20-level market depth on Kite
The 20-level market depth feature on Kite renders 20 levels of bid and 20 levels of ask quotes on the NSE order book for any tradable instrument. This is a paid feature on top of the default 5-level depth (Market depth view on Kite ), aimed at active intraday traders who want a fuller view of resting liquidity.
What changes from the 5-level view
| Aspect | Default 5-level | 20-level |
|---|---|---|
| Levels visible | 5 bids + 5 asks | 20 bids + 20 asks |
| Cumulative quantity shown | Yes (5 levels deep) | Yes (20 levels deep) |
| Refresh frequency | Real-time | Real-time |
| Cost | Free | Subscription fee |
| Exchanges covered | NSE, BSE | NSE only (initial rollout) |
Why deeper depth matters
Better order placement
A trader placing a 10,000-share limit order needs to know where the order will queue. If 9,000 shares are already queued at the user’s chosen price across the 5 visible levels, but 50,000 more are queued at the level just below, the user can choose a slightly more aggressive price to jump the queue.
Liquidity walls
Algorithmic traders often place large orders several levels deep to anchor the market. These walls are invisible on a 5-level view but visible on 20-level. Recognising a wall helps with target-setting and stop placement.
Order-book imbalance signals
Aggregate bid-to-ask quantity ratio across 20 levels is a noisier but richer signal than the 5-level ratio. Some intraday strategies use this as a directional input.
Spoofing detection
20-level depth reveals patterns of fast-cancel order placement that look like 5-level depth disappearing. Spoofing has been actioned by SEBI and exchanges; the deeper view helps users understand price action that otherwise looks anomalous.
Subscription and activation
The 20-level depth is offered via NSE’s “Level 3” data product. Zerodha relays it to Kite users who subscribe. The exact pricing, billing cadence, and activation path are described on the Zerodha Kite Support site. The fee structure has changed over time; check the current rate before subscribing.
Activation is per Kite account; deactivation is via the same Console page.
Limitations
- NSE only. BSE 20-level may or may not be available; check current support.
- No 20-level for currency derivatives. CDS segment uses the default 5-level.
- No 20-level for MCX. The commodity segment runs separately.
- Net of broker spread. The displayed prices are exchange prices; broker brokerage charges apply on top.
- No tick-level history. The depth is a current snapshot, not a backtest tool.
Who should subscribe
| Trader profile | Worth subscribing? |
|---|---|
| Buy-and-hold investor | No |
| Occasional intraday | Marginal |
| Daily intraday on large lots | Often yes |
| Algorithmic / API-based | Yes (via Kite Connect) |
| F&O option seller (sizing matters) | Often yes |
See also
- Market depth view on Kite
- Average price on market depth
- How to use the marketwatch on Kite
- How to add scrips to the Kite marketwatch
- How to add F&O contracts to the marketwatch
- How to add Nifty / BankNifty options to the marketwatch
- Delivery volume percentage on the Kite marketwatch
- Day’s change in absolute and percentage
- 52-week high and low on the marketwatch
- LTP under holdings vs marketwatch difference
- LTP difference marketwatch vs chart
- VWAP
- Limit order
- Market order
- Order types in Indian equity
- Spoofing in Indian markets
- Algorithmic trading in India
- Kite Connect (Zerodha API)
- Kite (Zerodha)
- Kite web
- Kite mobile app
- Zerodha
- Zerodha Console
- National Stock Exchange
- SEBI
External references
References
- NSE India, Level 3 data product specification, nseindia.com.
- Zerodha Support, 20-level market depth on Kite, support.zerodha.com.
- SEBI, Market microstructure and order book transparency, sebi.gov.in.