How to Sell Stocks in Robinhood: Step-by-Step Instructions
How to sell a stock in Robinhood
To sell a stock in Robinhood, open the app, tap the stock you own, tap the sell button (usually a down arrow or "Sell" text), enter how many shares you want to sell, review the order details, and confirm. The sale executes immediately during market hours — typically 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time on weekdays — or queues for the next market open if you sell after hours.
The process takes about 30 seconds once you know where to tap. Your cash appears in your Robinhood account right away, 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, then tap the sell button and enter the number of shares you want to sell.
- Market orders sell at the current price immediately during trading hours; limit orders let you set a minimum price but may not fill if the stock doesn't reach it.
- Selling during market hours (9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern, weekdays) executes right away; after-hours sales queue for the next market open.
- Cash from the sale lands in your Robinhood account instantly but takes one to two business days to reach your bank if you withdraw it.
- Robinhood charges no commission on stock sales, but you may owe capital gains tax on any profit when you file your taxes.
Finding the stock you want to sell
Open the Robinhood app and tap the Stocks tab at the bottom of the screen. Scroll to find the stock you own, or use the search bar at the top to type the company name or ticker symbol. Tap the stock to open its detail page.
You will see your position — the number of shares you own and the current price. If you own fractional shares (pieces of a share), Robinhood displays the exact amount. Make sure you are looking at a stock you actually own; if it does not appear in your Stocks tab, you do not hold it.
Choosing between a market order and a limit order
A market order sells your shares at whatever price the stock is trading for right now. It fills almost instantly during market hours. Use a market order when you want to sell immediately and do not care about getting the absolute best price.
A limit order lets you set the lowest price you will accept. If the stock reaches that price, the order fills; if it does not, the order sits open until you cancel it or the market closes. Use a limit order when you want to wait for a better price or when you are selling after hours and want to control the price.
For most people selling a stock they have held for a while, a market order is simpler. For stocks that move fast or when you are selling a large number of shares, a limit order gives you more control.
Entering the sell order
After you tap the stock, look for a sell button — usually a down arrow, a red button, or text that says "Sell." Tap it. Robinhood will ask how many shares you want to sell. Enter the number or tap "All" to sell your entire position at once.
Next, choose your order type. Tap "Market" for an immediate sale at the current price, or "Limit" to set a minimum price. If you choose Limit, enter the price per share you want. Then review the order summary: it shows the number of shares, the order type, and an estimate of how much cash you will receive.
Tap the final confirm button — usually labeled "Sell" or "Place Order" — to send the order. Do not tap back or close the app before you confirm, or the order will not go through.
When the order fills and where the money goes
During market hours (9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern, Monday through Friday), a market order fills within seconds. You will see a confirmation screen showing the price per share, the total proceeds, and the time the order filled. Robinhood also sends a notification to your phone.
The cash appears in your Robinhood account balance immediately. You can use it to buy other stocks right away, or you can leave it sitting in your account. If you want to move the money to your bank account, tap the Account tab, then Transfers, then Withdraw, and follow the prompts. The transfer takes one to two business days.
If you sell after market hours (after 4 p.m. or before 9:30 a.m.), your order queues for the next market open. It will fill at the opening price or shortly after, depending on how many other orders are ahead of yours.
Understanding the tax impact of selling
Robinhood does not charge a commission to sell stocks, but you may owe capital gains tax on any profit. If you bought a stock for $50 and sold it for $75, you have a $25 gain per share. That gain is taxable income when you file your taxes the following year.
Gains on stocks you held for less than one year are taxed as short-term capital gains at your regular income tax rate. Gains on stocks you held for more than one year are taxed as long-term capital gains at a lower rate (0%, 15%, or 20%, depending on your income). Robinhood tracks your holding period and cost basis automatically.
At the end of the year, Robinhood sends you a tax form (Form 1099-B) that reports all your sales. You will need this form when you file your taxes. If you sold at a loss, you can use that loss to offset other gains.
Troubleshooting common selling problems
If your order does not fill, check whether you placed a limit order and the stock price has not reached your limit. Market orders almost always fill during trading hours, but limit orders may sit open indefinitely. You can cancel a limit order at any time by going back to the stock detail page and tapping "Cancel Order."
If you see a message that says you cannot sell, the most common reason is that you do not have settled cash. Robinhood requires cash from previous sales or deposits to settle (usually one to two business days) before you can use it to buy new stocks. Selling stocks does not have this restriction — you can sell any stock you own at any time during market hours.
If the app freezes or crashes after you tap confirm, do not panic. Check your portfolio a few minutes later; the order likely went through. Robinhood keeps a record of all orders in the History tab, so you can verify whether the sale completed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sell a fractional share?
Yes. If you own 2.5 shares of a stock, you can sell all 2.5 or just 1.5, leaving 1 behind. Robinhood lets you enter any amount down to the thousandth of a share. The sale price is calculated the same way as a whole share.
What happens if I sell during after-hours trading?
Your order queues for the next market open and fills at the opening price or shortly after. After-hours prices can be very different from the next day's opening price, so there is some risk that you will not get the price you expected. Limit orders are more useful for after-hours sales because they let you set a minimum price.
Do I have to wait for the money to settle before I can withdraw it?
No. Cash from a stock sale appears in your Robinhood account instantly and you can withdraw it right away. It takes one to two business days for the money to reach your bank account, but Robinhood does not hold it on its end.
What if I sell a stock and immediately want to buy it back?
You can buy it back instantly with the cash from the sale. There is no waiting period. However, if you buy and sell the same stock within five business days, you may trigger the pattern day trader rule if your account is under $25,000 — this rule limits how many times you can buy and sell in a five-day window. Check Robinhood's rules on day trading before you trade frequently.
Can I set a stop-loss order to sell automatically if the price drops?
Robinhood does not offer stop-loss orders on its basic plan. You have to sell manually or use a limit order. Some brokers offer this feature, but Robinhood's free tier does not include it.