What it means
Speeding up or cancelling works by broadcasting a new transaction that reuses the same nonce with a higher fee. Nodes only accept such a replacement if the fee increase is meaningful; a token increase would let anyone churn the queue for free.
"Replacement transaction underpriced" means your new fee cleared the old one by too little, so the replacement was refused and the original is still pending.
Why it happens
The increase was too small
Nodes typically require a clearly higher fee, not a fractional bump. Raising the price by a percent or two is usually refused.
Only one part of the fee was raised
A modern transaction has a maximum fee and a priority fee. Raising one while leaving the other unchanged can fail the comparison the node makes.
The network moved while you were editing
If prices rose between opening the replacement and submitting it, an increase that would have been sufficient is no longer.
How to fix it
- Use the wallet’s own speed-up control rather than crafting a replacement by hand; it sets an increase the network will accept.
- If you are setting fees manually, raise both the maximum fee and the priority fee, and raise them generously rather than minimally.
- Check the original transaction is still pending before retrying. If it confirmed, you will now get nonce too low instead, which means the original went through.
- Make sure the account holds enough native asset to cover the higher fee.
How to avoid it
Set a realistic fee the first time. Most stuck transactions are ones sent at a price below what the network was accepting, in the hope of saving a small amount. If you do need to replace one, act while conditions are calm rather than during the congestion that caused the problem.
Frequently asked
How much higher does the fee need to be?
Enough that nodes treat it as a genuine replacement rather than noise. Wallets that offer a speed-up control choose an acceptable increase for you, which is the reliable option.
Will I pay both fees?
No. Only one of the two transactions can confirm, because they share a nonce. You pay the fee of whichever one is included.
Can I just wait instead?
Often, yes. A transaction priced below current rates may confirm once the network quietens. Replacing it is the faster option, not the only one.
Sources & further reading
- MetaMask: speed up or cancel a pending transaction
Replacing a pending transaction by reusing its nonce with a higher fee.
- Ethereum: transactions
Transaction fields including nonce, gas limit and fee caps.
- MetaMask: user guide to error codes
Wallet-level explanations of the error strings surfaced to users.
- Ethereum: gas and fees
Gas units, limits and the fee calculation.
Sources checked on 18 September 2026. Network features and platform support can change; check the relevant provider before acting.
AI-assisted editorial content; no independent expert review is claimed. Error behaviour varies between wallets, networks and client versions. This is educational information, not investment advice. Read our editorial policy.