Robinhood settlement times depend on what you're moving and where it's going
When you sell a stock on Robinhood, the cash doesn't land in your account instantly. Stock sales settle in two business days — that's the standard across all U.S. brokers, set by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Cash transfers between your bank and Robinhood take longer: bank deposits usually arrive in 1 to 5 business days, and withdrawals to your bank account typically take 1 to 3 business days. The exact timing depends on your bank, whether it's a weekend or holiday, and whether Robinhood has processed your transfer request yet.
The gap between when you sell and when you can withdraw that money matters if you're planning to move funds out. You can't withdraw money from a stock sale until it has settled — that's a regulatory requirement, not a Robinhood choice. If you sell on a Monday, settlement happens Wednesday. If you then request a withdrawal on Wednesday, your bank still needs 1 to 3 business days to receive it.
Key Takeaways
- Stock sales settle in two business days, which is the standard for all U.S. brokers and is required by the SEC.
- Bank deposits to Robinhood take 1 to 5 business days depending on your bank and whether the transfer clears on a weekend.
- Withdrawals from Robinhood to your bank account take 1 to 3 business days after Robinhood processes the request.
- Weekends and federal holidays pause the settlement clock — a sale on Friday doesn't settle until Wednesday of the following week.
- You cannot withdraw proceeds from a stock sale until that sale has settled; Robinhood will not let you access unsettled funds.
Why stock sales take two business days to settle
The two-day settlement rule is called T+2, which means the trade date plus two business days. This applies to every stock broker in the United States, not just Robinhood. The SEC set this standard to give the clearing houses and exchanges time to confirm the trade, move the shares from the seller to the buyer, and move the money from the buyer to the seller.
Weekends and federal holidays don't count as business days. If you sell a stock on Friday, the trade date is Friday (T). Saturday and Sunday don't count. Monday is T+1, and Tuesday is T+2 — so settlement happens Tuesday. If Monday is a federal holiday, settlement moves to Wednesday.
During the settlement period, the shares are yours until the buyer's money clears. You own them, but you can't sell them again until settlement is complete. Robinhood will show the sale in your transaction history immediately, but the cash won't be available to withdraw or spend until Tuesday (or Wednesday, depending on holidays).
How long bank deposits take to reach your Robinhood account
When you transfer money from your bank to Robinhood, the timing depends on your bank's processing speed and whether the transfer happens on a business day. Most banks process transfers within 1 to 5 business days. Some banks are faster — certain online banks clear transfers in 1 business day — while others take the full 5 days.
Robinhood shows the deposit as "pending" while it's in transit. Once your bank sends it, Robinhood has no control over how fast it arrives. The delay is on your bank's side, not Robinhood's. If you deposit money on a Friday afternoon, your bank may not process it until Monday, and then it takes another 1 to 5 days to reach Robinhood.
You can't use the money to buy stocks until the deposit has fully cleared. Robinhood will not let you trade on pending funds. Once the deposit shows as complete in your account, you can buy immediately.
How long withdrawals to your bank account take
Withdrawals from Robinhood to your bank account typically take 1 to 3 business days after Robinhood processes the request. Robinhood usually processes withdrawal requests on the same business day you submit them, but if you request a withdrawal after market close or on a weekend, it may not process until the next business day.
Once Robinhood sends the money to your bank, your bank controls the rest of the timeline. Some banks deposit the money the same day they receive it; others take 1 to 2 additional days. You can check your bank's transfer policies to get a sense of how fast they typically move money.
If you withdraw on a Friday, Robinhood may process it Friday or wait until Monday. Your bank then takes 1 to 3 business days. In the worst case, a Friday withdrawal might not land in your bank account until the following Thursday.
What happens if you try to withdraw unsettled funds
Robinhood will not let you withdraw money from a stock sale until that sale has settled. If you sell a stock on Monday and try to withdraw the proceeds on Monday or Tuesday, Robinhood will reject the withdrawal request. The system shows you how much of your cash is "settled" versus "unsettled" — you can only withdraw the settled amount.
This is a regulatory requirement, not a Robinhood policy. The SEC's rules prevent brokers from letting customers access sale proceeds before settlement is complete. If you need the money urgently, you have to wait for the two-day settlement period to finish.
Some brokers offer "margin" accounts that let you borrow against unsettled funds, but Robinhood's standard account does not. If you have a Robinhood Gold account (which includes margin), you may have access to unsettled funds as a loan, but you'll pay interest on the borrowed amount.
Settlement times for different types of transfers
| Transaction Type | Settlement Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stock sale | 2 business days | SEC standard; weekends and holidays don't count |
| Bank deposit to Robinhood | 1 to 5 business days | Depends on your bank; Robinhood has no control over this |
| Withdrawal to bank account | 1 to 3 business days | After Robinhood processes the request |
| Dividend payment | 1 to 3 business days after ex-dividend date | Timing varies by company |
| Crypto purchase | Immediate | Crypto settles instantly on Robinhood |
How to check your settlement status in Robinhood
Open the Robinhood app and go to your Account tab. Tap "Buying Power" to see how much cash you have available to trade. Below that, you'll see a breakdown of settled and unsettled cash. Unsettled cash is money from recent sales that hasn't completed the two-day settlement period yet.
You can also check individual transactions by going to your History tab and tapping on a specific sale. Robinhood shows the trade date and the settlement date. If you sold on Monday, the settlement date will show as Wednesday (or Thursday if Monday was a holiday).
If you've requested a withdrawal, you can track it in the same History tab. Robinhood shows the status as "pending" while it's processing, and then "completed" once your bank has received it. The completed status doesn't mean the money is in your account yet — it means Robinhood sent it to your bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy stocks with unsettled cash from a sale?
No. Robinhood only lets you buy with settled cash. If you sell a stock on Monday, you can't use that cash to buy another stock until Wednesday (or Thursday if there's a holiday). You can buy with cash you deposited from your bank, but not with proceeds from a sale that hasn't settled yet.
Why does my withdrawal say "completed" but the money isn't in my bank account yet?
"Completed" means Robinhood sent the money to your bank, not that your bank has received and deposited it. Your bank then takes 1 to 3 business days to process it on their end. Check with your bank if it's been more than 3 business days since Robinhood marked it completed.
Do weekends count toward the settlement time?
No. Settlement time is measured in business days only. A sale on Friday doesn't settle until Tuesday of the following week. Saturday, Sunday, and federal holidays don't count toward the two-day settlement period.
What if I need the money faster than settlement allows?
You can't speed up the two-day settlement for stock sales — that's an SEC rule. You can deposit money from your bank faster by using a bank that processes transfers in 1 business day. If you have a Robinhood Gold account with margin, you can borrow against unsettled funds, but you'll pay interest.
Does Robinhood charge fees for deposits or withdrawals?
Robinhood does not charge fees for bank transfers in or out. Your bank may charge a fee for outgoing transfers, depending on your account type, but Robinhood itself does not.