Vanguard Logo

Vanguard fees explained

Your expert
Adam N.
Fact checked by
Updated
Dec 2024
Personally tested
Data-driven
Independent

When trading or investing at an online broker, fees can have a big impact on your results, so it's good to know what kind of charges you'll be facing and how these compare to fees at other brokers.

If fees are your top concern, Vanguard is a good choice, as it has low fees in general. Check our toplist for cheaper brokers.

I found Vanguard's trading fees fairly low
Adam
Adam Nasli
Regulation • Fighting Scams • Market Analysis

I've personally tested dozens of global brokers, carefully looking at their fees not just on their website but also in the course of live trading. Here's how Vanguard fared:

  • Vanguard charges low fees for trading stocks and ETFs.
  • There is no inactivity fee even if you leave your account idle for a long time.
  • The basic withdrawal fee is $0, but some transactions may cost more.
  • Read our full review of Vanguard for info on safety, trading platforms and funding.
Vanguard fees at a glance
Assets Fee level Fee terms
US stock fee Low Commission-free
EURUSD fee - FX not available
US tech fund fee High $25 per trade if investment is less than $1M, but Vanguard funds and 3000 other funds are free
Inactivity fee Low No inactivity fee

Visit broker

The fee structure is transparent. Some fees are charged depending on the amount of assets held at Vanguard.

Commission-free stock and ETF trading

Vanguard stock and ETF fees by market
US stock
$0.0
$0.0
$0.0
Show more
New
Stock Fee Calculator

Confused about fees? Use this tool to see what the commission fee of a specific stock trade would be at Vanguard. To check and compare fees at other brokers, go to our main Fee calculator page.

Before doing so, check out our Privacy Policy and our General Terms and Conditions.

USD
Select stock
USD

High margin rates

Vanguard's margin rate is volume-tiered. It applies a base rate of 11% plus a premium, depending on the financed amount. The base rate is set at Vanguard's discretion.

Vanguard annual margin rates
USD margin rate
13.0%
9.3%
12.3%
Show more

Low options commission

The fee is $1 per contract. Those holding at least $1 million in Vanguard funds or ETFs may be eligible for some free trades.

Vanguard stock index options commission
US stock index options
$10.0
$6.5
$5.0
Show more

No inactivity fee, no withdrawal fee

It charges no inactivity or account fees if you opt for online paperwork.

Broker
Inactivity fee
Withdrawal fee
Vanguard
$0
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
$0
Ally Invest
$0
Vanguard inactivity, withdrawal and other fees
Show more

Other commissions and fees

You can find Vanguard's fees for other asset classes below. Click 'Show more' for details.

High mutual fund commission

Show more

Low bond commission

Show more

Interest on uninvested cash

Vanguard pays a 3.0% interest on uninvested USD.

Check out this short video for a behind-the-scenes peek into how our experts personally test and evaluate brokers.

Got questions?
Engage with our growing community of traders and investors like you to find your answers.
Join now

Everything you find on BrokerChooser is based on reliable data and unbiased information. We combine our 10+ years finance experience with readers feedback. Read more about our methodology.

author
Adam Nasli
Author of this article
I bring extensive financial expertise as one of BrokerChooser's earliest team members. Personally, I tested nearly all 100+ brokers on our site, opening real-money accounts, executing trades, assessing customer services, and providing firsthand assessment. My professional background includes roles in the banking sector and a degree from Central European University, where I teach finance. My passions lies in in-depth research of the financial industry, building trading algorithms, and managing long-term investments.
Media mentions