Glossary/Adtech & Programmatic/Clearing Price
Adtech & Programmatic
Clearing Price
The final price paid for an impression in an auction, after any floors, fees, or shading are applied.
By Brandon Mina·CEO, BrandPilot AI·Updated November 2026
Appears in Lesson 3 of Programmatic 101
Short answer
The clearing price is the final amount paid for an ad impression once an auction concludes, after floors, fees, and any bid shading are applied. In first-price auctions it equals the winning bid; in second-price auctions it is set by the runner-up bid. Tracking clearing prices helps buyers bid efficiently and publishers set floors.