Complete brokerage, STT, stamp duty, exchange charges, and MTF margin rates for every stock. Click any stock to see the full charge breakdown across Upstox, Zerodha, Groww & Dhan.
Every stock trade in India involves multiple charges beyond just brokerage: Securities Transaction Tax (STT), exchange transaction charges, GST, SEBI turnover fee, stamp duty, and DP charges. While brokerage is the same for all stocks with discount brokers (₹0 delivery, ₹20 intraday/F&O), MTF margin rates vary significantly per stock — some stocks require only 25% margin while others need 75% or more.
Click on any stock above to see the complete charge breakdown including exact MTF margins across Upstox, Zerodha, Groww & Dhan, real cost examples for ₹1 lakh trades, and which broker is cheapest for that specific stock. Use this alongside our Brokerage Calculator and the MTF Comparison Tool to minimize your trading costs.
Frequently Asked Questions — Brokerage Charges India
Which broker has the lowest brokerage charges in India?
For equity delivery, Zerodha, Groww, Upstox, and Dhan all offer zero brokerage. For intraday and F&O, most discount brokers charge a flat ₹20 per order. MTF (Margin Trading Facility) interest rates vary significantly — Dhan charges ~11% p.a., Upstox ~14%, while Zerodha charges ~18% p.a. Use Downstox to compare real-time rates across all 4 brokers.
What are the hidden charges in stock trading in India?
Beyond brokerage, you pay: STT (Securities Transaction Tax), exchange transaction charges (NSE/BSE), GST (18% on brokerage + transaction charges), SEBI turnover fee (₹10 per crore), stamp duty (state-wise), and DP charges (₹15.93 per sell transaction for CDSL). These regulatory charges apply to all brokers equally.
Is zero brokerage really free? What's the catch?
Zero brokerage on equity delivery is genuinely free — brokers earn from other sources like F&O trading, interest on margin funding (MTF), and float income. However, regulatory charges (STT, GST, exchange fees, stamp duty) still apply even with zero brokerage. For a ₹1 lakh delivery trade, you'll still pay ~₹200-300 in regulatory charges.
What is STT and how much is it?
Securities Transaction Tax (STT) is a government tax on stock market transactions. Rates: Equity Delivery — 0.1% on both buy and sell sides. Equity Intraday — 0.025% on sell side only. F&O Futures — 0.0125% on sell side. F&O Options — 0.0625% on sell side (on premium). STT is the same across all brokers as it's a government charge.
How do MTF (Margin Trading Facility) charges work?
MTF lets you buy stocks by paying only a fraction (margin) while the broker funds the rest. Charges: Interest rate (11-18% p.a. depending on broker), pledge charges (₹10-30 per scrip), and auto square-off fees if margin drops below minimum. Use Downstox MTF comparison to find the cheapest margin rates for any stock across Upstox, Zerodha, Groww, and Dhan.
What are DP charges and why do I see them on selling?
Depository Participant (DP) charges are levied when you sell shares from your demat account. CDSL charges ₹5.50 per scrip per day, and your broker adds their markup — typically ₹13.50, making the total ~₹15.93-₹18.50. This charge applies per scrip regardless of quantity. Some brokers (like Groww) charge slightly different DP fees.
Upstox vs Zerodha vs Groww — which is cheapest?
For equity delivery: All three offer zero brokerage. For intraday/F&O: All charge ₹20/order. The real difference is in MTF rates — Upstox charges ~14% p.a., Zerodha ~18% p.a., and Groww ~14% p.a. For MTF traders, Dhan (11% p.a.) is often cheapest. Account opening is free across all platforms. Compare stock-by-stock on Downstox.
How much tax do I pay on stock market profits?
Short-Term Capital Gains (STCG, <1 year holding): 15% tax. Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG, >1 year): 10% on gains exceeding ₹1 lakh. F&O profits: Taxed as business income at your income tax slab rate. Intraday profits: Taxed as speculative business income. Dividends: Taxed at your slab rate. TDS of 10% on dividends exceeding ₹5,000.