Costs and fees of ETFs
Whether it's an ETF—or any other investment—we believe you should always have a clear picture of what you’re paying.
On this page:
What are the costs associated with ETFs?
Once you've found ETFs (exchange-traded funds) with the market exposure you're seeking, take a close look at their costs. And remember, the relative importance of costs and fees depends on how you plan to use the ETF in pursuit of your investment goals:
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Trade commission
You'll typically pay a commission each time you buy or sell an ETF—but not always.
Keep in mind, the smaller your investment and the more frequently you trade, the more impact these commissions will have on your bottom line.
Where to look it up? -
Operating expense ratio (OER)
An OER is the percentage of fund assets taken out annually to cover fund expenses. For example, if you have $10,000 in an ETF with a 0.25% expense ratio, you're paying about $25 per year in expenses. It's a good idea to look at the expense ratio of an ETF before you buy. A small difference in annual expenses can add up over time.
Where to look it up?
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Bid/ask spread
There is normally a difference, or spread, between the bid price (the highest price a buyer is willing to pay for a share) and the ask price (the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for a share). The amount of the spread varies from one ETF to another, and tends to be greater for ETFs with low trading volume.
If you plan to hold an ETF for less than a year, this cost can matter more than the OER.
Where to look it up?
What do ETFs cost with Schwab?
As an industry leader in low-cost ETF investing, we offer some of the best pricing you'll find anywhere. Here's a quick breakdown:
What do ETFs cost with Schwab?
- What you might pay elsewhere
- What you'll pay with Schwab
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Operating Expense Ratio>
What you might pay elsewhere
Passively managed ETFs>Industry asset-weighted average** OER for passively managed ETF0.19%1Actively managed ETFsThe OERs for actively managed funds vary from fund to fund, but are typically higher than passively managed funds.What you'll pay with Schwab
Passively managed ETFs>Schwab ETFs™2Asset-weighted average OER for cap weighted Schwab ETFs20.05%3Actively managed ETFsThe OERs for actively managed funds vary from fund to fund, but are typically higher than passively managed funds.-
Trade Commission (online)>
What you might pay elsewhere
$0-$20 for online trades4, depending on number of trades.>What you'll pay with Schwab
$0 per trade for all ETFs online, including Schwab ETFs.5>More about ETFs
- View important information about ETFs
ETFs with Schwab
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ETFs at Schwab
Choose from 2,000+ commission-free ETFs1, including Schwab’s low-cost market cap index ETFs.
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