement delays. (1) Refresh positions screen, check Settled tab. (2) Pull order ID from order history → check the API: GET /trade-api/v2/portfolio/orders/{order_id} returns the canonical state. (3) If the API also shows filled but no position, screenshot the order ID + email support@kalshi.com — they reconcile within 24hrs in my experience. Don't panic-place a hedge until you've confirmed via API, otherwise you'll double-fill on resolution.

TL;DR: Kalshi Order Not Filled? Here's Exactly Why — And How to Fix It — most cases trace to a config mismatch, a hidden assumption, or a step skipped during setup. The fix path below covers the high-percentage causes first. If you're still stuck after 10 minutes, text PJ — most issues answered in one reply. 858-461-8054.

Kalshi Order Not Filled? Here's Exactly Why — And How to Fix It

Q: Why isn't my Kalshi order filling?

4 causes, ranked by frequency. (1) Your limit price is below the ask: you bid 52¢ on YES but the ask is 54¢ — you sit forever. Check the order book depth, not last price. Cross the spread or hit 'Buy at Market'. (2) Market is thin: only $20-200 visible per side, so a 500-contract order partially fills. (3) Insufficient balance + fee buffer: Kalshi reserves cash for fees, leave 3-5% headroom. (4) Order type flag: post-only cancels rather than cross spread, IOC kills unfilled portion instantly, expired GTC stops matching.

Q: What's the difference between a limit order and a market order on Kalshi?

Limit order: you set the max price you'll pay (or min you'll accept) and wait for the book to come to you — won't fill until a counterparty matches. Market order ('Buy at Market'): fills immediately at whatever the current ask is, walking the book if needed. Use limit when you want a specific price and can wait. Use market when speed matters more than price (sports markets in the last 5 minutes, breaking news). Market orders on thin Kalshi markets can slip 5-10¢ if depth is shallow.

Q: What's IOC vs GTC vs Post-Only on Kalshi?

GTC (Good Till Cancelled): order rests on the book until you cancel it or it fills. Default for most retail trades. IOC (Immediate Or Cancel): fills as much as possible instantly, then kills any unfilled portion. Use when you don't want a partial fill sitting around. Post-Only: only adds liquidity to the book — if your price would cross the spread (i.e. fill immediately), the order cancels instead. Used for makers who want the maker fee rebate. If your post-only order keeps cancelling, your limit is too aggressive — back off 1¢ from the ask.

Q: How do I check Kalshi order book depth before placing an order?

In the Kalshi web app, click the market title to open the full market page — the right side shows the order book with bid/ask + size at each price level. In the iOS app, swipe up on a market for depth view. Via API: GET /trade-api/v2/markets/{ticker}/orderbook returns yes/no books with price + size arrays. Rule: never place an order larger than 50% of visible liquidity at your price — you'll partial-fill and tip your hand to other traders.

✅ Verified 2026-05-09

TL;DR (operator-honest): Kalshi runs a CLOB — every fill needs a counterparty at your price. If you bid 52¢ on YES but the ask is 54¢, you sit forever. Fix in 60 sec: check the order book depth (not last price) → cancel your resting order → re-enter at the opposite side's price (cross the spread) or hit "Buy at Market". 4 root causes ranked: (1) limit price below ask, (2) thin liquidity (~$20-200 visible per side on most markets), (3) no fee buffer in balance (leave 3-5%), (4) post-only / IOC / expired GTC flags killing the order before it fills.

A no-fluff diagnostic from a San Diego automation builder who trades Kalshi daily.

Quick Answer

Your limit price isn't at the market. Kalshi matches orders at the bid/ask. If you bid 52¢ on YES but the ask is 54¢, you'll sit as a resting order forever. Check the order book depth — not just the last trade price — and raise your bid to the ask (or hit "Buy at Market") to fill immediately.
The market is thin or one-sided. Many Kalshi markets have $20–$200 of visible size on each side. If you try to buy 500 contracts at the current ask, you'll fill 30 and the rest sits. Break large orders into chunks, use GTC limits slightly above the ask, or trade higher-volume markets (elections, Fed, major sports).
You hit insufficient balance or fee buffer. Kalshi reserves cash for potential fees and P&L. If your available balance is $100 and you try to buy 100 contracts at 99¢, the order gets rejected or partially filled because fees push the total over your balance. Leave 3–5% headroom.
Post-only, IOC, or expired flags. If you selected "post-only," your order cancels rather than cross the spread. IOC (immediate-or-cancel) orders kill any unfilled portion instantly. GTC orders past their expiry stop matching. Check order type in the confirmation panel before you submit.

The Real Reasons Kalshi Orders Don't Fill

Kalshi runs a CLOB (central limit order book), not a sportsbook. That means every trade requires a counterparty at your price. If nobody's selling YES at 52¢, your 52¢ bid just sits there — even if the market "looks" active. Most unfilled-order complaints come down to one of the four issues above. Work through them in order.

Fix It in 60 Seconds

Triage your stuck order:

Open the order book — look at bid/ask, not last price
Cancel your resting order
Re-enter at the opposite side's price (cross the spread)
Reduce size to visible liquidity
Confirm order type is GTC limit, not post-only

Avoid It Next Time

Before submitting any Kalshi order:

Check depth on both sides of the book
Size your order ≤ 50% of visible liquidity
Keep 5% cash buffer for fees
Use market orders for urgency, limits for patience
Avoid the last 60 seconds before market close

~40%of low-volume Kalshi markets have <$100 depth per side

2–8¢typical spread on mid-tier political markets

7%Kalshi's max fee per contract — always budget for it

When It's Actually a Kalshi Bug

Rare, but it happens: orders showing "filled" on your screen but missing from positions, or resting orders that vanish after a market resolution delay. If you've ruled out price, size, balance, and order type — screenshot the order ID and email support@kalshi.com. They respond within 24 hours in my experience and will reconcile or credit.

PJ · Encinitas, CA · 858-461-8054

AI automation for local businesses. No retainer. $100/hr.

I trade Kalshi and build trading automation tools — if you want bots that auto-cancel stuck orders, monitor fills, or scrape prediction market data, text me. I answer fast and I don't waste your time.

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Frequently Asked — Kalshi Order Not Filled

Why isn't my Kalshi order filling? +

4 causes, ranked by frequency: (1) Your limit price is below the ask — you bid 52¢ on YES but the ask is 54¢, so you sit forever. Check the order book depth, not last price. Cross the spread or hit 'Buy at Market'. (2) Market is thin — only $20-200 visible per side, so a 500-contract order partially fills. (3) Insufficient balance + fee buffer — Kalshi reserves cash for fees, leave 3-5% headroom. (4) Order type flag — post-only cancels rather than cross spread, IOC kills unfilled portion instantly.

What's the difference between a limit order and a market order on Kalshi? +

Limit order: you set the max price you'll pay and wait for the book to come to you — won't fill until a counterparty matches. Market order ('Buy at Market'): fills immediately at whatever the current ask is, walking the book if needed. Use limit when you want a specific price and can wait. Use market when speed matters more than price (sports markets in the last 5 minutes, breaking news). Market orders on thin Kalshi markets can slip 5-10¢ if depth is shallow.

What's IOC vs GTC vs Post-Only on Kalshi? +

GTC (Good Till Cancelled): order rests on the book until you cancel it or it fills — default for most retail trades. IOC (Immediate Or Cancel): fills as much as possible instantly, then kills any unfilled portion. Post-Only: only adds liquidity to the book — if your price would cross the spread and fill immediately, the order cancels instead. If your post-only order keeps cancelling, your limit is too aggressive — back off 1¢ from the ask.

How do I check Kalshi order book depth before placing an order? +

In the Kalshi web app, click the market title to open the full market page — the right side shows the order book with bid/ask + size at each price level. Via API: GET /trade-api/v2/markets/{ticker}/orderbook returns yes/no books with price + size arrays. Rule: never place an order larger than 50% of visible liquidity at your price — you'll partial-fill and tip your hand to other traders.

Can I use Kalshi for insurance hedging or parametric insurance? +

Yes — Kalshi is CFTC-regulated and designed for economic hedging use cases. Parametric insurance-style positions (hurricane landfalls, temperature outcomes, Fed rate events) are exactly what Kalshi's event contract structure was built for. Key difference from traditional insurance: Kalshi resolves based on the official event outcome, not your actual loss. It's best used as a parallel hedge alongside your primary insurance, not as a replacement. Text PJ at 858-461-8054 if you want to talk through specific hedge structures.