Some platforms show two prices for the same contract: one to buy and one to sell. The gap is the spread, and it is a cost if you close a position early. This tool turns two prices into the spread and its size relative to the price. Fixed-return products that settle only at expiry may not show a spread at all; see the guide linked below for the idea.
Spread Cost Calculator
Enter both prices from your own platform to see the spread.
Some platforms quote a buy and a sell price for the same contract; the gap is a cost you pay if you close early. Fixed-return products may not show one. Read your platform's own terms to see how it prices trades.
How to Use This Tool
- Open the contract on your own platform and note the price to buy and the price you would get if you sold.
- Enter both prices in the boxes.
- Read the spread and the percentage of the mid price. Repeat for another contract or platform to compare.
Reading the Result
The spread is the difference between the buy and sell prices. As a share of the mid price it shows how much of a position's value the gap represents. A spread of a few per cent on a short-dated contract is a large cost relative to the time you will hold it, because the price has to move in your favour by at least the spread before you break even on an early exit.
Compare spreads at the same time of day, because they can widen around news and in thin markets. Compare like with like: the same asset, expiry and size. Remember that the spread is one cost among several; payouts, charges for deposits and withdrawals, and the way the platform treats ties all affect the real cost. A low spread does not make a platform trustworthy.
If your product has a fixed payout and no early exit, the main cost sits in the payout instead. In that case use the payout comparison tool and read binary options spread explained for how the two ideas differ. Ignoring costs is a common error, covered in ignoring spread and trading costs.
Limits
This page uses only the numbers you type in. It does not fetch prices, payouts or schedules, it does not know your platform, and its output is not advice or a prediction. Check your platform's own terms and test any plan on a demo account first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every binary options platform have a spread?
No. It depends on the product. Check how your platform prices and closes trades.
Is a smaller spread always better?
It lowers one cost, but it does not tell you whether the firm is regulated or pays withdrawals.
Why does the spread change?
Spreads can widen in quiet or fast markets. Record the time when you compare.
Can I use this for other products?
Yes, it simply measures the gap between two prices you type in, but it is designed for the idea described above.