Futures volume on Robinhood crossed 5 million contracts within months of launch, and the product is now available to most U.S. customers in 2026. If you have been curious about how to trade futures on Robinhood, this guide breaks down the contracts, fees, margin rules, and risks in plain language.
What Are Futures Contracts?
A futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell an asset at a set price on a future date. The asset can be a stock index, a commodity like oil, or a currency.
Futures trade on regulated exchanges such as CME Group. Each contract has a fixed size, expiration date, and tick value, which is the smallest price move.
Traders use futures to bet on price direction, hedge other positions, or get leveraged exposure to markets that are hard to access through stocks.
Robinhood Futures in 2026
Robinhood launched futures trading in late 2024 and expanded access throughout 2025. By early 2026, eligible users can place futures orders from the same app they use for stocks.
The rollout focuses on micro and standard contracts that fit smaller account sizes. Robinhood also offers extended-hours trading on most futures, including the popular overnight session for U.S. index products.
Futures sit inside a separate futures account, which is required by exchange rules. You can fund it from your brokerage cash with a few taps.
Contracts You Can Trade
Robinhood supports a focused list of CME Group products, which covers the most-traded futures in the world. The lineup includes:
- Micro E-mini S&P 500 (MES) and Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100 (MNQ)
- E-mini S&P 500 (ES) and E-mini Nasdaq-100 (NQ)
- Crude oil (CL) and Micro crude oil (MCL)
- Gold (GC) and Micro gold (MGC)
- Natural gas (NG) and select currency contracts
Micro contracts are 1/10 the size of the standard versions. They let new traders learn without taking on full position size.
Robinhood Futures Fees
Robinhood futures fees are simple. Standard accounts pay $0.50 per side, per contract. Robinhood Gold members pay a discounted $0.35 per side. Exchange and regulatory fees of roughly $0.50 to $2.50 also apply, depending on the product.
For comparison, tastytrade charges $1.25 per contract and Interactive Brokers charges $0.85. Charles Schwab futures fees run $2.25 per contract.
There is no separate platform fee, no data fee for basic quotes, and no inactivity fee. As of early 2026, the Gold discount on futures commissions is one of the cheapest in the industry for retail traders.
Margin and Buying Power
Futures use performance bond margin, which is much smaller than the contract's notional value. For example, the Micro E-mini S&P 500 has a notional value near $25,000 per contract but a day-trading margin near $50 to $100 at Robinhood.
Low margin means high leverage. A 1% move in the S&P 500 can swing your contract value by hundreds of dollars while you have only put up a small deposit.
Overnight margin is set by the exchange and is higher than day-trading margin. If your account drops below required levels, Robinhood may close positions without notice.
How to Enable Futures Trading
Enabling futures on Robinhood takes a short application inside the app. You will answer questions about trading experience, income, and risk tolerance.
Approval is not guaranteed. Robinhood may reject applications from users with limited experience or low account balances, since futures carry high risk.
Once approved, you fund the futures sub-account and place orders through the same trade screen used for stocks, with futures-specific fields for contract month and size.
Who Should Trade Futures
Futures suit experienced traders who understand leverage and can monitor positions actively. Many futures markets trade nearly 24 hours, so price moves can happen while you sleep.
New investors are usually better served by index ETFs like VOO or QQQ. ETFs give similar exposure with no expiration date and lower leverage.
If you want to explore the platform itself first, you can open a Robinhood account and try stocks or ETFs before applying for futures access.
Robinhood
Robinhood
Robinhood is a trading platform that brings stocks, ETFs, options, futures, prediction markets, crypto, and retirement accounts together in one app.
Standout feature
One platform for stocks, ETFs, options, futures, prediction markets, and crypto
Fees
$0 commission on stocks, ETFs, and options.
Pros
Zero-commission trading on stocks, ETFs, and options
Cons
Best perks (high APY, lower margin rates) require Gold subscription ($5/month)
Risks to Understand
Futures losses can exceed your initial deposit. A sharp move against your position can trigger a margin call within minutes.
Leverage cuts both ways. The same contract that earns $500 on a 1% move can lose $500 just as fast.
Overnight gaps are another risk. News released after the close can move the next session's open by 2% or more, which is enough to wipe out a margin deposit on standard contracts.
Tips for Beginners
Start with micro contracts. The smaller size means smaller dollar swings per tick, which gives you room to learn.
Set hard stop-loss orders before you enter a trade. Decide your maximum loss in dollars, not in points, so the number feels real.
Keep position size small relative to your account. Many futures coaches suggest risking no more than 1% to 2% of account equity on any single trade.
Should You Trade Futures on Robinhood?
Robinhood futures pricing is among the lowest in the industry, especially for Gold members at $0.35 per side, and the mobile experience is simple. That makes it appealing for traders who already use the app.
Still, futures are not a beginner product. They can play a role in a broader plan, but only after you have built up cash reserves and learned how leverage really behaves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I trade futures on Robinhood with a small account?
Yes. Micro contracts have day-trading margin as low as $50 per contract on the Micro E-mini S&P 500. You still need enough cash to cover overnight margin and potential losses if the market moves against you.
What hours does Robinhood futures trading run?
Most futures trade nearly 24 hours, Sunday evening through Friday afternoon, with a short daily maintenance break. Robinhood supports this full session for supported contracts.
Are Robinhood futures fees really $0.50 per contract?
Standard accounts pay $0.50 per side, per contract. Robinhood Gold members pay a discounted $0.35 per side as of early 2026. Exchange and regulatory fees set by CME and the NFA add roughly $0.50 to $2.50 per side depending on the product.
Is futures trading riskier than stocks?
Futures carry higher risk than buying stocks for cash because of leverage and the chance of losing more than your initial deposit. Most beginners may want to stick with stocks or ETFs until they have a clear, tested plan.
