What is a Limit Order in Stocks? Understanding How to Use Them

Once that stop price is reached, an order is executed to buy or sell a stock. That order then turns into a market order — actively trading on the market right away. Traders should be aware of the limitations of limit orders and carefully consider their trading strategies. Alternative order types like market orders or stop orders, may mitigate these limitations. Each order type carries its advantages and considerations, and traders should select the most suitable order type based on their trading goals, risk tolerance and prevailing market conditions. In the realm of investments, a limit order stands as a powerful ally for discerning investors seeking to optimize their strategies.

Understanding the distinctions between these order types is essential for traders. Limit orders offer price control and protection but may not always execute. Stop orders provide risk management and activation at specific price levels but do not guarantee execution. The limit price, on the other hand, determines the maximum or minimum price at which the trader is willing to buy or sell the security. Once the stop order is triggered and converted into a limit order, the trade will only execute if the market price can be filled within the specified limit price range. The order could expire at the end of the trading day or, in the case of a good ’til canceled (GTC) order, it will expire once the trader cancels it.

Benefits of a Buy Limit Order

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Limit orders come in different forms, each serving a specific purpose in stock trading. Understanding the two most common types of limit orders, buy limit orders and sell limit orders, is crucial for traders looking to optimize their trading strategies. Apple stock is trading at a $125.25 bid and a $125.26 offer when https://www.bigshotrading.info/ an investor decides they want to add Apple to their portfolio. That said, limit orders are complicated because they don’t guarantee that the trade will be executed at the set price. The stock (or other security) could hit the limit price — and there might not be enough supply or demand to complete the trade.

What’s a limit order price?

Your trade may be filled at a price much different from what you could have otherwise gotten. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. It is common to allow limit orders to be placed outside of market hours. In these cases, the limit orders are placed into a queue for processing as soon as trading resumes.

For example, if the spread is 10 cents and you’re buying 100 shares, a limit order at the lower bid price would save you $10, enough to cover the commission at many top brokers. The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet, Inc. does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments. A limit order may sometimes receive a partial fill or no fill at all due to its price restriction. In the example above, based on the liquidity of the shares trying to be bought, the investor may only acquire 30 shares of XYZ at their limit order price of $9.50.

Types of Limit Orders

After your stop price has been reached, your stop-limit order converts to a limit order. Your limit order will then be executed at your specified price or better. The main benefit of a buy stop-limit order is that it enables traders to better control the price at which they buy a security. Assume a trader wants to buy a stock but knows the stock has been moving wildly from day to day. They could place a market buy order, which takes the first available price, or they could use a buy limit order (or a buy stop order).

For example, a buy limit order could be placed at $2.40 when a stock is trading at $2.45. After all, a buy limit order won’t be executed unless the asking price is at or below the specified limit price. If the asset does not reach the specified price, the order is not filled and the investor may miss out on the trading what is limit order opportunity. Said another way, by using a buy limit order the investor is guaranteed to pay the buy limit order price or better, but it is not guaranteed that the order will be filled. A buy limit order tells your broker to purchase shares once a stock falls below a certain price—the so-called limit price.

Last, some brokers offer limit orders that are considered good until filled; the limit order will remain valid until it is filled or deliberately canceled by the trader. A limit order is the use of a pre-specified price to buy or sell a security. For example, if a trader is looking to buy XYZ’s stock but has a limit of $14.50, they will only buy the stock at a price of $14.50 or lower. If the trader is looking to sell shares of XYZ’s stock with a $14.50 limit, the trader will not sell any shares until the price is $14.50 or higher. The stop-limit order will be executed at a specified price, or better, after a given stop price has been reached. Once the stop price is reached, the stop-limit order becomes a limit order to buy or sell at the limit price or better.

If your order is triggered, it will be filled at your limit price or lower. Yes, limit orders can be utilized for various securities, including stocks, options and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). When you place a limit order, you are telling a broker to buy or sell shares of stock when and only when the price is right. You can lower the risk of partial executions by applying special conditions to limit orders. Specifying “all or none,” “fill or kill,” “immediate or cancel,” and “minimum quantity” can help refine your order to suit your trading strategy.

Let’s address some common questions regarding limit buy orders to provide further clarity and understanding. Whether new to trading or seeking to expand your knowledge, these FAQs will illuminate various aspects of limit orders. Exploring these frequently asked questions can enhance your understanding of limit orders’ benefits, use cases and potential downsides.