Open the stock, tap Sell, and confirm the number of shares

To sell a stock on Robinhood, open the app, find the stock in your portfolio or search for it by name or ticker symbol, and tap it to open the detail page. At the bottom of the screen, you will see a Sell button. Tap it, enter the number of shares you want to sell, choose your order type (market order sells immediately at the current price; limit order lets you set a minimum price), and then tap the button to confirm the sale.

The sale executes during market hours — typically 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time on weekdays when the stock market is open. If you place an order outside those hours, it will sit as a pending order until the market opens. Once the sale goes through, the cash lands in your Robinhood account immediately, though it may take one to two business days to transfer to your bank if you withdraw it.

You can sell a partial position (some of your shares) or all of it. Robinhood will show you how many shares you own before you place the order, so you cannot accidentally sell more than you have.

Key Takeaways

  • Market orders sell your shares right away at whatever price the stock is trading at in that moment.
  • Limit orders let you name the lowest price you will accept, but the sale may not happen if the stock never reaches that price.
  • Sales during market hours (9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern, weekdays) execute the same day; orders placed outside those hours wait until the market opens.
  • Cash from the sale appears in your account immediately, but transferring it to your bank takes one to two business days.
  • You can sell any number of shares you own, from one share to your entire position in that stock.

Market orders versus limit orders

A market order sells your shares at the best price available right now. You place the order and it fills almost instantly at whatever the current bid price is. This is the fastest way to exit a position, but you do not control the exact price — it could be a few cents different from what you saw on screen a moment ago, especially if the stock is moving quickly.

A limit order lets you set a minimum price. If you own shares trading at $50 and you set a limit order to sell at $52, the order will only fill if the stock reaches $52 or higher. If it never gets there, your order stays open until you cancel it or it expires. Limit orders take longer to fill (or may not fill at all), but you control the price floor.

For most people selling a stock they already own, a market order is simpler. Use a limit order if you are willing to wait for a specific price or if you are selling a stock that does not trade very often.

What happens to your cash after you sell

When your sale executes, the money lands in your Robinhood cash account right away. You can use that cash to buy other stocks immediately — there is no waiting period. However, if you want to move the money out of Robinhood and into your bank account, that transfer takes one to two business days.

Robinhood does not charge a commission to sell stocks, so you keep the full sale price minus any taxes you owe. Taxes on stock sales are your responsibility; Robinhood will send you a tax form at the end of the year showing what you sold and for how much, but you will need to report the gain or loss on your tax return.

Selling stocks you bought on margin or with unsettled cash

If you used Robinhood's margin feature to buy stocks (borrowing money from Robinhood to invest), selling works the same way, but the proceeds go toward paying back the margin loan first. You can still sell at any time, and the cash from the sale is available immediately.

If you bought a stock with cash from a previous sale that has not yet settled (the one to two business day window), Robinhood may restrict you from selling that new position until the original cash settles. This is a federal rule, not a Robinhood rule. The restriction lifts automatically once the settlement period ends.

Selling fractional shares

Robinhood lets you buy and sell fractional shares — meaning you can own 0.5 shares or 2.3 shares of a stock, not just whole numbers. If you own fractional shares, you can sell them the same way you sell whole shares. Enter the exact number (including the decimal) in the quantity field, and Robinhood will process the sale.

Fractional shares sell at the same price as whole shares, so there is no penalty for selling a partial share. This is useful if you want to exit a position completely but own an odd number of shares, or if you want to trim your position by a specific dollar amount rather than a specific number of shares.

Canceling or changing a pending sell order

If you place a sell order and change your mind before it fills, you can cancel it. Open the order in your app (usually visible in a "Pending" or "Orders" section), and tap the option to cancel. If the order has already filled, you cannot cancel it — the sale is done and the cash is in your account.

You cannot edit an order after you place it. If you need to change the price on a limit order or the number of shares, cancel the original order and place a new one with the correct details.

Tax reporting and record-keeping

Robinhood tracks every sale you make and sends you a Form 1099-B at tax time showing the proceeds from all sales during the year. You will need this form to report your capital gains or losses. Keep your own records of what you paid for each stock (your cost basis) so you can calculate your gain or loss accurately.

If you sold at a loss, you can use that loss to offset other investment gains, which can lower your tax bill. If you sold at a gain, you owe tax on the profit. The tax rate depends on how long you held the stock: if you held it for more than one year, it is taxed as a long-term capital gain (usually a lower rate); if you held it for one year or less, it is a short-term capital gain (taxed as ordinary income).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sell a stock after the market closes?

You can place a sell order anytime, but it will not execute until the market opens. If you place an order after 4 p.m. Eastern on a weekday, it becomes a pending order and fills when the market opens the next trading day, usually at 9:30 a.m. The price may be different from what you see when you place the order.

What if I sell a stock and immediately buy it back?

You can do this, but be aware of the "wash sale" rule for taxes. If you sell a stock at a loss and buy the same stock (or a very similar one) within 30 days, the IRS may not let you claim the loss on your taxes. This rule applies to all brokers, not just Robinhood.

Does Robinhood charge a fee to sell stocks?

No. Robinhood does not charge commissions to buy or sell stocks. You keep the full sale price (minus taxes you owe). Some brokers charge fees; Robinhood does not.

What if I sell a stock but the order never fills?

This can happen with limit orders if the stock never reaches your set price. Market orders almost always fill immediately during market hours. If a limit order does not fill by the end of the trading day, it stays open until you cancel it or it expires (Robinhood limit orders typically expire after 90 days unless you set a shorter timeframe).

Can I sell stocks I own in a retirement account through Robinhood?

Robinhood offers IRAs and other retirement accounts. Selling stocks inside a retirement account works the same way as a regular account, but the tax rules are different — you typically do not owe tax on the sale inside the account, only when you withdraw the money in retirement.