Two layer 2s, no direct official path
Base’s bridge connects Base and Ethereum (Base documentation); Arbitrum’s connects Arbitrum and Ethereum (Arbitrum documentation). Neither knows about the other. Officially, the route between them runs through Ethereum — out of Base with a seven-day wait, then into Arbitrum, paying Ethereum gas twice.
Which is why third-party routes exist
The providers quoted above offer the route directly instead, each in its own way and at its own price. On a route with no official baseline, the other providers’ quotes are the only thing to check a price against.
Both ends charge in ETH
Base and Arbitrum both take transaction fees in ETH, so a stablecoin moved between them still needs a little ETH at the destination before it can be moved on. The gas column covers only the transaction on Base, the network you are sending from.
How many sources answered
Whether a provider quotes a direct layer 2 to layer 2 route is its own decision, and it can differ by token. The Quote sources column shows how many answered for the token you selected; where fewer than two confirm a route, we do not present it as a comparison.
Questions
How do I bridge from Base to Arbitrum?
Through a bridge provider, not through either network's own bridge. Select the token and amount above and compare what each provider delivers; the Quote sources column shows how many answered.
Can I go through Ethereum instead?
You can, and it means two steps: a withdrawal from Base, which waits out a seven-day challenge period, then a deposit into Arbitrum, with Ethereum gas on both. The routes above are the one-step alternative.
How long does a Base to Arbitrum transfer take?
A transfer between two layer 2s through a bridge provider never touches Ethereum, so no challenge period applies to it. Each provider publishes its own estimate for the route, shown in the Time column, and "no data" where it publishes none.
What does the fee include?
Everything lost between what leaves Base and what arrives on Arbitrum: the provider's charge, its price impact and the cost of the destination transaction. Gas on Base is listed separately because it is paid in ETH on top.
Sources
- Base documentation — bridging and withdrawals · checked 2026-09-12
- Arbitrum documentation — bridge quickstart · checked 2026-09-12