Skip to main contentDescription
Bid-Ask Spread measures the difference between the best bid and best ask prices for a particular instrument. It returns both:
- The absolute spread (in quote currency)
- The spread as a percentage of the mid-price
This dual representation allows for cross-instrument and cross-exchange comparison of liquidity conditions.
Details
This metric provides a view of market tightness and liquidity fragmentation. By analyzing how wide or narrow the spread is, traders can quickly identify:
- The most liquid exchange for a given asset
- Which instruments offer the best execution conditions
The percentage spread is especially useful when comparing instruments with different quote currencies (e.g., BTC-USDT vs. BTC-USD vs. BTC-EUR), as it normalizes price scale effects.
API Endpoints
/bid-ask-spread
Availability
We cover all instruments on major exchanges like Binance, Deribit, Coinbase (GDAX) and more.
Please use the information endpoint to find all coverage and exact instruments.
| Exchange | History | Depth Order Count |
|---|
| Binance | 2025-01-01 | 5000 |
| Binance.us | 2025-01-01 | 5000 |
| Bitstamp | 2025-01-01 | Full |
| Bullish | 2025-01-01 | Full |
| GDAX (Coinbase) | 2025-01-01 | Full |
| Gemini | 2025-01-01 | Full |
| OKEx (OKX) | 2025-01-01 | 1000 |
| itBit | 2025-01-01 | Full |
| Deribit | 2025-01-01 | Full |
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the absolute spread calculated?
spread = bestAskPrice − bestBidPrice- This is returned in the quote currency of the instrument.
What does spreadPercent represent?
- It’s the absolute spread divided by the mid-price:
spreadPercent = (spread / midPrice) × 100- This normalizes spread data across different pairs.
