Forex commission: per side, round turn and turnover
Convert commission quotes to the same basis before comparing accounts: per side, round turn, lot size, turnover and account currency.
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The number means little without its unit
Before comparing two commission quotes, write down four things: the product, the volume basis, whether the amount is per side or round turn, and the currency. A USD 3.50 per-side quote and a USD 6 round-turn quote are not directly comparable. Convert both to a completed trade of the same size first. Commission is a trading charge; it is separate from any referral commission paid to an affiliate.
The examples here explain units, not live quotes for IC Markets or a recommendation to choose an account. Actual rates can vary by legal entity, platform, symbol, account currency and volume tier. Keep the current fee schedule with your calculation so that you can check what changed later.
Diagram explained
0.1 lot: USD 0.70 before other fees
- Opening: USD 3.50 per lot
- Closing: USD 3.50 per lot
- Round turn: 3.50 + 3.50 = USD 7
- 0.1 lot: USD 0.70 before other fees
Per side: count opening and closing
Assume a commission of USD 3.50 per standard lot per side. Opening 1 lot costs USD 3.50 and closing that lot costs another USD 3.50: USD 7 in total. At 0.1 lot, the proportional estimate is USD 0.35 + USD 0.35 = USD 0.70, before any minimum fee or rounding rule. This commission estimate does not include spread or swap.
For partial closes, add the commissions on the actual executed opening and closing volumes. A broker may book both sides when the trade opens or book each side separately. The timing shown in a statement does not change whether the quoted schedule represents one side or a complete trade.
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Round turn: do not multiply by two again
Round turn means opening and closing the stated trade size. For example, the HFM international Zero table checked on 26 October 2026 lists USD 6 round turn for a 100,000-unit currency trade. It separately lists USD 10 for 100 ounces of its specified gold symbol. These are different product rows, not a universal USD 6 charge for every instrument or HFM entity.
Under proportional pricing, a USD 6 round-turn quote would be USD 0.60 for 0.1 of that stated trade size. Do not turn it into USD 1.20 by doubling it again. Confirm minimum charges and the symbol suffix before applying a published example to your account.
Turnover-based charges: convert notional first
A schedule may instead charge an amount per USD 100,000 of traded notional, per side. In a hypothetical EURUSD example, 1 lot represents EUR 100,000. At an assumed EURUSD rate of 1.10, its opening notional is USD 110,000. A made-up USD 3 per USD 100,000 per-side rate would charge USD 3.30 on opening. Calculate the closing side from its own notional; it need not be identical when the exchange rate changes.
This is why “per lot” and “per USD turnover” cannot be substituted for each other. Convert the completed-trade commission into the account currency, then add spread and holding charges. Use the linked Standard/Raw guide for the break-even comparison and the pillar calculator once all inputs use the same basis.
Choose an account by total cost
Match the spread, commission and overnight charges to your trading approach before choosing an account.
Sources and scope
Sources are provider publications. Conditions may vary by entity, country, account and program. Recheck before signing up.