does etrade charge to sell stock?

Short, actionable answer: for most U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, E*TRADE does not charge a commission to sell online, but small regulatory/exchange pass-throughs, commissions for certain OTC or non-...

2026-01-22 09:29:00

By Alex Carter

Article rating

4.5

109 ratings

Bitget offers a variety of ways to buy or sell popular cryptocurrencies. Buy now!

A welcome pack worth 6200 USDT for new users! Sign up now!

Does E*TRADE charge to sell stock?

Key phrase: does etrade charge to sell stock

Short answer

If you’re asking does etrade charge to sell stock, the concise response is: for most U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs placed online through a self-directed account, E*TRADE applies a $0 commission on the sell order itself, but you may still see small regulatory and exchange pass-through charges. Selling OTC or non-standard listings, using a broker-assisted order, trading options, mutual funds with transaction fees, fixed-income secondary trades, or futures can incur additional commissions or per-contract/per-bond fees.

Background — how online broker commissions evolved

Over the past several years, major retail brokers moved to eliminate base commissions for online self-directed trades of U.S.-listed stocks and many ETFs. This industry shift was driven by competition for retail order flow, technological efficiencies, and a desire to lower costs for individual investors. As a result, many firms — including E*TRADE — now advertise $0 commissions for standard online stock and ETF trades placed by self-directed customers.

However, brokers still collect revenue through other means: collecting payment for order flow (where applicable), passing through small regulatory or exchange fees, applying product-specific fees (options per-contract fees, mutual fund transaction fees, bond markups or per-bond charges), and charging for services such as broker-assisted trades, wire withdrawals, or account transfers. So while the headline commission can be $0, net proceeds from a sale can still reflect a few small charges or specific product commissions.

Detailed fee breakdown

This section explains the types of charges that can appear when you sell securities at E*TRADE and how they commonly apply.

U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs (online, self-directed)

Answering the simple search question — does etrade charge to sell stock — most retail customers selling U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs online in a self-directed account will see no base commission on the trade. E*TRADE’s headline offering for self-directed online equity and ETF trades is $0 commission, so there is no commission line item specifically for the sell order of an exchange-listed U.S. stock or ETF.

That said, you might still see nominal pass-through charges from regulators or exchanges (covered below) and any specific account or withdrawal fees unrelated to the trade execution.

Over-the-counter (OTC) and non-standard listings

Not every security traded on your account is a U.S.-exchange-listed stock. Over-the-counter (OTC), OTCBB, grey market, and many foreign-traded or pink-sheet securities are handled differently. Historically, brokers have charged commissions for those trades. If you search does etrade charge to sell stock and the stock is an OTC issue, expect that the sale may incur a commission based on the broker’s OTC schedule. Typical historical online commission ranges for OTC or special listings have been in the low single-digit to mid-single-digit dollar range per trade, though exact amounts depend on the broker’s published schedule and any updated pricing tiers.

Broker-assisted trades

Selling through a broker or representative rather than using the online platform usually carries an extra fee. Broker-assisted trades require human execution and are therefore charged an additional broker-assisted service fee on top of any applicable commission or pass-throughs. If your account uses broker assistance for the sale, the final settlement will reflect that extra charge.

Options and per-contract fees

If your sell involves options contracts (selling an option position), the pricing model differs. While many brokers advertise a $0 base commission for equities, options are typically subject to a per-contract fee. Historically for E*TRADE, options trades have had per-contract charges (for example, a standard rate around $0.65 per contract with lower per-contract pricing for high-volume traders). In addition to the per-contract amount, options trades can be subject to options regulatory and exchange fees that are passed through to the customer.

Mutual funds, early redemption, and special fund fees

Mutual fund trades are treated separately. Many mutual funds are available without a transaction fee, but transaction-fee funds will typically carry a trade fee on purchase or sale. Separately, some funds impose short-term or early redemption fees if you sell within a fund-specific window (commonly 30–90 days from purchase). These early redemption fees are set by the fund company, not by the broker, and are deducted from your proceeds if they apply.

Bonds, CDs, and fixed-income products

Fixed-income secondary trades often carry a per-bond or per-trade fee; brokers sometimes publish per-bond fees with minimums and maximums. When a broker acts as principal (selling from inventory), the dealer markup or markdown will impact the execution price and effectively act like a commission. For online secondary market bond trades, E*TRADE’s published schedule historically included per-bond or per-trade charges (for example, a per-bond amount subject to a stated minimum and maximum). If you sell a bond before maturity, factor in the broker’s stated fee schedule and any spread that may apply.

Futures and cryptocurrency futures

Futures contracts and cryptocurrency futures follow a distinct fee schedule with per-contract exchange and clearing fees plus the broker’s commission per contract. Futures fees are typically quoted per contract per side; specialty contracts (including some crypto derivatives) can have higher per-contract costs. In addition, futures are subject to exchange fees and clearinghouse charges that vary by contract and exchange.

Regulatory and exchange fees (pass-through)

Even when the base commission is $0, small regulatory and exchange fees may be collected on certain sell transactions and remitted to the relevant agency. These include the sell-side SEC transaction fee for equities and a variety of exchange or options regulatory fees. These pass-through charges are typically small on retail-sized trades (often just cents) but can be larger for very large or institutional-size trades.

Other account-related or ancillary fees

Non-trade fees can reduce your net proceeds or increase the cost of doing business: wire transfer fees to withdraw cash, outgoing account transfer or account closing fees, paper statement fees, and margin interest if you incur or cover margin obligations tied to the sale. None of these are direct per-share selling commissions but can affect the overall economics of a sale.

Typical scenarios and examples

Here are short, practical examples that illustrate real-world outcomes when you ask does etrade charge to sell stock in different contexts.

Example 1 — Selling a U.S.-listed stock online (self-directed)

Selling 100 shares of a U.S.-listed stock in a self-directed E*TRADE account: advertised commission $0, net trade may show a tiny regulatory fee or exchange routing fee amounting to cents. For most retail sellers, the headline is: no commission on the sell, only nominal pass-throughs.

Example 2 — Selling an OTC security

Selling a pink-sheet or OTCBB security may show a commission line on your trade confirmation. Historically, online commissions for such trades have been non-zero and could materially affect a small sale. Before placing the order, check the security’s listing status and your broker’s pricing table: this determines whether the sale is covered by the $0 equity commission policy or by a separate OTC commission schedule.

Example 3 — Selling via a broker representative

Place the same 100-share sell order but call a broker to execute: the trade execution might be the same price but the settlement will include a broker-assisted fee charged in addition to any applicable commission or pass-through fees.

Example 4 — Selling an option position

Selling 10 option contracts: the trade will show a per-contract charge (for example, a standard per-contract fee) and possibly options exchange fees. The headline $0 equity commission does not remove the option per-contract charge.

Example 5 — Selling a mutual fund shortly after purchase

You sell a mutual fund within its stated short-term window: proceeds may be reduced by the fund’s early redemption fee (a percent of the sale) even if the broker does not charge a separate commission on the mutual fund trade.

How fees are shown and where to confirm them

E*TRADE displays applicable fees in several places. To verify exact charges for a given sale, review the trade ticket before you submit an order (the platform often summarizes estimated fees), examine the trade confirmation after execution (which lists all fees and charges tied to that transaction), and check periodic account statements which aggregate fees and commissions.

For the most current fee schedules and explicit numeric values, consult E*TRADE’s published pricing & rates document and the product-specific pages for options, mutual funds, fixed income, and futures. Because fee schedules can change, always verify the live pricing on the broker’s official pricing documentation and your trade confirmation to know exactly what you will be charged.

Implications for traders & investors

For the majority of retail sellers of U.S.-listed equities, the practical implication of does etrade charge to sell stock is that there is effectively no commission cost to sell when using online self-directed execution. That lowers friction for reallocating positions or rebalancing portfolios.

Active traders should nevertheless account for: per-contract options fees, commissions on OTC or foreign listings, small regulatory/exchange pass-throughs, and possible broker-assisted charges when using phone or professional execution. Also remember tax consequences on realized gains and standard settlement timing for equities: trades generally settle on the standard T+2 cycle for most U.S. stocks, which affects when proceeds become available for withdrawal or reuse.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q: Do I pay commission when I sell a U.S. stock on E*TRADE?
A: For online self-directed trades of U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, E*TRADE’s advertised offering is $0 commission; however, small regulatory or exchange pass-throughs may still appear.

Q: Are there any fees I might still see when selling?
A: Yes. Possible charges include regulatory/exchange pass-throughs, OTC commissions for nonstandard listings, broker-assisted fees, options per-contract fees, mutual fund transaction or early redemption fees, fixed-income per-bond fees or markups, and withdrawal or transfer fees.

Q: Do selling fees differ for retirement accounts?
A: Commission structures for standard trades are generally the same across taxable and retirement accounts, but some mutual fund or account-specific rules may differ. Always review account disclosures for retirement accounts to confirm any relevant differences.

Q: Can fees change?
A: Yes. Firms periodically update pricing and fee schedules. Always confirm current pricing on E*TRADE’s official published pricing & rates page and check the trade confirmation for exact charges on a particular transaction.

References and primary sources

Sources used to compile this guide include the broker’s published pricing & rates documentation and product help pages, and independent broker reviews and explainers. Examples of reference materials consulted include E*TRADE pricing and help pages, and reputable broker reviewer summaries. As of 2026-01-22, according to those published sources, the headline $0 commission for U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs remains in place, with other fees continuing to apply for specific products and services.

Note on timeliness: As of 2026-01-22, according to E*TRADE’s publicly available pricing documentation and third-party broker reviews, the broker offers $0 online commissions for U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs for self-directed customers while maintaining product-specific fees and regulatory pass-throughs. Always verify on the broker’s live pricing pages for the latest numbers.

Notes and disclaimers

This article is informational and not a substitute for reading E*TRADE’s official disclosures. Fee schedules and policies change over time; before placing trades, traders should confirm current fees on the broker’s official pricing & rates pages and review their trade confirmations. This post does not provide investment advice or recommendations.