Per-side versus round-trip commission: reading the fee

The essentials

A per-side commission applies to opening or closing; round-trip pricing includes both. It may be quoted per lot, unit or traded value. Compare the unit and currency before comparing the number.

Understand the mechanism, not just the definition

A per-lot tariff requires knowing whether it covers one side or the full trade and whether it scales with volume or has a minimum. Opening and closing are separate transactions. A full commission posted at opening may already cover both sides, so do not double it without checking recording rules.

Example and verification

Hypothetical example: USD 3 per side per lot means USD 6 to open and close one lot at matching rates. For 0.10 lots it would be USD 0.60 if no minimum or additional rounding applies.

Worked case, step by step

At a hypothetical USD 3 per lot per side, a 0.20-lot position costs USD 0.60 to open and USD 0.60 to close: USD 1.20 total. Add monetized spread and any funding. A transaction minimum can make proportional arithmetic underestimate costs, so compare written fees with a compatible demo record.

What to verify when applying this

Ask whether pricing depends on platform, product, account currency or entity. Add spread and funding. A smaller advertised number may use another unit; alone it does not establish a cheaper broker.

Practice: verify it in your environment

Learn by observing the process and keeping its data. Complete this practice in demo or using documentation, without sending real orders or adding capital for the exercise. Record differences between the example and your account specifications.

1. Record currency, charging unit, included sides and transaction minimum.
2. Reconcile opening and closing charges before adding the complete cost.

Test your understanding

Try the question before revealing the answer. Justify the conclusion and its assumptions rather than memorizing a number.