Ask Price
An ask is a seller saying, “I am willing to sell at this price.” It is an offer, not a completed trade.
Start the lessonIntroduction
A seller's offer to sell
An ask price is the price at which a seller is currently willing to sell a share or other security. It is an active sell order in the market. A trade happens only when a buyer accepts that price and quantity.
The short answer
Ask = seller's offer. The best ask is generally the lowest currently available sell price.
Where ask prices appear
Sell orders are listed in the order book
Sellers can offer different quantities at different prices. The lowest available ask is generally shown as the best ask.
In this example, ₹102 is the best ask because it is the lowest current sell offer shown. The table is illustrative, not live market data.
Try the example
See the ask, bid-ask difference, and order value
Enter illustrative values. The order value is a simple price-times-quantity calculation, before any charges or taxes.
Illustrative bid-ask difference
₹2
Best ask ₹102 − best bid ₹100
Value at this ask
₹5,100
₹102 × 50 shares, before charges and taxes.
These calculations use your example values only. An ask is an offer, not a completed sale; prices and quantities can change, and a buy order may not be matched.
What to keep in mind
An ask is not a guaranteed trade price
- An ask is a seller's current offer; it does not mean that a buyer has agreed to purchase.
- The best ask can change when sellers enter, change, or cancel orders.
- The last traded price is from a completed trade and can differ from the current best ask.
- A market buyer may match with available sell orders, but execution price and quantity depend on the order book and market conditions.
Key points
What to remember
- The ask price is what a seller is offering to accept.
- The best ask is generally the lowest available sell price.
- An ask is an open order, not a completed trade.
- The ask includes a price and an available quantity.
- The last traded price can differ from the current ask.
- Ask prices and quantities can change quickly.
This lesson is for education only, not personalized financial, tax, or investment advice. Investments in securities are subject to market risks.
Test yourself
5-question quiz
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