# Reading a Stock Quote – You Buy at the Ask, Not the Last Price

- Source: Money Crashers
- Published: 2026-11-04T22:50:00+00:00
- Category: Markets
- Original: https://www.moneycrashers.com/read-stock-quote-bid-ask/
- Canonical: https://groundlevelnews.com/story/reading-a-stock-quote-you-buy-at-the-ask-not-the-last-price-c97151/

You buy at a stock quote’s ask, the lowest price a seller will take, and sell at its bid, the highest a buyer will pay. The gap between them costs you the moment you buy, and it’s usually widest on stocks that trade few shares. When it’s wide, use a limit order to set the most you’ll pay. Source

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