---
title: "How to choose a Cardano stake pool"
url: https://cardanopools.com/blog/how-to-choose-a-cardano-stake-pool/
date: 2026-10-23
---

# How to choose a Cardano stake pool

Margin, fixed fee, pledge and saturation are the four numbers that decide your rewards. Here is what each one means and what to look for.


There are almost 3,000 Cardano stake pools. Most of them pay similar rewards, but some cost you more, and a few pay nothing at all. Four numbers tell you almost everything. This guide explains each one in plain words.

New to staking? Start with [What is a Cardano stake pool?](/blog/what-is-a-cardano-stake-pool/)

## 1. Margin

The **margin** is the percentage of rewards the pool keeps for itself, after its fixed fee.

- **0%** means the pool keeps nothing on top of its fixed fee. More for you.
- **1% to 3%** is common and fair for a pool that needs to pay for its servers.
- **100%** means the pool keeps everything. These are **private pools**. Delegating to one earns you nothing.

On CardanoPools.com the list shows margins up to 5% by default. You can change the limit with the "Max margin" slider.

## 2. Fixed fee

The **fixed fee** is a set amount of ADA the pool takes every epoch, before anything else is shared. The lowest allowed fee is ₳170.

The fixed fee matters most for **small pools**. A pool that earns ₳300 in an epoch and takes ₳170 leaves only ₳130 for its delegators. A big pool that earns ₳30,000 hardly notices the same ₳170. That is one reason small pools are sometimes avoided, and why many of them keep the minimum fee.

## 3. Pledge

The **pledge** is ADA that the pool owner promises to stake in their own pool. It shows that the operator has something to lose.

Two things to check:

- **Is the pledge met?** If the owner's actual stake drops below the promised pledge, the pool earns **no rewards at all** for that epoch, for anyone. Our list hides these pools by default.
- **How big is it?** A higher pledge gives a small reward boost and shows commitment, but a small pledge does not mean a bad pool. Many honest operators simply are not rich.

## 4. Saturation

Cardano wants many medium pools instead of a few giant ones. So each pool has a **saturation point**. Right now it is about ₳78 million. Above it, rewards stop growing, and everyone in the pool earns less per ADA.

- Under 90%: fine.
- Close to 100%: watch out, the pool may become saturated soon.
- Over 100%: move to another pool.

## Other useful signs

- **Blocks made.** A pool that has made blocks before is working. Very small pools may go many epochs without a block. That is normal luck, not a fault.
- **Age.** Older pools have a track record. New pools need a first chance, so give one a look sometimes.
- **Single pool or group.** Some companies run dozens of pools. Choosing a single, independent operator spreads power across more people.
- **Governance votes.** Since 2024, pool operators can vote on some Cardano decisions. Some people like pools that take part.
- **Pool info verified.** Every pool publishes a small info file. We check that the file matches the fingerprint on the blockchain. A match means the name and ticker you see really belong to that pool.

## A simple way to choose

1. Open the [pool list](/). By default it shows single pools with nothing marked red: margin up to 5%, a fixed fee up to ₳340, a pledge of at least ₳20,000 that is met, under 95% saturation, at least one block, older than a month, and not retiring.
2. Click **Need delegators** to see the smallest working pools first, or **Steady small pools** for ones with a long history.
3. Open a few pool pages. Read the description and check the website.
4. Pick one, copy its pool ID, and delegate from your wallet.

You can switch any time, so the choice is never final. Your filter settings are saved in your browser, so the list looks the same next time you come back.