Robinhood lets you trade options on most stocks during extended hours, but not all
Robinhood's after-hours options trading window runs from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time on weekdays. During this time, you can trade options on stocks that meet Robinhood's liquidity requirements — which means most large-cap and mid-cap stocks, but not penny stocks or very new companies. The exact list of available stocks changes based on market conditions and Robinhood's risk assessment, so the best way to know whether you can trade options on a specific stock is to open the app and search for it.
Not every stock that trades options during regular market hours will have options available after hours. Robinhood restricts after-hours options to reduce the risk of wide bid-ask spreads and low trading volume, which can lock you into bad prices. If you search for a stock and the options chain does not appear during after-hours, that stock is not available for after-hours options trading on Robinhood, even if you can trade its options during the day.
Key Takeaways
- After-hours options trading on Robinhood runs from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time on weekdays only.
- You can trade options on stocks with sufficient liquidity and trading volume, which typically includes stocks in the S&P 500 and other widely held companies.
- Penny stocks, newly listed stocks, and stocks with low trading volume are not available for after-hours options trading.
- The list of available stocks can shift based on market conditions, so you should check the app directly rather than relying on a static list.
- Your Robinhood account must have options trading turned on, and you must meet the account requirements for your options level.
How to find which stocks have after-hours options available
Open the Robinhood app and search for the stock you want to trade. Tap or click on the stock name to open its detail page. Scroll down to the options chain — if you see call and put contracts listed with bid and ask prices, that stock is available for after-hours options trading right now. If the options section is grayed out or does not appear, that stock is not available during extended hours.
The time of day matters. If you check during regular market hours (9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern), you will see a full options chain for most stocks. If you check after 4 p.m., the chain will shrink to show only the stocks Robinhood allows for after-hours trading. This is the most reliable way to know what is actually tradeable at that moment, since the available list can shift.
Which types of stocks typically have after-hours options
Large-cap stocks — companies in the S&P 500 and similar major indexes — almost always have after-hours options available. These stocks have high trading volume and tight bid-ask spreads, which means you can get in and out of a trade without paying a wide premium. Mid-cap stocks with strong trading volume usually have after-hours options too.
Stocks that do not have after-hours options include penny stocks (stocks trading under $5 per share with low volume), newly listed companies, stocks with very low trading volume, and stocks that Robinhood has flagged as higher risk. Even if a stock trades options during the day, low volume or wide spreads after hours can cause Robinhood to remove it from the after-hours list.
Why Robinhood restricts which stocks are available after hours
After-hours trading has fewer buyers and sellers than regular market hours. When volume is low, the difference between the bid price (what buyers will pay) and the ask price (what sellers want) gets wider. A wide spread means you pay more to buy and get less when you sell. Robinhood restricts after-hours options to stocks with enough volume to keep spreads reasonable and protect you from paying inflated prices.
Robinhood also manages risk by limiting after-hours options to stocks it monitors closely. Options are leveraged instruments — a small move in the stock price can create a large gain or loss. After hours, with fewer market participants and less price discovery, the risk of unexpected price swings is higher. By restricting the list, Robinhood reduces the chance that you will be caught in a volatile move with no way to exit quickly.
What to do if the stock you want is not available after hours
If you search for a stock and its options chain does not appear during after-hours, you have two choices: wait until the next regular market session (9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern) to trade, or trade the stock itself instead of options. You can buy and sell the stock during after-hours on Robinhood, even if options are not available.
Some traders use after-hours stock trades as a workaround when options are not available. If you want exposure to a stock that just had earnings or news, you can buy shares after hours and then trade options on those shares the next day during regular hours. This is not the same as trading options, but it lets you establish a position when options are off-limits.
Account requirements for after-hours options trading
To trade options after hours on Robinhood, your account must have options trading turned on. Robinhood assigns options levels based on your experience and account size — Level 1 allows covered calls and cash-secured puts, Level 2 adds spreads, Level 3 adds short calls and puts, and Level 4 adds margin and other advanced strategies. You can trade options after hours at any level, as long as your level permits the specific strategy you want to use.
Your account also needs to have enough buying power to cover the trade. After-hours options require the same margin or cash as regular-hours options — if you want to buy a call, you need the premium amount in buying power; if you want to sell a put, you need the cash to cover the assignment. Robinhood does not change margin requirements for after-hours trading.
Risks specific to after-hours options trading
After-hours options trading carries extra risks beyond what you face during regular hours. Volume is lower, so if you need to exit a trade quickly, you may not find a buyer or seller at a fair price. The bid-ask spread is wider, which means you lose money on entry and exit just from the spread itself. Price moves can be larger and faster because there are fewer participants to absorb big orders.
News and earnings announcements often happen after the market closes. If you hold an options position through an earnings report or major news event, the stock price can gap up or down sharply before the next regular market session opens. You cannot close the position until after-hours trading starts at 4 p.m., and by then the damage may already be done. Many experienced traders avoid holding options through after-hours events for this reason.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I trade options on tech stocks like Apple or Tesla after hours on Robinhood?
Yes. Apple, Tesla, and other large-cap tech stocks almost always have after-hours options available because they have high trading volume and tight spreads. Search for the stock in the app during after-hours (4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern) to confirm the options chain is showing before you place a trade.
What happens if I place an after-hours options order and the market closes before it fills?
If your order does not fill by 8 p.m. Eastern, it will be canceled. After-hours options trading on Robinhood ends at 8 p.m., and any open orders are automatically canceled at that time. You can place a new order the next day during regular market hours if you still want the trade.
Are the prices I see for after-hours options the same as regular-hours prices?
No. After-hours options prices are usually different from regular-hours prices because there are fewer buyers and sellers. The bid-ask spread is wider, and the last price you see may be stale — it could be from hours earlier. Always check the current bid and ask before you trade, because the price may have moved significantly.
Can I trade options on stocks that just had earnings after hours?
You can trade options on stocks that had earnings if the stock is on Robinhood's after-hours list. However, earnings announcements often cause large price swings, and after-hours volume is lower, so spreads will be very wide. Many traders avoid trading options when ready after earnings because the risk of a bad fill is high.
Do I need a margin account to trade options after hours?
No. You can trade options after hours with a regular cash account, as long as you have enough cash to cover the trade and your account has the right options level turned on. Margin requirements do not change for after-hours trading.