How to sell a stock on Robinhood

To sell a stock on Robinhood, open the app, find the stock in your portfolio, tap it, and select the sell button. You'll choose how many shares to sell, review the price, and confirm the order. The sale executes during market hours (9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time on weekdays) or gets queued for the next market open if you sell after hours.

The entire process takes about 30 seconds once you're in the app. Your cash appears in your Robinhood account when ready after the sale completes, though it may take one to two business days to transfer to your linked bank account if you withdraw it.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap the stock in your portfolio, select sell, enter the number of shares, and confirm—the order executes during market hours or at the next market open.
  • You can sell all your shares at once or sell a partial position by entering a specific number of shares.
  • Market orders sell when ready at the current price; limit orders let you set a minimum price but may not fill if the stock doesn't reach that price.
  • Cash from the sale lands in your account right away, but transferring it to your bank takes one to two business days.
  • Robinhood charges no commission on stock sales, though the bid-ask spread (the difference between buy and sell prices) is a real cost you pay.

Finding and opening the stock you want to sell

Open the Robinhood app and tap the Portfolio tab at the bottom of the screen. Scroll through your holdings and tap the stock you want to sell. The stock detail page opens, showing your position size, current price, and your gain or loss.

If you own fractional shares (pieces of a share), you can sell them too. Robinhood displays your total position as a decimal—for example, 2.5 shares means you own two full shares plus half a share. When you sell, you can choose to sell the entire position or just part of it.

Choosing between a market order and a limit order

Once you tap the sell button, Robinhood asks whether you want to place a market order or a limit order. A market order sells your shares when ready at whatever price the market is currently offering. This is the fastest route and almost always fills, but you don't control the exact price.

A limit order lets you set a minimum price. Your shares only sell if the stock reaches that price or higher. This gives you control but comes with a risk: if the stock never hits your price, your order never fills and you still own the shares. Limit orders stay active until you cancel them or the market closes at 4 p.m. Eastern time.

For most people selling a position they want out of, a market order is simpler. Use a limit order if you're willing to wait for a specific price and can tolerate the chance that the sale won't happen.

Entering the number of shares and confirming

After choosing your order type, Robinhood shows you the current bid price (what buyers are offering) and asks how many shares to sell. Tap the number field and enter the quantity. You can sell all your shares or just some—if you own 10 shares, you can sell 3 and keep 7.

Review the order summary. It shows the number of shares, the price per share, and the total proceeds (minus any applicable fees, though Robinhood charges no commission). Tap Confirm to send the order. If you're selling during market hours, the order executes within seconds. If you're selling after 4 p.m. or before 9:30 a.m., the order queues and executes at the next market open.

What happens after you sell

Once your sale completes, the cash appears in your Robinhood account balance when ready. You can use this cash to buy other stocks, hold it, or transfer it to your bank account. To transfer, go to the Account tab, select Transfers, and choose Transfer to Your Bank. The money usually arrives in one to two business days, depending on your bank.

Robinhood sends a confirmation email showing the sale price, the number of shares sold, and the total proceeds. Keep this for your records—you'll need it when you file taxes, because you have to report the sale price and calculate your gain or loss.

Understanding the cost of selling: the bid-ask spread

Robinhood advertises zero-commission stock trading, and that's true—you pay no fee to Robinhood. However, you do pay a real cost called the bid-ask spread. The bid is what buyers offer to pay; the ask is what sellers want. When you sell, you get the bid price, which is always lower than the ask price. That gap is the spread, and it goes to market makers, not to Robinhood.

On popular stocks like Apple or Tesla, the spread is tiny—often just a penny or two per share. On less-traded stocks, the spread can be wider, costing you more. This is why market orders on illiquid stocks can feel expensive even though Robinhood charges no commission.

Selling during market hours versus after hours

Robinhood lets you trade during regular market hours (9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern, Monday through Friday) and extended hours (4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern in the evening, and 4 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in the morning). Regular hours have much tighter spreads and higher volume, so your order fills faster and at better prices.

If you place a sell order after 4 p.m., it doesn't execute until the next market open at 9:30 a.m. the following day. The price you see when you place the order is just a reference—the actual sale price depends on where the stock opens. This delay matters if the stock moves significantly overnight. For most people, selling during regular market hours is simpler and more predictable.

Common mistakes to avoid when selling

The most common mistake is placing a limit order and forgetting about it. If you set a limit price and the stock never reaches it, your shares sit unsold while you think the sale went through. Check your Portfolio tab regularly to confirm your order filled, or cancel the limit order if you change your mind.

Another mistake is selling after hours without realizing the order won't execute until the next morning. If you're selling because you need the cash today, place your order during market hours instead. Finally, remember that selling triggers a taxable event—even if you're selling at a loss, you need to report it on your tax return.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sell fractional shares on Robinhood?

Yes. Robinhood lets you sell fractional shares just like whole shares. If you own 5.25 shares, you can sell all 5.25 or just 2.5, keeping the rest. The process is identical—tap the stock, select sell, and enter the quantity as a decimal.

What if I place a limit order and the stock never hits my price?

Your order stays active until you cancel it or the market closes. If the stock never reaches your limit price, the sale never happens and you still own the shares. Check your Orders tab to see pending limit orders, and cancel any you no longer want.

How long does it take for the money to show up in my bank account?

The cash appears in your Robinhood account when ready after the sale completes. Transferring it to your linked bank account takes one to two business days, depending on your bank's processing speed. Weekends and holidays can add time.

Do I have to pay taxes on the sale right away?

No, but you do have to report the sale on your tax return when you file. Robinhood sends you a tax document (Form 1099-B) by January 31 showing all your sales from the previous year. You'll need the sale price and your original purchase price to calculate your gain or loss.

Can I sell a stock that's down and buy it back right away?

Yes, you can sell and repurchase the same stock on the same day. However, if you're doing this to claim a tax loss and then when ready buy the stock back, the IRS may disallow the loss under the "wash sale" rule. Consult a tax professional if you're using losses to offset gains.