Spread · Coinbase
How much spread does Coinbase really charge?
October 2026 (to date): $0.24 average hidden spread on a $1,000 buy — 1,795 observations.
Coinbase vs. the covered-exchange average
Coinbase · $0.24
Covered-exchange average · $2.49
Same October 2026 period, 6 measured exchanges — list-price exchanges excluded.
Right now
Live, on a $1,000 BTC buy: $12.00 fee + $0.20 spread = $12.20 all-in.
Coinbase’s Convert / Instant-Buy button typically adds ~0.5–2.0% on top — curated range, not included above.
Questions, answered
Why did I get less BTC than expected at Coinbase?
Hidden spread: in October 2026 (to date), Coinbase's order book cost $0.24 above the reference price per $1,000 buy on average (1,795 observations).
Is the spread at Coinbase stable?
Not fixed: October 2026 (to date) average $0.24 vs $0.20 live at 2026-10-04 14:48 UTC, measured hourly on a $1,000 buy.
Sources & method
- Published taker fee: 1.20% — the spread above comes on top.
- Hidden spread = Coinbase’s live order book walked for a $1,000 order, hourly.
- Method → · Coinbase reliability record → · Withdrawal fees → · Live cost comparison →
Not investment advice. Skontro is not a CASP under MiCAR. Reliability Scores are information, not recommendations: every negative datapoint is dated and sourced, the methodology is public, and no exchange can pay to change a score.