Intraday vs delivery: which costs more?
Buying a stock and selling it the same day (intraday) versus holding it overnight or longer (delivery) feels like the same activity — you buy, you sell, you book the difference. But the charge structure behind each is quite different, and it can flip which one is cheaper depending on your trade.
Where the costs differ
Three charges behave differently between the two styles:
- Brokerage — discount brokers often make equity delivery free, while intraday carries a flat per-order fee. Advantage: delivery.
- STT — delivery is taxed on both buy and sell; intraday only on the sell side. Advantage: intraday.
- Stamp duty — charged on the buy side, with delivery attracting a higher rate than intraday. Advantage: intraday.
- DP charges — apply only to delivery sells, not intraday. Advantage: intraday.
Small trades vs large trades
On a small-value trade, fixed charges like brokerage and DP fees dominate, so the free-delivery advantage can be outweighed by the per-scrip DP charge. On larger trades, the percentage-based charges (STT, exchange fees) matter more, and intraday’s single-side STT can tilt the balance.
It’s not only about cost
Cost is one factor, not the only one. Intraday positions must be squared off the same day and often use leverage, which raises risk. Delivery lets you hold without that pressure but ties up your capital. The cheaper option on charges isn’t automatically the better decision for you — that depends on your plan and risk tolerance.
How to actually compare
The reliable way is to run the exact same buy price, sell price and quantity through both segments and look at the net P&L side by side. Toggle between the Delivery and Intraday tabs in the calculator and watch the total charges line change — that difference is the real cost of your trading style for that specific trade.
This is general education, not a recommendation to trade intraday or delivery. Choose what fits your own strategy and risk tolerance. Rates are indicative and subject to change.