DP charges explained: what you pay every time you sell
DP charges are a flat fee per stock every time shares leave your demat account. Here is what they are, what major brokers charge, and a DP charges calculator.
What DP charges are
DP charges (depository participant charges) are a fee for moving shares out of your demat account. Your shares are held by a depository (CDSL or NSDL) through your broker, which acts as the depository participant. When you sell shares from your holdings, they are debited from your demat account, and the depository and the broker each charge a fee for that debit.
The key rule: DP charges are charged per scrip, per day, on the sell side, regardless of quantity. Selling 1 share or 1,000 shares of the same company on the same day costs the same DP charge.
DP charges at major brokers (October 2026)
| Broker | DP charge per scrip | With GST | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zerodha | ₹13 + GST | ₹15.34 | ₹3.50 CDSL + ₹9.50 Zerodha + ₹2.34 GST |
| Groww | ₹20 + GST | ₹23.60 | ₹3.50 CDSL + ₹16.50 Groww; Groww’s part is waived on debits under ₹100 |
| Upstox | ₹20 + GST | ₹23.60 | ₹3.50 CDSL + ₹16.50 Upstox |
| Angel One | ₹20 + GST | ₹23.60 | Per ISIN debit; ₹3.50 CDSL + ₹16.50 Angel One |
Brokers revise these fees from time to time; check your broker’s rate card before relying on them.
When DP charges apply
- Yes: selling shares, ETFs or bonds from your demat holdings (equity delivery).
- Yes: off-market transfers to another demat account (often a separate, higher fee).
- No: buying shares; intraday trades that are squared off the same day; futures and options; commodity derivatives.
Why DP charges hurt small sales
Because the fee is fixed, its share of the trade grows as the trade shrinks:
| Sale value | DP ₹15.34 as % | DP ₹23.60 as % |
|---|---|---|
| ₹1,000 | 1.53% | 2.36% |
| ₹10,000 | 0.15% | 0.24% |
| ₹1,00,000 | 0.015% | 0.024% |
Selling ₹1,000 of stock at Groww can cost more in DP charges than the STT on a ₹20,000 trade. On a small profitable sale, DP charges can turn the profit into a loss.
How to reduce DP charges
- Sell a holding in one go rather than in several small sales on different days.
- Avoid selling many different small holdings separately when you can consolidate decisions.
- Compare brokers if you sell often; the difference between ₹15.34 and ₹23.60 adds up over hundreds of sales.
- Remember that intraday trades and F&O never attract DP charges.
The brokerage calculator includes DP charges automatically when you choose the delivery segment.
Sources: NSE and BSE transaction charge circulars, the Finance Act 2026 (STT), SEBI fee schedule, the Indian Stamp Act as amended in 2020, and the published rate cards of Zerodha, Groww, Upstox and Angel One, checked in October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is DP charges meaning?
DP charges are depository participant fees charged when shares are debited from your demat account after you sell them. They are charged per scrip per day, not per share.
How much are DP charges?
Zerodha charges ₹15.34 per scrip including GST. Groww, Upstox and Angel One charge ₹20 plus 18% GST, which is ₹23.60.
Are DP charges applied on intraday trades?
No. Intraday trades are squared off the same day, so shares never leave your demat account. F&O trades also have no DP charges.
Are DP charges refundable?
No. They are a service fee charged by the depository and your broker when the debit happens.
Are DP charges charged on buying shares?
No, only when shares are debited from your demat account, which happens when you sell or transfer them.
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Written and maintained by Mantu Kumar
Mantu builds TradeProfy’s calculators and checks every statutory rate against exchange circulars, broker rate cards and the Finance Act. He is not a SEBI-registered adviser, so TradeProfy explains costs and maths but never tells you what to trade.
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