The "all-in 1 pip" myth: real EURUSD costs broken down
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2026 2:08 pm
"It's about 1 pip all-in" gets thrown around for EURUSD as if it's a constant. Depending on account, time and execution, the real cost can range from around 0.6 to over 2 pips.
A worked breakdown for a raw account in the London session, with typical figures you can replace with your own:
Do you know your number for each session, or are you using a rule of thumb?
A worked breakdown for a raw account in the London session, with typical figures you can replace with your own:
- Raw spread at entry: 0.15 pips.
- Commission: $7 round turn per standard lot, so 0.7 pips.
- Slippage on market entries: 0.05 pips against you.
- Slippage on stop exits: 0.25 pips against you.
- Exit spread when closing at market: inside the spread figure, but higher on stop exits during fast moves.
- Trade within 2 minutes of news and spread plus stop slippage can easily double the total.
- In Asia, if the average spread doubles, the total moves up by the same amount.
- With no commission but a 1.2 pip spread, as on many standard accounts,, you're at 1.3 pips or more even in London.
Do you know your number for each session, or are you using a rule of thumb?