Selling stock on Robinhood takes three steps: tap the stock, choose Sell, and confirm the order

To sell a stock you own on Robinhood, open the app, find the stock in your portfolio, tap it, and select the Sell button. Robinhood will show you the current price and ask how many shares you want to sell. After you confirm, the sale goes through at market price (or at a price you set, if you choose a limit order). The cash from the sale lands in your Robinhood account within one to three business days, though you can use it to buy other stocks when ready.

The process is the same whether you own one share or hundreds. Robinhood does not charge a commission to sell, so you keep all the proceeds minus any taxes you owe on gains.

Key Takeaways

  • Selling stock on Robinhood happens in the app: tap the stock, select Sell, enter the number of shares, and confirm the order.
  • Your sale executes at the current market price unless you set a limit order to sell only at a price you choose.
  • Cash from the sale appears in your account within one to three business days, but you can use it to buy stocks the same day.
  • Robinhood charges no commission to sell, but you are responsible for taxes on any profit when you file your return.
  • If you sell a stock within 30 days of buying it, the IRS may treat the loss differently, so keep records of your purchase dates.

Finding the stock in your portfolio and opening the sell screen

Open the Robinhood app and tap the Account tab at the bottom. You will see a list of stocks you own under "Stocks" or "Investments." Tap the stock you want to sell. The stock detail page opens, showing the current price, your cost basis (what you paid), and your gain or loss.

At the bottom of the stock detail page, you will see a Sell button. Tap it. Robinhood will ask you to confirm which account you are selling from (if you have more than one) and then show you the current bid price — the price a buyer will pay right now.

Choosing how many shares to sell

After you tap Sell, Robinhood shows a text box where you enter the number of shares. You can sell all your shares at once, or just some of them. If you own 50 shares and want to sell 20, type 20 in the box.

Below the share count, Robinhood displays the total dollar amount you will receive (before any taxes). This is the share price multiplied by the number of shares you are selling. Check this number to make sure it matches what you expect.

Market orders versus limit orders

By default, Robinhood sells your stock at a market order — meaning it sells when ready at whatever price the market is offering right now. This is the fastest way to sell and almost always goes through the same day.

If you want to sell only if the price reaches a certain level, you can set a limit order. Tap "Order Type" on the sell screen and select Limit. Then enter the price you want to receive per share. Your order will sit in the market until someone buys at that price, or until the market closes. If the stock never reaches your limit price, the order does not execute.

Most people use market orders when they want to sell now. Limit orders are useful if you are willing to wait and want to avoid selling at a price lower than you are comfortable with.

Confirming the sale and what happens next

After you choose the number of shares and the order type, review the details one more time. Robinhood shows the number of shares, the price per share, the total proceeds, and any applicable fees (usually none). Tap Confirm or Submit to send the order.

For a market order, the sale executes within seconds during market hours (9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern, Monday through Friday). If you sell after hours or on a weekend, the order waits until the market opens the next trading day. Robinhood will send you a notification when the sale is complete.

When the cash appears in your account

After your sale executes, the cash settles in your Robinhood account within one to three business days. This is called the settlement period. Even though the cash is not yet "settled," you can use it to buy other stocks or funds the same day — Robinhood lets you trade on unsettled cash.

If you sell a stock and buy another stock with the proceeds on the same day, you are not breaking any rules. However, if you are a pattern day trader (someone who makes four or more day trades in five business days), Robinhood may flag your account and require a minimum balance of $25,000. Most casual investors do not hit this limit.

Understanding taxes on stock sales

When you sell a stock for more than you paid for it, you owe capital gains tax on the profit. Robinhood does not withhold this tax — you pay it when you file your tax return. Robinhood sends you a Form 1099-B at the end of the year showing all your sales and proceeds.

If you held the stock for more than one year before selling, the gain is taxed as a long-term capital gain, which usually has a lower tax rate. If you held it for one year or less, it is a short-term capital gain, taxed at your ordinary income rate. Keep records of when you bought and sold each stock so you can calculate the holding period correctly.

If you sell a stock at a loss, you can deduct that loss against other gains or, in some cases, against your regular income. Robinhood tracks this for you on your 1099-B, but you will need to report it on your tax return.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sell stock during after-hours trading?

Robinhood allows after-hours trading for stocks, but liquidity is lower and spreads are wider, meaning you may not get as good a price. You can place an order after 4 p.m. Eastern, but it will not execute until the next trading day opens at 9:30 a.m. unless a buyer appears during extended hours.

What if I want to sell only part of my position?

You can sell any number of shares you own. If you own 100 shares and want to sell 30, enter 30 on the sell screen. The remaining 70 shares stay in your account. You can sell the rest later whenever you choose.

Do I pay a commission when I sell on Robinhood?

No. Robinhood charges no commission to buy or sell stocks, funds, or options. You keep all the proceeds from your sale except for taxes owed on gains.

What happens if the price drops between when I tap Sell and when I confirm?

If you use a market order, your sale will execute at the current market price when the order reaches the exchange, not the price shown when you tapped Sell. Prices move constantly during market hours. If you want to lock in a specific price, use a limit order instead.

Can I cancel a sale after I confirm it?

Once a market order executes, you cannot cancel it — the sale is final. If you placed a limit order that has not yet executed, you can cancel it from your order history before it fills. After a limit order executes, it is also final.