Spread
The difference between the buying price (ask) and the selling price (bid) of a security.
In short
As of 5 October 2026The spread is the difference between the price at which you can buy a security (ask) and the price at which you can sell it (bid), a hidden cost in every trade. With an ask of 100.10 euros and a bid of 100.00 euros, the spread is 0.10 euros, or 0.1 percent. Large DAX stocks usually have tiny spreads.
Every security has two prices: you buy at the ask (Briefkurs) and sell at the bid (Geldkurs). The difference is the spread. It is a hidden cost in every trade.
Example: ask 100.10 euros, bid 100.00 euros. The spread is 0.10 euros or 0.1 %. If you buy and sell straight away, you lose those 10 cents per share.
For large DAX stocks and popular ETFs, the spread is usually very small during trading hours. For small companies, in the evening or in turbulent markets it can be much wider.
As of 5 October 2026 · Educational content, not investment or tax advice.