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Trading Metrics app

Spread Cost Calculator

Turn a bid-ask spread into pips or ticks, a percentage of price, and the money it costs per trade and per month.

Trading CostsBeginner
Your inputs
Quick examples
Results
Round-trip spread cost$8.00spread 0.00008 × 100,000 units
Spread in pips / ticks0.8
Spread % of mid0.0074%
Mid price1.08504
Half-spread (one way)$4.00vs trading at mid
Monthly spread cost$240.0030 round trips
Buying at the ask and selling at the bid means every round trip starts underwater by the full spread. Price has to move at least this far before the trade breaks even, before commissions.

Not financial advice. Results are estimates based on the values you enter and simplified assumptions; real trades are affected by fees, slippage, gaps and other factors. Trading involves substantial risk of loss. Read the full disclaimer.

How to calculate spread cost

Spread = Ask − Bid Spread % = Spread ÷ Mid price × 100 Round-trip cost = Spread × Position size

Worked example

  1. EUR/USD bid 1.08500, ask 1.08508 → spread 0.00008 = 0.8 pips.
  2. On 1 standard lot (100,000 units): 0.00008 × 100,000 = $8 per round trip.
  3. 30 round trips a month cost $240 in spread alone.

How to interpret spread cost

You buy at the ask and sell at the bid, so every trade starts the full spread underwater. Spreads widen around news, at session opens and in thin markets — tight scalping strategies are the most sensitive. Combine with commissions and slippage for your full execution cost.

Trading Costs

Trading Commission Calculator

Calculate flat, percentage or per-share commissions with minimums and maximums, per trade and per year.

0.1% of $9,600 → $9.60 per order
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Slippage Calculator

Measure the difference between expected and filled price in %, basis points and money.

Expected 100 · filled 100.18 → 0.18% ($90)
Risk Management

Position Size Calculator

Find how many shares, coins, lots or contracts to trade so a stop-out costs exactly what you planned.

$10,000 · 1% risk · 5 point stop → 20 units

Spread Cost calculator FAQ

Is the spread a cost if my broker is commission-free?

Yes — commission-free brokers usually earn from wider spreads.

Why is the half-spread shown?

Measured against the mid price, each side of a trade costs half the spread.