Partial Fill

A partial fill happens when only part of an order's requested volume is executed, leaving the remainder either working in the market or cancelled. It occurs when the liquidity available at the requested price is smaller than the order size — common with large positions, thinly traded exotic pairs, or during news releases when depth at the top of the book briefly disappears. On most retail platforms a partially filled order shows the executed volume and an average price, while the unfilled balance stays pending until it is matched or expires. Traders manage partial fills by splitting large orders into pieces, checking market depth before entering, and setting a time-in-force instruction that defines what happens to the leftover quantity.