To bridge ETH to Polygon, move your ETH from Ethereum mainnet to the Polygon network using either the official Polygon bridge or a faster third-party bridge, then get a small amount of POL to pay for gas on Polygon. The official bridge is the most trusted route. A third-party aggregator is usually faster and can hand you some POL for gas in the same step.
Key takeaways
- Gas on Polygon is paid in POL, not ETH. The ETH you bridge arrives as an ERC-20 token, so you also need a little POL to move it.
- Use the official Polygon bridge for large amounts or maximum trust.
- Use a third-party aggregator like Jumper for speed and to pick up POL for gas in one flow.
- You pay Ethereum gas on the way in. Compare the amount received, not the headline fee.
What you need before you start
- An Ethereum wallet such as MetaMask or Rabby, holding the ETH you want to move plus a little extra ETH for gas on the Ethereum side.
- A plan for POL. You will need a small amount on Polygon to pay gas once your ETH lands.
- About 15 minutes. Most deposits finish inside half an hour.
The catch: ETH is not gas on Polygon
This is the part that trips people up. On Arbitrum or Base, the ETH you bridge also pays for gas. On Polygon, gas is charged in POL, the native token that replaced MATIC in 2024. Your bridged ETH arrives as an ERC-20 representation of ETH, which you can swap or use in apps, but it cannot pay gas on its own.
The clean fix is to use an aggregator that can deliver a little POL alongside your ETH, or to grab a small amount of POL separately before you start moving funds around.
The fastest way: use an aggregator
For most people, an aggregator like Jumper is the smoothest route to Polygon. It compares several bridges, settles in minutes, and can often route a small amount of POL to you so you are not stranded without gas. A breadth-first aggregator such as Rango is another option when you want wide coverage and flexible routing.
If you prefer a single dedicated bridge for fast L2 movement, Across is fast and cheap on the routes it supports.
Step by step: bridge ETH to Polygon
- Fund and connect your wallet. Open a bridge and connect an Ethereum wallet that holds the ETH you want to move plus a little extra ETH for gas on the Ethereum side.
- Set the route to Polygon. Choose Ethereum as the source chain and Polygon as the destination, then select ETH as the token.
- Enter the amount and review the quote. Type the amount, then read the quoted fee, the estimated time, and the exact amount of ETH you will receive on Polygon.
- Confirm and sign. Approve the transaction in your wallet and wait for the bridge to confirm.
- Get a little POL for gas. Acquire a small amount of POL so you can move or swap your bridged ETH on Polygon.
Using the official Polygon bridge
The official Polygon bridge is the canonical route, run by the team behind the network. It charges no protocol fee, so your only cost is Ethereum gas on the way in.
Deposits usually take about 15 to 30 minutes. Withdrawals back to Ethereum clear through a checkpoint and can take up to a few hours, which is quicker than the seven-day exit window some other networks apply. The official bridge does not solve the gas problem, so you still need POL once your funds land.
How much does it cost?
| Route | Protocol fee | You also pay | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official Polygon bridge | None | Ethereum gas, plus POL for gas after | Large amounts, maximum trust |
| Third-party bridge | Small bridge fee | Ethereum gas | Speed, everyday transfers |
| Aggregator (e.g. Jumper) | Route-level fee | Ethereum gas | Best price, can include POL for gas |
For small transfers, Ethereum gas often dominates the total cost. For larger transfers, the spread on the route matters more, so compare the amount you receive.
Is it safe?
Bridging always carries some risk, so the route you pick matters. The official Polygon bridge is among the most trusted because the network team maintains it. Third-party bridges add speed and convenience but carry the security model of that specific protocol, so prefer ones with real audit history and time in production.
Three habits cut most of the risk:
- Confirm you are on the correct bridge URL before connecting a wallet.
- Start with a small test transfer on any route you have not used before.
- Read the quoted route and the bridge it uses before you sign.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Bridging ETH and forgetting POL. Without a little POL you cannot move your funds on Polygon. Sort gas out first.
- Expecting ETH to pay gas. It will not on Polygon. POL is the gas token.
- Picking the wrong network. Select Polygon explicitly when a bridge or exchange asks.
- Trusting a link from a search ad or a DM. Type the address or use a saved bookmark.
Which bridge should you use?
If you want a safe default that finds a good route and can include gas, start with Jumper. For the widest routing options, look at Rango. For fast movement between Ethereum and its L2s, Across is strong. To compare them side by side, see our list of the best cross-chain routers.
