Historical Ask Size (Options)
Returns the ask size (number of contracts or shares available at the ask price) for an option contract or stock on a specific historical date. This function is essential for analyzing historical liquidity conditions.
Parameters
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Symbol | Yes | Option symbol (OCC format) or stock ticker |
| OnDate | Yes | Historical date (DATE function or string) |
Input Requirements
For options, use OptionSymbol() to generate the option symbol:
| Parameter | Source | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Symbol | OptionSymbol() output |
OptionSymbol("AAPL",DATE(2026,3,15),"Call",170) |
Interpreting Ask Size
| Size | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Large (100+) | Good liquidity, easy to buy |
| Medium (20-100) | Moderate liquidity |
| Small (1-20) | Lower liquidity, may face slippage |
Notes
- For options, size is measured in contracts
- For stocks, size is in shares
- Larger sizes indicate better sell-side liquidity
- Compare with bid size to assess overall market depth
Syntax
=Ask_Size_Historical(Symbol, OnDate)Examples
=Ask_Size_Historical(OptionSymbol("AAPL",DATE(2026,3,15),"Call",170),DATE(2025,12,15))=Ask_Size_Historical("AAPL240315C00170000", DATE(2025,12,15))=Ask_Size_Historical("SPY", DATE(2025,12,15))=Bid_Size_Historical("AAPL240315C00170000", DATE(2025,12,15)) & " x " & Ask_Size_Historical("AAPL240315C00170000", DATE(2025,12,15))=Ask_Size_Historical(A1, B1)When to Use
- Analyze historical option liquidity conditions
- Backtest strategies that depend on liquidity
- Study market depth around specific events
- Compare liquidity across different options
- Build historical liquidity analysis reports
When NOT to Use
| Scenario | Use Instead |
|---|---|
| Need current ask size | AskSize() |
| Need historical bid size | Bid_Size_Historical() |
| Need historical ask price | Ask_Historical() |
| Need open interest | Open_Interest_Historical() |
Common Issues & FAQ
What's the difference between ask size and open interest?
Ask size is the number of contracts currently offered for sale at the ask price. Open interest is the total number of outstanding contracts.
Why are bid and ask sizes different?
Market makers adjust sizes based on their inventory and risk management. Size imbalances can indicate market direction.
How do I assess historical liquidity?
Look at both bid and ask sizes. Larger, more balanced sizes indicate better two-way liquidity.
Excel Templates Using Historical Ask Size (Options)
These ready-made MarketXLS templates call Ask_Size_Historical() in their worksheet formulas. Open one to see the function working inside a complete model.
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