How filters shape option scan results
Scans run May 11 to May 22, 2026 via Spreadsearch
Editorial note (September 25, 2026): This page was substantially revised to replace the original scan-data summary with a methodology note. The original URL and reporting period have been retained for continuity.
Purpose of the scans
The mid-May tests used a stable panel and a set of four filters: minimum bid, minimum volume, minimum dollar spread, and minimum percentage spread.
Filters make a scan more focused, but they also define what the tool can return. A result list is therefore not a complete description of an option chain. It is the output produced by a particular set of rules.
What each filter changes
Minimum bid removes very low-priced options. This limits cases where a small dollar difference becomes an extreme percentage only because the bid is close to zero.
Minimum volume removes contracts that have not reached the selected activity threshold. Volume provides useful context, but it does not by itself measure the displayed spread or guarantee liquidity.
Minimum dollar spread removes quotes where the absolute gap is too small for the selected scan.
Minimum percentage spread removes quotes where the gap is small relative to the bid, even if the dollar amount appears large.
A hypothetical filtered scan
The report used the following settings: minimum bid $2.00, minimum volume 20, minimum dollar spread $0.50, and minimum percentage spread 5%. The examples below are fictional and are not market data.
| Example | Bid | Ask | Volume | Spread $ | Spread % | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | $1.50 | $2.00 | 100 | $0.50 | 33.3% | Excluded: bid |
| B | $5.00 | $5.40 | 50 | $0.40 | 8.0% | Excluded: dollar spread |
| C | $10.00 | $10.60 | 5 | $0.60 | 6.0% | Excluded: volume |
| D | $10.00 | $10.60 | 50 | $0.60 | 6.0% | Included |
Only Example D passes every filter. The other examples still contain a displayed spread, but each fails one selected condition.
How to interpret an empty result
No result does not mean that the ticker had no options, that every quote was tight, or that no wider quote existed outside the selected contracts. It only means that the scan found no contract satisfying all active filters at that time.
Changing one threshold can materially change the result set. Comparisons across dates are therefore more reliable when the same panel, filters, and scan method are used.
This public summary uses only hypothetical figures. For more information about the scan workflow, see How It Works or explore the demo.
This report is provided for informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice, financial recommendations, or trading signals. Trading options involves significant risk of loss, including the possible loss of your entire investment. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
This report was prepared with the assistance of AI tools.