Slippage (สลิปเพจ)

Slippage is the difference between the price you expected when you placed an order and the price at which it was actually filled. Most beginners notice it when the fill is worse than requested, which is the case this entry focuses on. It can occasionally be better too.

It happens because prices keep moving. Between the moment you click and the moment your order reaches the market, the price may change. It is most common:

• during big news releases,
• when the market is very fast or thin on liquidity,
• with market orders, which accept whatever price is available.

Example

You place a market order to buy EURUSD at 1.1000. Prices jump, and your order is filled at 1.1002.

• Slippage = 1.1002 − 1.1000 = 0.0002 = 2 pips against you.
• On 1 standard Lot (100,000 units), 2 pips is about $20 in extra cost.

If the order had been filled at 1.0999, that would be positive slippage, in your favour.

Why it matters

Slippage adds to your trading costs, together with the Spread. It can also affect a Stop Loss: when the market jumps past your stop price, the order closes at the next available price, which may be worse than the level you set.

A common beginner mistake is assuming that every order will be filled at exactly the price shown on screen. Be careful with market orders around major news, and allow for some slippage when planning your risk.