XM Spreads 2026

XM uses floating spreads. On the Standard account (including its Micro option), XM lists an average EUR/USD spread of 2.0 pips, as low as 1.6. The Ultra Low account is tighter, from 0.8 pips on EUR/USD. Neither account charges a commission; only the Shares account does. For a full breakdown of account differences beyond spreads, see our XM account types guide.

On both the Standard and Ultra Low accounts, the spread is the whole trading cost for EUR/USD, because there is no commission. For a broader look at the broker, our XM safety and legitimacy review covers regulation, trust, and the broader overview.

What Is a Spread and Why Does It Matter?

A spread is the gap between the price you can buy at (ask) and the price you can sell at (bid). Every time you open a trade, you start slightly in the red by the size of that spread. Your trade needs to move in your favour by at least the spread amount before you break even.

For most traders, spreads are one of the most common trading costs and have a direct impact on overall profitability. CCommissions appear as separate charges, while spreads are built into the price whenever you enter or exit a trade. If you place five trades a day on EUR/USD with a 1.6-pip spread, you are paying roughly $80 per day in spread costs on a standard lot. Over time, frequent trading with wider spreads can noticeably increase overall trading costs. Choosing the right account type can have a noticeable impact on your trading costs.

How XM Structures Its Spreads

XM uses floating spreads, meaning the gap between bid and ask moves with market conditions. Spreads are often at their narrowest during periods of higher market liquidity, such as the London-New York trading session overlap. During the Asian session or around major news releases, spreads widen.

XM offers different pricing across its account types. Standard and Ultra Low accounts both build the trading cost into the spread with no commission; the Ultra Low account simply has lower spreads. Only the Shares account charges commission.

Spreads by Account Type

Standard and Micro Accounts

These two accounts share identical spreads. The only difference is lot sizing: Standard uses 100,000-unit lots, Micro uses 1,000-unit lots. EUR/USD spreads are variable and may change throughout the trading day depending on market liquidity and volatility. There is no commission on either account.

Depending on the country and XM entity serving the client, Standard account holders may be eligible for selected promotions and loyalty rewards. Loyalty rewards may help offset part of your overall trading costs, depending on how they are used. Eligible traders can earn XMC through the XM Traders Club and redeem them for rewards, under the programme’s current terms. Some traders may view loyalty rewards as partially offsetting their overall trading expenses. Whether you consider that a genuine reduction depends on how you value bonus credit versus cash.

Ultra Low Account

The Ultra Low account provides tighter spreads than the Standard account while keeping trading costs commission-free. That is roughly half the Standard account spread, which translates to about $8 per lot on EUR/USD versus $16. For active traders, lower spreads may help reduce overall trading costs over time. One thing to consider is: Ultra Low accounts are not eligible for the deposit bonus. The minimum deposit is typically $5, although it may vary depending on the XM entity and payment method. For details on how to fund it, see our XM minimum deposit breakdown.

Real Cost Per Trade: EUR/USD on 1 Standard Lot

The figures above are  descriptive estimates and should not be treated as fixed trading costs, as spreads and trading conditions change continuously. Actual spreads fluctuate with market conditions.

Spreads Across Popular Instruments

Forex is just one piece. Here is how XM spreads look across the instruments traders ask about most. Figures are XM’s own published averages and minimums for its Standard and Ultra Low accounts (XM Global), checked on 30 September 2026. Live spreads vary.

How XM Spreads Compare to the Industry

XM offers floating spreads. Its lowest EUR/USD pricing is on the Ultra Low account, from 0.8 pips with no commission, while the Standard account averages 2.0 pips. XM has no commission-based raw-spread account.

To compare XM’s costs with other brokers we review, use our broker comparison; every figure there is checked against each broker’s own website.

XM’s Standard account is noticeably more expensive than its Ultra Low account, so active traders should compare the two before choosing.

When Do XM Spreads Widen?

XM uses floating spreads, so widening is normal and expected. Spreads are more likely to widen in the following situations.

High-impact news releases. During major economic events, spreads may widen significantly because of increased volatility and reduced liquidity. Spread levels can vary significantly during periods of heightened market volatility. During major economic announcements, spreads can widen significantly as market volatility increases and liquidity decreases

Low-liquidity sessions. Spreads may widen during lower-liquidity trading sessions, particularly outside peak market hours wider than the London-New York overlap.

Market open gaps. Sunday evening (or Monday morning depending on your time zone) sees wider spreads for the first 15 to 30 minutes as liquidity providers reconnect. This applies to every broker, not just XM.

Exotic and cross pairs. Exotic and cross pairs carry wider spreads than the majors; check the live spread in your platform before trading them.

How to Check XM Spreads Before You Trade

Traders can monitor current spreads using several tools provided by XM. XM provides several tools to monitor live and historical spread data.

MT4 and MT5 Market Watch. Right-click the instrument name, select ‘Spread’, and the current spread appears as a column in pips. On MT5, you can also overlay the spread as a histogram on your chart.

XM App. The XM Trading app shows live bid/ask prices for every instrument. The spread is visible directly from the order ticket before you confirm a trade.

XM Pip Value Calculator. Available on XM’s website. Enter your currency pair, lot size, and account currency, and it calculates the dollar value of each pip. Multiply that by the current spread, and you have your cost per trade.

If you want to test spread behaviour without risking money, XM’s demo account is designed to reflect live market conditions. Virtual balance and account terms may vary depending on the platform and region. Our XM demo account guide walks through the setup.

Which Spread Model Fits Your Trading Style?

The most suitable account depends on your trading style, preferred instruments, and trading frequency. Here is a practical breakdown.

Beginners with small capital ($5 to $100): Traders considering the Standard Micro Account should review the promotions available in their region, as bonus eligibility may vary by country and regulatory entity. At micro lot sizes (1,000 units), the spread cost on EUR/USD is about $0.16 per trade. The bonus eligibility outweighs the spread difference at this scale.

Day traders placing 3 to 10 trades per day: The Ultra Low account may be a suitable option. At 5 trades per day on EUR/USD (1 lot each), you could reduce trading costs compared with the Standard account, depending on your trading volume. compared to the Standard account. That is $200 per week and $800 per month in reduced spread costs.

Scalpers and EA traders: The Ultra Low account has XM’s lowest spreads, from 0.8 pips on EUR/USD, with no commission. XM allows scalping on all its account types.

Gold and index traders: The Ultra Low account lists gold from 2.4 pips (3.0 average) against 4.0 (5.5 average) on Standard.

You can hold up to 10 active trading accounts and move money between them instantly by internal transfer. Our how to open an XM account guide covers the setup.

Costs Beyond the Spread

Spreads are one of the most common ongoing trading costs, but they are not the only cost. Three other fees affect your bottom line at XM.

Swap fees (overnight interest). If you hold a position overnight, XM charges or credits swap interest based on the interest rate differential between the two currencies. Swap costs on EUR/USD are relatively small, but on exotic pairs and gold, they add up fast. Swap-free availability depends on your account type, trading instrument, and the XM entity serving your account.

Inactivity fee. Inactivity charges may apply to dormant accounts in accordance with the terms and conditions of the relevant XM entity. The fee is deducted from your account balance, not your bonus credit.

Currency conversion. If your account base currency is different from the instrument’s denomination, XM applies a conversion at market rate. XM applies currency conversion where applicable. The applicable exchange rate and any associated costs are governed by its trading terms, which is worth noting. To avoid this cost, open your account in USD if you mostly trade USD-denominated instruments.

XM does not charge fees on deposits or withdrawals for most payment methods. XM aims to process withdrawal requests promptly, although final processing times depend on the payment provider used. XM says withdrawal requests are processed instantly; bank wires and cards usually take 2 to 5 business days to arrive. We cover the full withdrawal process in our XM withdrawal guide.

Does Leverage Affect Your Spread Cost?

No. This is a common misconception. Leverage determines how much margin you need to open a position, but the spread cost is calculated on the full notional value of the trade. Whether you use 1:50 or 1:1000 leverage, 1 lot of EUR/USD still carries the same pip-value spread cost. Leverage can amplify your profit or loss on the trade itself, but it does not change the entry cost. For a deeper look at how leverage works across different XM entities and instruments, see our XM leverage guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the lowest spread at XM?

On the Ultra Low account, from 0.8 pips on EUR/USD and USD/JPY and 2.4 pips on gold, with no commission.

Is the Ultra Low or Standard account cheaper?

Ultra Low. XM lists EUR/USD from 0.8 pips on Ultra Low against a 2.0-pip average (as low as 1.6) on Standard, with no commission on either. The Standard account is the one eligible for bonuses.

Why are Standard account spreads higher than the industry average?

XM lists an average EUR/USD spread of 2.0 pips on the Standard account, as low as 1.6. The Ultra Low account offers lower spreads than the Standard account, with spreads starting from 0.8 pips on selected instruments.. Standard accounts generally have wider spreads than XM’s lower-cost account options, while promotional eligibility depends on the applicable account type and region.. If you do not care about bonuses, switch to Ultra Low for half the spread cost at no extra charge.

Do XM spreads widen during news events?

Yes. All brokers widen spreads during high-impact news. During major economic announcements, spreads may widen significantly due to increased market volatility and reduced liquidity.

Does XM charge commission on gold?

No. There is no commission on gold on Standard or Ultra Low accounts. XM lists gold spreads averaging 3.0 pips on Ultra Low (as low as 2.4) and 5.5 pips on Standard (as low as 4.0).

Can I check spreads before opening a live account?

Yes. XM’s demo account shows live market spreads in real time. You can monitor spread behaviour across different sessions and instruments before committing any money. See our XM demo account guide for setup instructions.

Are XM spreads fixed or floating?

Floating. XM does not offer fixed spreads on any account type. The figures XM quotes as ‘as low as’ (0.8 pips on Ultra Low, 1.6 on Standard for EUR/USD) are minimums, not fixed rates. Actual spreads depend on market liquidity, session time, and volatility.

What spreads should I expect on exotic currency pairs?

Exotic pairs carry significantly wider spreads than majors. XM does not publish exotic averages on its public pages, so check the live spread in your platform before trading them.

Is XM a good choice for scalping based on spreads?

Yes, XM allows scalping on all its account types, and the Ultra Low account has its lowest spreads. XM supports Expert Advisors, hedging, and a variety of trading strategies in accordance with its trading policies and platform rules. On the Standard account, the 1.6-pip spread makes scalping targets of 10 to 20 pips difficult because the spread eats 8% to 16% of your target before you start.

Final Thoughts on XM Spreads

XM gives you two cost structures for forex. The Standard account carries wider spreads (a 2.0-pip EUR/USD average) but is eligible for bonuses in most countries. The Ultra Low account has lower spreads, from 0.8 pips on EUR/USD, with no commission and no bonus. The account you start with is not permanent: you can hold up to 10 trading accounts and test each type on demo before going live.