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You can buy Berkshire Hathaway stock by opening and funding a brokerage account, searching for the share class you want—BRK.A or BRK.B—and submitting an order through the broker’s trade ticket. Before you place it, confirm the security, order type, quantity or dollar amount, estimated total, and order status. Fractional-share access depends on the broker and whether it supports the specific class.
1. Choose a brokerage account
A brokerage account is the account you use to buy and sell stocks and other securities. Before opening one, compare the broker’s account terms and fees, available order types, customer support, and policies for Berkshire’s share classes and fractional orders. The SEC says brokers generally must register with the SEC and become members of FINRA; you can check a firm or professional through the SEC’s Investor.gov resources and the broker-checking tools it provides.
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You do not need a margin account just to buy Berkshire shares. In a cash account, you pay in full for securities you purchase. A margin account lets you borrow from the brokerage firm and carries different terms and risks; review the firm’s agreement before using it.
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2. Open and fund the account
Follow the brokerage firm’s current instructions to open the account, complete its identity and account requirements, and add funds. Confirm that the available balance and any account restrictions will allow the order you intend to place.
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3. Select the Berkshire share class
Berkshire Hathaway’s common stock trades under two symbols: BRK.A for Class A and BRK.B for Class B. Search the symbol in your broker’s order ticket and make sure the company name and class shown match your choice before continuing. Berkshire’s filing says a holder may convert one Class A share into 30 Class B shares, but Class B shares cannot be converted into Class A shares (Berkshire Hathaway, 1998 filing).
The classes also have different voting rights. At the record date stated in Berkshire’s 2022 proxy, each Class A share had one vote and each Class B share had 1/10,000 of one vote (Berkshire Hathaway, 2022 proxy statement). That voting ratio is distinct from the 30-to-1 conversion relationship.
4. Choose a share amount and order type
Enter either a number of shares or, if the broker supports it for the selected class, a dollar amount. Then choose an order type. The two common choices work differently:
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →| Order type | What it does | Key trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Market | Seeks prompt execution at the best available price when the order reaches the market. | Does not guarantee the execution price; the final price can differ from the displayed quote or last trade. |
| Buy limit | Sets the highest price per share you are willing to pay. A buy limit order can execute only at the limit price or lower. | Execution is not guaranteed; the stock may not reach your limit while the order is active. |
The SEC describes a limit order as “an order to buy or sell a stock at a specific price or better” (Investor.gov, Types of Orders). Quotes can change while an order is routed, and execution is not instantaneous. The broker determines the execution route under its processes and obligations (Investor.gov, Execution Quality).
5. Review, submit, and verify
- Review the order preview. Check the symbol and class, share or dollar amount, order type, estimated total, and time-in-force if the ticket displays it.
- Submit the order only after the details match your intention.
- Check the order status in the brokerage account. An order can remain open rather than execute immediately.
- When it fills, review the final trade confirmation for the executed quantity and price.
- If you cancel an order, verify that the cancellation is complete before placing another order; otherwise, the original order could still execute.
Can you buy fractional Berkshire Hathaway shares?
Possibly, depending on the brokerage firm and the security. Some firms allow customers to place orders for less than a whole share or by dollar amount, but they may restrict eligible stocks, order types, minimum amounts, trading hours, or platform access. A firm may also aggregate fractional orders instead of executing each one in real time. Ask the broker whether BRK.B is eligible and check its terms for how fractional orders are handled. Do not assume fractional orders—or fractional BRK.A availability—are supported.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to know about brokerage protection
SIPC may protect eligible customer cash and securities if a SIPC-member brokerage fails, up to $500,000, including a $250,000 limit for cash, according to Investor.gov (Investor.gov, Protecting Your Investments). SIPC protection does not cover a loss in the market value of Berkshire stock.
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