GLOSSARY · GOLD & METALS
What is XAUUSD spread?
The XAUUSD spread is the bid-ask difference on spot gold, typically far wider than on major FX pairs and highly variable by broker, account type and session.
What it means
Raw and ECN gold accounts commonly quote in the $0.10 to $0.40 range with a separate commission, while standard accounts fold a wider spread in and charge nothing extra. Comparing the headline spread alone across those two account types is meaningless.
Why it matters
It widens predictably at the daily rollover, at session transitions and around high-impact releases, sometimes by several multiples. A strategy that ignores spread will therefore concentrate its worst entries at precisely these moments, because those are also the moments that generate the most signals.
What this changes in practice
Our engine refuses to open a gold position when the spread exceeds $1.00. On our own broker that threshold is rarely reached — 3 bars in 70,546 — so treat it as insurance against a rare event rather than a filter doing daily work — see spread and the spread cost calculator.
Related terms
- SpreadThe spread is the difference between the bid and ask price, and it is the cost paid on entry to …
- CommissionCommission is a per-lot fee charged by the broker for executing a trade, typically on raw-spread…
- ECN accountAn ECN account routes orders to an electronic network of liquidity providers rather than filling…
- Gold volatilityGold volatility describes how far XAUUSD typically moves in a given period, and it is high enoug…
Educational information only, not financial advice. Trading leveraged products carries substantial risk of loss. Last updated 2026-08-11.