4 live nowWatch →

Trading Basics

Bid vs Ask

The two prices on every quote and what the gap between them tells you.

Marcus Obi · Updated January 2026 · 4 min

Two sides of one quote

The bid is the highest price a buyer is currently willing to pay. The ask is the lowest price a seller will accept. You generally buy at the ask and sell at the bid.

Reading the gap

A penny-wide spread in a heavily traded name signals deep liquidity. A wide, jumpy spread signals thin participation and higher transaction cost on every trade.

Educational content only. TradeCaster does not provide financial advice and past results never imply future performance.