How to sell on Robinhood
To sell a stock or cryptocurrency on Robinhood, open the app or website, find the holding you want to sell, tap or click the sell button, enter the number of shares or amount you want to sell, choose your order type (market or limit), and confirm. The sale executes during market hours for stocks — typically 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time on weekdays — or immediately for crypto, which trades 24/7. The cash from the sale lands in your Robinhood account within one to three business days, depending on settlement time.
The process is the same whether you are selling individual stocks, ETFs, or cryptocurrency. The main difference is timing: stock sales settle after two business days (called T+2 settlement), while crypto transfers immediately. You can place an order to sell at any time, but it will only execute when the market is open for that asset class.
Key Takeaways
- Stock sales on Robinhood execute during market hours (9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern, weekdays only) and settle two business days later.
- Cryptocurrency sales execute immediately, 24 hours a day, and the cash is available right away.
- You can choose between a market order (sells at the current price immediately) or a limit order (sells only at a price you set).
- Robinhood charges no commission on stock or crypto sales, but you may owe capital gains tax if you sold for a profit.
- Fractional shares can be sold the same way as whole shares, and you can sell as little as one cent's worth of a stock.
Market orders versus limit orders when selling
A market order sells your shares or crypto at the best available price right now. The sale happens almost instantly during market hours, but you do not know the exact price until it executes. This is the fastest way to sell and is useful when you want out immediately and do not care about getting the absolute highest price.
A limit order lets you set a minimum price. Your shares will only sell if the price reaches that level or higher. If the price never reaches your limit, the order stays open until you cancel it or the market closes (for stocks). Limit orders take longer to fill but give you control over the price. For stocks, you can set a limit order to expire at the end of the trading day or remain open for up to 90 days.
Crypto limit orders on Robinhood stay open until you cancel them, since crypto markets never close. If you are selling crypto and want the order to expire automatically, you have to cancel it yourself.
Step-by-step: selling a stock on Robinhood
- Open the Robinhood app or go to robinhood.com and log in.
- Search for or scroll to the stock you want to sell.
- Tap or click on the stock to open its detail page.
- Tap or click the "Sell" button (usually at the bottom of the screen on mobile, or in the order panel on desktop).
- Enter the number of shares you want to sell. You can sell a whole number or a fraction.
- Choose your order type: "Market" (sells at current price) or "Limit" (you set the price).
- If you chose "Limit," enter your minimum price.
- Review the order summary and tap or click "Submit" or "Confirm."
- The order executes during market hours. You will see a confirmation in your account.
After the sale, the cash sits in your Robinhood account as "Buying Power" and can be used to buy other investments or withdrawn to your bank account. Withdrawals typically take one to three business days to appear in your bank.
If you place a sell order outside market hours, it will queue and execute when the market opens. You can check the status of pending orders in the "Orders" or "Activity" section of your account at any time.
Step-by-step: selling cryptocurrency on Robinhood
- Open the Robinhood app or website and log in.
- Go to the "Crypto" tab or search for the cryptocurrency you want to sell.
- Tap or click on the coin to open its detail page.
- Tap or click "Sell."
- Enter the dollar amount or the number of coins you want to sell.
- Choose "Market" (sells at current price immediately) or "Limit" (you set the price).
- If you chose "Limit," enter your minimum price per coin.
- Review the order and tap or click "Confirm" or "Submit."
- The order executes immediately. Cash appears in your account right away.
Unlike stocks, crypto sales settle instantly because crypto markets operate around the clock. You can sell at any time, including nights and weekends. The cash is available to spend or withdraw immediately, though bank transfers still take one to three business days.
Robinhood crypto orders execute at the price shown at the moment you confirm, so the actual price may shift slightly if the market moves fast. Limit orders on crypto give you more control but may not fill if the price never reaches your target.
What happens to your cash after you sell
When you sell a stock or cryptocurrency on Robinhood, the proceeds land in your account as Buying Power. This is cash you can use to buy other investments right away. You do not have to wait for settlement to reinvest.
If you want to move the money to your bank account, you can request a withdrawal. Robinhood transfers the cash to your linked bank account within one to three business days. There is no fee to withdraw, but your bank may take an additional day to process the transfer.
Keep in mind that if you sell a stock at a profit, you will owe capital gains tax on that profit when you file your taxes. Robinhood sends you a tax document (Form 1099-B) at the end of the year showing all your sales. The tax is due whether or not you withdraw the cash.
Selling fractional shares on Robinhood
Robinhood lets you sell fractional shares — meaning you can sell less than one full share. This is useful if you own a fractional share from a dividend reinvestment or from buying fractional shares in the first place. You can sell as little as one cent's worth of a stock.
To sell a fractional share, enter the exact amount you want to sell in the order screen. For example, if you own 2.5 shares of a stock and want to sell 1.25 shares, you can do that. The process is identical to selling whole shares — just enter the fractional amount and confirm. Fractional shares settle the same way as whole shares: stocks settle in two business days, and crypto settles immediately.
Taxes and fees when you sell on Robinhood
Robinhood charges no commission on stock or cryptocurrency sales. You will not see a fee deducted from your proceeds.
However, you may owe capital gains tax if you sold for a profit. The tax depends on how long you held the investment. If you held it for less than one year, it is taxed as a short-term capital gain at your ordinary income tax rate. If you held it for one year or longer, it is taxed as a long-term capital gain at a lower rate (0%, 15%, or 20%, depending on your income).
Robinhood does not withhold taxes from your sale. You are responsible for reporting the gain when you file your taxes. At the end of each tax year, Robinhood sends you a Form 1099-B showing all your sales and the gains or losses. You use this form to report your transactions to the IRS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sell stocks after market hours on Robinhood?
You can place an order to sell after hours, but it will not execute until the market opens the next trading day. Robinhood does not support after-hours trading for individual stocks. Cryptocurrency can be sold 24/7 at any time.
What is the difference between selling and canceling an order?
Selling executes a transaction and removes the shares from your account, converting them to cash. Canceling an order stops a pending order before it executes, so the shares stay in your account and nothing is sold. If you have already sold, you cannot undo it — you would have to buy the shares back.
Do I have to pay taxes on a loss when I sell?
No, you do not owe tax on a loss. In fact, you can use a capital loss to offset capital gains and reduce your tax bill. Robinhood reports losses on your 1099-B, and you can claim them on your tax return.
How long does it take to receive cash after I sell a stock?
The cash appears in your Robinhood account immediately as Buying Power, so you can reinvest right away. If you want to withdraw to your bank, it takes one to three business days. Stock sales settle in two business days, but Robinhood makes the cash available to you before settlement completes.
Can I sell a stock I just bought?
Yes, you can sell a stock immediately after buying it. There is no holding period. However, if you sell within two business days of buying, you may trigger a "good faith violation" if you do this repeatedly. Robinhood allows three good faith violations in a 12-month period before restricting your account.