Tradovate Commissions: Per Side vs Round Turn
The number Tradovate shows you is per side, not per trade. A completed trade touches the market twice, so your real commission is double the quoted rate. Here's how to calculate your true cost.
The number Tradovate shows you is per side, not per trade. That one word trips up almost everyone coming to futures from stocks. When you see $1.29 or $0.39 next to a contract, that's what you pay each time an order fills, once when you get in, once when you get out. A completed trade touches the market twice, so your commission is double the quoted rate.
The short version: Per side = one fill (an entry or an exit). Round turn = both fills. So your commission on a finished trade is the quoted rate × 2.
What "Per Side" Actually Means
Every fill is a side. Buy to open is one side. Sell to close is another. Tradovate bills commission per side because you won't always open and close in a single click, you might scale into a position over three fills and scale out over two. Charging per side keeps the math honest: you pay for exactly the fills you take.
"Round turn" (some people say round trip) is trader shorthand for a full trade: in and back out. Because that's two sides, the commission is simply the per-side rate times two. There's no hidden bulk discount and no penalty, it's just the same number, counted twice.
Per Side vs Round Turn, Side by Side
Here's how the current per-side rates translate into round-turn commission across Tradovate's plans. These figures are commission only, exchange, clearing, and NFA fees are separate (more on that below).
| Plan | Micro, per side | Micro, round turn | Standard, per side | Standard, round turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0.39 | $0.78 | $1.29 | $2.58 |
| Monthly | $0.29 | $0.58 | $0.99 | $1.98 |
| Lifetime | $0.09 | $0.18 | $0.59 | $1.18 |
Rates change over time and depend on which plan you're on, so treat these as a worked example rather than a live quote.
How to Work Out Your True Round-Turn Cost
Find Your Per-Side Commission Rate
Start with the per-side number for your plan and the contract you trade. A micro on the Free plan is $0.39 per side; a standard e-mini is $1.29. Your plan sets the rate, and the pricing table always labels it as commission per side, that's your building block.
Double It for a Full Round Turn
Multiply that per-side rate by two. One fill opens the position, a second fill closes it, and each fill is billed. So $1.29 per side becomes $2.58 to open and close a standard contract; $0.39 per side becomes $0.78 on a micro. If you check your fills after a completed trade, you'll see the commission line hit twice, once on entry, once on exit.
Add Exchange, Clearing, and NFA Fees
Commission isn't the whole bill. Every futures trade also carries exchange fees, clearing fees, and a small NFA fee. Those aren't Tradovate's cut, they're set by the exchange and regulators, and like commission, they're charged on each side. Add them to your doubled commission and you've got your true all-in round-turn cost.
Don't Let the Extra Fees Surprise You
Because the exchange and regulatory fees also apply per side, they roughly double on a round turn too. On micros they're small; on ES or NQ they add up to a bit more than a dollar per completed trade on top of commission. None of that is optional or waived by any plan tier. It's worth checking your account statement once so you know your real cost per trade rather than the sticker number.
One more thing if you trade a funded or evaluation account: prop firms set their own commission schedules on top of (or in place of) Tradovate's retail rates. Those vary by firm and account size, so check your firm's current rules rather than assuming the numbers above apply.
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Start Your Free 5-Day TrialThis guide is for educational and informational purposes only and is not financial, investment, or trading advice. Trading futures and other leveraged products carries a substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor. PickMyTrade is an independent third-party automation platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Tradovate, Inc. "Tradovate" and all related names, logos, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Platform features and steps change over time, so always confirm the current process in the official Tradovate platform and documentation before acting.