Difference Between Liquid and Illiquid Assets
By Andrew Parker - May 15, 2022

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Table Summary

Liquid AssetsIlliquid Assets
Converts to cash quicklyConverts to cash in less time
Usually, retain value over timeĀ The value fluctuates; the owner may have to sell at a lower price if the sale is hurried
Demand is usually highDemand is lower than in liquid assets

Definitions

A liquid asset describes an investment that can quickly be converted to cash to see to financial obligations that may come up daily. Examples of liquid assets include cash in hand and cash at the bank. It also refers to common stocks listed on the exchange, top-grade corporate bonds, marketable securities, and treasury bonds.

An Illiquid asset is an asset that cannot easily convert to cash to meet financial obligations. Examples of illiquid assets include; property (such as real estate, art, furniture, or cars), Stock in companies that have not been traded, and even loans given to friends.

Liquid Assets VS Illiquid Assets

It is easy to mistake Liquid assets for illiquid assets because liquidity exists on a spectrum. This spectrum means that while some assets are completely liquid or not, some assets can also be more fluid than illiquid or vice versa. An easier way to tell the difference is by looking at them as either fixed or current assets. Current assets are assets that can be quickly converted to cash within a year without diminishing in value. In contrast, fixed assets are long-term tangible assets usually used in a business, such as machinery. However, these categories are not absolute since liquidity depends on how easy and profitable it is to dispense an asset, fixed or not.