Start with the complete cost
A quote starting from zero pips does not mean a trade costs nothing. The spread is the difference between bid and ask; commission can be charged separately; an overnight position may incur financing. Conversion and cash-transfer charges sit outside the order itself. Comparing only one of those components can reverse the result.
| Component | What to record | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Actual bid–ask difference on the intended account | Using an advertised minimum as a typical quote |
| Commission | Rate, turnover currency and each transaction side | Treating “per million” as “per lot” |
| Swap / financing | Long or short rate, units and rollover days | Assuming every symbol is swap-free |
| Conversion | Profit, account and payment currencies | Ignoring conversion on realised results |
| Funding / withdrawal | Selected method and current fee screen | Assuming every Tuesday withdrawal is free |
Keep the proposed exposure and holding period identical when comparing account types. An apparently cheaper trade is not a fair comparison if one calculation uses a tenth of the position or omits closing commission.
Convert commission into cash
Prime advertises $10 per $1 million turnover. The ECN EUR/USD specification lists 20/mio. For an illustrative standard lot of 100,000 euros at EUR/USD 1.10, dollar turnover is $110,000. The opening commission is therefore $1.10 on Prime or $2.20 on ECN. At an unchanged closing conversion rate, the approximate round-trip amounts are $2.20 and $4.40.
The broker’s forex calculator methodology counts opening and closing. Actual closing turnover can differ, so two equal sides are an estimate rather than a fixed cash tariff. For 0.10 lot, the corresponding approximate round-trip amounts are $0.22 and $0.44. Check how the platform displays a charge: an entry posted at opening may include more than one side, so do not add it twice.
Gold requires its own notional calculation. A 100-ounce contract multiplied by the gold price has a different dollar value from a forex lot. The XAUUSD cost guide applies the same turnover principle to that specification.
A controlled spread-plus-commission example
Assume one EUR/USD standard lot in a USD account, with a pip worth $10. Suppose, purely for comparison, one account quotes a 1.5-pip spread without separate forex commission. Its spread component is $15. Suppose another quotes 0.4 pip and has $4.40 round-trip commission at the illustrative conversion rate above. Its estimated total is $4 + $4.40 = $8.40, before swap and slippage.
Those spread inputs are invented teaching inputs, not observed RoboForex averages or a claim about which account will be cheaper at your trading time. The value of the comparison is its method. In the total trade cost calculator, enter commission per standard lot per side and select the number of sides charged. For this forex example, convert the turnover rate to the cash charge per standard lot first.
For an unchanged bid–ask gap, crossing into and out of a position costs roughly one full spread overall, not two full spreads. Slippage on either execution is additional. A larger displayed spread during news can outweigh a small difference in commission, so the minimum-spread headline should not drive a news-trading decision.
Add financing over the real holding period
Read the long or short swap for the exact symbol, including its unit and triple-rollover day. The current ECN EUR/USD and gold specifications list Wednesday triple swap; a holiday schedule can alter rollover treatment. A rate in points is not automatically a dollar charge. Match contract size, point value and account-currency conversion before multiplying by nights.
The newer Full Swap-Free programme is conditional. A covered account or symbol may avoid swap while still paying a spread and commission. If status is removed, existing positions can acquire standard swaps from the change date. A holding-cost estimate should therefore include the programme’s loss-of-status conditions, not only its advertising.
Keep payment fees outside the trading example
The current withdrawal FAQ directs clients to method-specific charges. The free-withdrawal programme applies to the first request on each second, third and fourth Tuesday, using server time. It does not establish that every payment method is available or that arrival is instant. Deposit-fee compensation also has contractual conditions and possible recovery.
The client agreement states a specific currency-conversion markup cap for R StocksTrader; do not apply that clause to every MetaTrader conversion. We did not establish a universal current inactivity-fee schedule from the reviewed documents. That uncertainty is a reason to ask for the account’s current schedule, not a basis for writing “no inactivity fees”.
Compare cost without manufacturing turnover
A rebate can reduce an eligible expense, but trading extra volume creates new spreads, commissions and market exposure. Record the gross cost first and the cash actually credited second. Do not subtract an unearned rebate from a trade budget or count a promotional balance as realised income.
Finally, separate cost from risk. Lower margin through higher leverage does not make a pip cheaper at a fixed position size. A low-cost order can still carry excessive exposure. Use the account statement to reconcile the first completed transaction before extrapolating a month of expected costs.
Frequently asked questions
Does a zero spread mean a free trade?
No. “From zero” is an advertised minimum, and Prime or ECN commission can still apply. Financing, slippage and conversion may add costs. Compare the actual bid–ask quote for the intended symbol and account with the complete cash commission.
How do I calculate a per-million commission?
Convert the trade’s contract value into the commission currency, multiply by the rate and divide by 1,000,000. Count opening and closing on the correct basis. Actual closing turnover can differ from opening, so two identical sides are an estimate rather than a guaranteed statement amount.
Is ECN always $4 per standard lot round trip?
No. Dollar turnover depends on the instrument and conversion price. A 100,000-euro lot at EUR/USD 1.10 gives about $4.40 at 20/mio if both sides use that rate. That illustration assumes matching opening and closing conversion rates; the actual closing turnover can change the final cash charge.
Should I charge the full spread twice?
Usually not for a simple unchanged-spread round-trip estimate. The bid–ask crossing represents about one full spread overall; commissions and execution slippage are separate. Check the calculator’s commission-side setting and the account statement so a charge already including both sides is not counted again.
Is every withdrawal free?
No. The current programme covers the first withdrawal on each second, third and fourth Tuesday of the month, subject to its rules. Other requests use method-specific charges. Payment availability and bank or wallet arrival time remain separate questions even when a request qualifies for the fee benefit.
Is there definitely no inactivity fee?
We did not establish a universal current inactivity-fee schedule. Obtain the current terms for the exact account instead of treating missing public information as zero cost. Ask for the account-specific schedule if the charge matters to a period when you expect not to trade.
Sources and scope
This guide covers eligible clients of RoboForex Ltd through roboforex.com. Public terms were checked on 15 September 2026; we did not open, fund or test an account for this guide. Trading accounts and restrictions · Current Prime account · EURUSD ECN specification · Forex calculator commission methodology · Metals calculator commission methodology · Withdrawal commission FAQ · Current linked Client Agreement · Free withdrawal rules.
For the wider broker choice, see our broker guides.