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Lightning Network Fee Estimator.

Real-time Lightning Network stats (channels, capacity, avg fee) plus a fee estimator comparing on-chain vs Lightning Network cost for any amount.

Free Runs in your browser Data: 1ML + Mempool.space
Step 1 of 3Lightning Stats
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What is Lightning?
Bitcoin's instant, low-fee payment layer

Lightning Network is a second-layer protocol built on Bitcoin that enables instant, low-cost payments. Think of it as a network of payment channels where you can send bitcoin to anyone without waiting for blockchain confirmations.

Instant
Near-zero settlement time
<sats
Low fees
~1-5 sats per payment
L2
Layer 2
Scales Bitcoin globally

Understanding your results.

The dashboard shows real-time public stats from the Bitcoin Lightning Network:

  • Nodes — active routing nodes participating in the network
  • Channels — total public payment channels (more = better routing)
  • Network capacity — total BTC locked across all public channels
  • Average channel size — mean BTC per channel, indicating retail vs institutional composition

Common mistake: confusing total capacity with transaction volume. Capacity is just the BTC sitting in channels waiting to route payments. The actual transaction volume over Lightning is many multiples higher than on-chain Bitcoin, since channels can process thousands of micropayments before closing.

How to use this tool.

Live public stats from the Bitcoin Lightning Network: nodes, channels, network capacity, and average channel size. Data is sourced from 1ml.com and various public Lightning explorers. Stats update every few minutes but may lag actual network state by 10–30 minutes depending on node propagation.

Pro tip: the average channel size is a useful metric if you're deciding how much liquidity to commit to your own Lightning node. Aim for at or slightly above the network average for good routing performance.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, AHCrypto may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

Privacy & safety.

Data sourced from public Lightning Network explorers (1ml.com, Amboss, Mempool.space). Values are estimates and may trail the live network by 10–30 minutes. No personal data is collected.

This tool is for informational purposes. The Lightning Network involves financial risk. Only allocate funds to Lightning channels that you can afford to lose.

Frequently asked questions.

What is the Bitcoin Lightning Network?
The Lightning Network is a second-layer payment protocol built on top of Bitcoin. It enables instant, near-zero-fee transactions by opening payment channels between participants. Instead of recording every transaction on the main Bitcoin blockchain, only channel open/close events are broadcast — the thousands of payments in between happen off-chain, instantly.
How does the public channel count help me?
The number of public channels tells you how widely the Lightning Network is being used. More channels = more connectivity = better routing = more reliable payments. If channel count is growing month-over-month, the network is healthy. A decline may mean reduced usage or economic conditions pushing users off-chain. It's a health indicator for the entire Lightning ecosystem.
What is the network's total capacity and why does it matter?
Total capacity is the sum of all BTC locked in public Lightning channels. Higher capacity means more liquidity is available for routing payments. As of 2026, the network holds over 5,000 BTC in channels. Capacity growth signals confidence in Lightning as a payment rail. If you're considering accepting Lightning payments, growing capacity suggests the network has the liquidity to route your transactions.
What is the average channel size?
Average channel size tells you whether the network is dominated by small retail channels (for everyday payments) or large institutional channels (for routing). A healthy network has a mix of both. Average channel size tends to grow during bull markets as more capital flows into the network.
Can I use Lightning Network through AHCrypto?
This is a monitoring dashboard — it shows real-time Lightning Network statistics. To actually send or receive Lightning payments, you'll need a wallet like Phoenix, Breez, Wallet of Satoshi, or Zeus. For buying Bitcoin with low fees, check the <a href="/tools/swap-fee-comparator/" class="text-brand-teal hover:underline">Swap Fee Comparator</a>. For EUR-based purchases, see <a href="/tools/eur-crypto/" class="text-brand-teal hover:underline">EUR to Crypto True Cost</a>.
Is Lightning Network safe for large payments?
Lightning is best for small-to-medium payments (under $10,000 in a single channel). For large amounts, on-chain Bitcoin transactions are safer because they have the full security of proof-of-work. Lightning uses smart contracts that are theoretically secure but custodial risk (if using a third-party wallet) and routing failures increase with payment size.
What is the difference between public and private channels?
Public channels are announced to the network and can be used for routing payments — they contribute to the network's health and capacity. Private channels are only visible to the two parties involved and cannot route payments for others. Most routing nodes operate public channels; most casual users operate private channels with their wallet provider. Our tool tracks public channel stats.
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