Introduction
A limit order allows you to buy or sell an asset at a specific price or better.
However, there are situations where a limit order may remain open or be only partially filled.
This article explains the most common reasons why your limit order was not filled on Heshket and what you can do to improve execution.
How Limit Orders Work
When you place a limit order:
- A buy limit order is executed only at your specified price or lower.
- A sell limit order is executed only at your specified price or higher.
Limit orders are added to the order book and are filled only if market conditions meet your price requirements.
Common Reasons Why a Limit Order Was Not Filled
1. Market Price Did Not Reach Your Limit Price
The most common reason is that the market price never reached your specified limit price.
Example:
- You place a buy limit order at 25,000 USDT.
- The market price drops only to 25,200 USDT and then moves up.
- Since the price never reached 25,000 USDT, the order remains open.
2. Insufficient Market Liquidity at Your Price Level
Even if the market price reaches your limit price, there may not be enough opposing orders to fully fill your order.
- Your order may be partially filled
- The remaining portion stays open until more liquidity becomes available
This is more common for:
- Large order sizes
- Low-liquidity trading pairs
3. Order Book Priority (Time and Price)
Limit orders are executed based on price priority first, then time priority.
- Orders with better prices are filled first
- If multiple orders share the same price, the earliest order is filled first
If your order was placed later than others at the same price level, it may remain unfilled until earlier orders are executed.
4. Rapid Market Movements
In fast-moving or highly volatile markets:
- The price may briefly touch your limit price
- Orders already in the order book may fill first
- The price may move away before your order is executed
This can result in your order not being filled even though the price appeared to reach your level.
5. Order Was Partially Filled and Then Market Moved Away
If part of your limit order was filled and then the market price moved away from your limit price:
- The filled portion will remain completed
- The unfilled portion will stay open until canceled or executed later
6. Iceberg or Advanced Order Behavior
If you are using an Iceberg order:
- Only a portion of your total order is visible in the order book
- Execution depends on the visible portion being filled
- Market conditions may delay or pause execution of remaining portions
This can make execution appear slower compared to standard limit orders.
7. Trading Pair or Market Conditions
Certain trading pairs may experience:
- Low trading volume
- Wide bid-ask spreads
- Irregular liquidity
In such conditions, limit orders may take longer to fill or remain unfilled for extended periods.
How to Improve Limit Order Execution
To increase the likelihood of your limit order being filled, consider the following:
- Place limit prices closer to the current market price
- Reduce order size if liquidity is limited
- Monitor the order book depth before placing large orders
- Use advanced order types carefully based on market conditions
Where to Check Your Order Status
You can review your orders in the trading interface:
- Open Orders — active and unfilled orders
- Order History — filled, partially filled, or canceled orders
These sections help you track execution progress in real time.
Important Notes
- Limit orders do not guarantee execution
- Execution depends on price, liquidity, and order book priority
- Market conditions can change rapidly
Always review current market data before placing a limit order.
Need Help?
If you believe your order behavior does not match expected conditions or you need assistance, please contact Heshket Customer Support through the Help Center.