Selling stock on Charles Schwab takes three steps: log into your account, find the stock in your portfolio, and enter a sell order with your price and quantity

When you sell stock, you are converting shares you own into cash. On Charles Schwab, this happens through the trading platform — either the website or the mobile app — and the cash lands in your account within two business days after the sale settles. The process itself takes minutes, but understanding what type of order to place and what happens to your money afterward matters more than speed.

Charles Schwab does not charge a commission to buy or sell stocks, which means you keep more of what you make. However, you will still see bid-ask spreads (the difference between what buyers offer and what sellers ask), and those costs come out of your proceeds. Knowing this going in helps you understand why the price you see on your screen might not be the exact price you receive.

Key Takeaways

  • You can sell stock through the Charles Schwab website or mobile app by navigating to your position, clicking sell, and entering the number of shares and order type.
  • A market order sells when ready at the current price, while a limit order lets you set a minimum price you will accept.
  • Your cash appears in your account two business days after the trade settles, not when ready after you place the order.
  • Charles Schwab charges no commission on stock sales, but bid-ask spreads and any applicable taxes reduce your net proceeds.

Logging in and finding your position

Start by going to schwab.com or opening the Charles Schwab mobile app and signing in with your username and password. Once you are logged in, look for the "Positions" or "Holdings" section — on the website this is usually in the left navigation menu under "Accounts", and on the app it appears on the main dashboard or under a portfolio tab.

Find the stock you want to sell by scrolling through your holdings or using the search function. Click or tap on the stock name or ticker symbol. This opens a detail view showing your current shares, the price per share, and your total gain or loss on that position. This is your final note to confirm you are selling the right stock before you proceed.

Placing a market order to sell when ready

Once you have selected your stock, look for a "Sell" button on the detail page. Clicking it opens the order entry screen. The first choice you make is the order type. A market order sells your shares at the best available price right now — it executes almost when ready during market hours, usually within seconds.

Enter the number of shares you want to sell. You can sell all your shares or just part of your position. After you enter the quantity, review the estimated proceeds — this is what you expect to receive before fees and taxes. Then click "Preview Order" or "Review" to see a summary. Check that the stock ticker, quantity, and order type are all correct, then click "Confirm" or "Submit" to send the order to the market.

Your market order executes during regular trading hours (9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time on weekdays when the market is open). If you place it after hours or on a weekend, it waits until the market opens the next trading day. Once it executes, you will see a confirmation number and the filled price in your account.

Using a limit order to set your own price

If you do not want to sell at whatever the current price is, use a limit order instead. A limit order lets you name the lowest price you will accept. If the stock reaches that price, the order executes; if it does not, the order stays open until you cancel it or it expires.

To place a limit order, select "Limit" as your order type on the order entry screen. Then enter your limit price — the minimum amount per share you want to receive. If the stock is trading at $50 and you enter a limit price of $52, your order will not sell unless the price hits $52 or higher. Enter your share quantity and review the order. Keep in mind that limit orders can sit unfilled if the stock never reaches your price, so you may need to cancel and try again with a different price if you want to sell sooner.

Understanding when your order settles and when you get your cash

When your sell order executes, the trade is complete, but the cash does not appear in your account when ready. Stock trades on a T+2 settlement cycle, which means the transaction settles two business days after you place the order. If you sell on a Monday, the cash arrives by Wednesday. If you sell on a Friday, it arrives by Tuesday (because the weekend does not count as business days).

During those two days, the shares are still technically yours, but they are marked as "pending" or "settling" in your account. You cannot spend the cash yet, and you cannot sell the same shares again. Once the settlement completes, the cash moves into your account's cash balance and you can withdraw it, buy other investments, or leave it sitting there.

What happens to taxes and how to track your sale

Charles Schwab does not withhold taxes on stock sales — that is your responsibility. However, the platform tracks your cost basis (what you originally paid for the shares) and your gain or loss, and this information flows to your tax forms at year-end. If you sold at a profit, you owe capital gains tax. If you sold at a loss, you may be able to use that loss to offset other gains.

To find your sale history, go to the "History" or "Transactions" section of your account. You can filter by date range and see every trade you have made, including the execution price, the number of shares, and the total proceeds. This record is important for your taxes and for reviewing your trading decisions over time.

If you need to report the sale to the IRS, Charles Schwab provides Form 1099-B at tax time, which lists all your sales for the year. You will also receive a 1099-INT if you earned interest on your cash balance, and a 1099-DIV if you received dividends. These forms are available in your account under "Tax Documents" or "Tax Center".

Common reasons your order might not fill

If you placed a limit order and it is not filling, the stock price has not reached your limit price yet. You can lower your limit price to make it more likely to fill, or you can cancel the order and place a market order instead if you want to sell right away. Limit orders also expire after a certain period — usually 60 days on Charles Schwab — so check your open orders regularly.

If you placed a market order and it did not execute, check whether the market is currently open. Stock markets close at 4 p.m. Eastern Time on weekdays and do not open on weekends or certain holidays. Orders placed outside market hours wait until the next opening. You can also check your "Open Orders" section to see if something is pending or if there was an error message.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sell stock after the market closes?

You can place the order anytime through the app or website, but it will not execute until the market opens the next trading day. If you place a market order at 6 p.m. on a Tuesday, it executes Wednesday morning at the opening price. Limit orders also wait until market hours to execute.

What is the difference between a market order and a limit order?

A market order sells at the best price available right now, usually within seconds. A limit order lets you set a minimum price and waits for the stock to reach that price — it may never fill if the price does not get there. Market orders are faster; limit orders give you more control over price.

Do I have to pay a commission to sell stock on Charles Schwab?

No. Charles Schwab does not charge commissions on stock sales. You will see bid-ask spreads (the difference between buy and sell prices), but that is a market cost, not a Schwab fee. You also owe capital gains tax if you sold at a profit, but that is separate from any trading fees.

When can I use the money from my stock sale?

The cash appears in your account two business days after the trade executes. You can then withdraw it, buy other investments, or leave it in your account. You cannot spend it before settlement completes, even though the sale is final.

What if I sell stock at a loss?

You can use the loss to offset capital gains from other sales, or up to $3,000 of ordinary income in a single tax year. Any remaining loss carries forward to future years. Charles Schwab tracks this information and reports it on your tax forms, but you will need to report it correctly on your tax return.