Skip to main content
BeginnerTrading Basics

Market Order vs Limit Order

Market orders execute immediately at current prices; limit orders only fill at your specified price. Choosing wrong can cost you.

TL;DR

Market orders execute immediately at current prices; limit orders only fill at your specified price. Choosing wrong can cost you.

Market Order: Immediate Fill

A market order instructs your broker to buy or sell immediately at the best available current price. Pro: near-guaranteed fill for liquid stocks. Con: uncertain execution price β€” can be much worse than expected in volatile markets.

Key Terms:

market orderslippage