Top Buy and Top Sell answer opposite questions
Top Buy is the highest visible buy order at the selected market location. It is relevant when you want to sell into an existing buyer. Top Sell is the lowest visible sell order and matters when you want to buy from an existing seller.
Neither number automatically represents fair value. A single small order can create an attractive headline price that disappears as soon as a larger stack is traded.
What split price is good for
A split price is a midpoint between the best visible buy and sell prices when both sides exist. It is useful as a neutral reference, especially for internal valuations, but it is not an executable quote. If the spread is wide, the midpoint may describe a price where nobody is currently willing to trade.
Why quantity changes the answer
Suppose one buyer wants 100 units at 10 ISK and the next buyer wants 10,000 units at 8 ISK. A 50-unit sale can reasonably use the 10 ISK order. A 5,000-unit sale cannot. Quantity-aware pricing walks through available depth instead of multiplying the entire stack by the single best order.
This is why EveDashboard separates headline orders from Immediate Buy and Immediate Sell calculations.
Use the price with a plan
- Liquidating now: focus on quantity-aware Immediate Sell.
- Buying now: focus on Immediate Buy.
- Posting orders: inspect Top Buy, Top Sell, spread and depth before choosing a limit price.
- Internal valuation: split can be useful, but add a confidence or liquidity check for expensive items.
Next step
Use Market Search for one item and Price Checker for a pasted inventory basket. For large stacks, read the spread and liquidity guide next.