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The lowest price a seller is willing to accept for an option.
Why It Matters
The ask is what you pay when buying an option. If an option shows $2.50 bid / $2.70 ask, you'd pay $270 per contract to buy now. Using limit orders between the bid and ask (like $2.60) can often get filled and save you money on each trade.
Key Points
- Buy orders fill at the ask price (or better with limit orders)
- The ask is always higher than the bid - the difference is the spread
- High-volume options have lower ask prices relative to bid (tighter spreads)
Learn More
Reading an Options Chain
Get a complete explanation with examples, key takeaways, and a quiz to test your knowledge.
Related Terms
Common Questions
The lowest price a seller is willing to accept for an option. The ask is what you pay when buying an option. If an option shows $2.
The ask is what you pay when buying an option. If an option shows $2.50 bid / $2.70 ask, you'd pay $270 per contract to buy now. Using limit orders between the bid and ask (like $2.60) can often get filled and save you money on each trade.
Buy orders fill at the ask price (or better with limit orders)
The ask is always higher than the bid - the difference is the spread
High-volume options have lower ask prices relative to bid (tighter spreads)