<p>A RBF replacement transaction can be larger, smaller or have the same size as the transaction it replaces. It basically depends on whether it adds or removes any inputs and outputs:</p>
<ul>
<li>If the original transaction has a change output, and the amount in the output is lowered, the replacement transaction will have exactly the same size.</li>
<li>If the replacement transaction adds another input to fund the larger fee, or adds more inputs than it removes, it will be larger. Note that at least one input must be the same, otherwise the previous transaction won't be replaced.</li>
<li>If the replacement transaction adds a large enough input(s) that it can remove more inputs than were added, and/or removes the change output because the input amounts add up nicely, it will be smaller.</li>
</ul>
<p>I don't have the data, but I guess that most replacement transactions fall into the first category, and that more transactions add inputs than remove them, making replacement transactions slightly larger on average.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>How many bytes does an opt-in RBF signal contain?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Opt-in RBF is signaled via the sequence field that is a part of every input, so the signal doesn't take any extra space in a transaction.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-29T20:40:13.463Z
2024-03-29T20:40:13.463Z
Vojtěch Strnad
<p>Are RBF transactions (the ones that replace) on average larger in size than its predecessors (the ones to be replaced)? And are non-RBF transactions smaller in size when compared with opt-in-RBF transactions?
If so what are the reasons for this (the fee bump coming from an additional utxo)?
How many bytes does an <a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0125.mediawiki#user-content-Spending_wallet_policy" rel="nofollow noreferrer">opt-in RBF signal</a> contain?
Do they have more utxo inputs when compared with non-rbf transactions?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-29T20:46:36.350Z
If you're interested in an exact answer based on data, you could try asking [0xB10C](https://b10c.me/). He's been monitoring RBF transactions for a while and might have what you're looking for.
Vojtěch Strnad
<replace-by-fee><transaction-weight>
Are RBF transactions on average larger in size than its predecessors and than non-RBF transactions?
John Smith
# Are RBF transactions on average larger in size than its predecessors and than non-RBF transactions?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2024-03-29)

Are RBF transactions (the ones that replace) on average larger in size than its predecessors (the ones to be replaced)? And are non-RBF transactions smaller in size when compared with opt-in-RBF transactions?
If so what are the reasons for this (the fee bump coming from an additional utxo)?
How many bytes does an [opt-in RBF signal](https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0125.mediawiki#user-content-Spending_wallet_policy) contain?
Do they have more utxo inputs when compared with non-rbf transactions?

**Tags:** replace-by-fee, transaction-weight

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: If you're interested in an exact answer based on data, you could try asking [0xB10C](https://b10c.me/). He's been monitoring RBF transactions for a while and might have what you're looking for.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2024-03-29. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

A RBF replacement transaction can be larger, smaller or have the same size as the transaction it replaces. It basically depends on whether it adds or removes any inputs and outputs:

* If the original transaction has a change output, and the amount in the output is lowered, the replacement transaction will have exactly the same size.
* If the replacement transaction adds another input to fund the larger fee, or adds more inputs than it removes, it will be larger. Note that at least one input must be the same, otherwise the previous transaction won't be replaced.
* If the replacement transaction adds a large enough input(s) that it can remove more inputs than were added, and/or removes the change output because the input amounts add up nicely, it will be smaller.

I don't have the data, but I guess that most replacement transactions fall into the first category, and that more transactions add inputs than remove them, making replacement transactions slightly larger on average.

> How many bytes does an opt-in RBF signal contain?

Opt-in RBF is signaled via the sequence field that is a part of every input, so the signal doesn't take any extra space in a transaction.


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