What is slippage?
Why the price you get can differ from the price you saw.
Beginner 2 min readUpdated 5/27/2026
Risk warning. Crypto is volatile and trading involves risk, including the loss of your capital. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This content is educational and is not financial advice.
Slippage is the difference between the price you expected and the price your order actually filled at. It happens with market orders, especially on fast-moving or thin markets.
If you buy a large amount with a market order, you may "eat through" several price levels, getting a worse average price. Limit orders avoid slippage by fixing your price.