How to buy a stock | Robinhood
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< Investing with stocks: The basics
Help Center > Investing > Investing with stocks: The basics

How to buy a stock

Robinhood’s default buy order is an order to buy a number of shares or dollar amount of the specified stock or ETP.

During regular market hours (9:30 AM-4 PM ET), both dollar-based buy orders and share-based buy orders are entered as market orders. During extended hours (7-9:30 AM and 4-8 PM ET) , dollar-based and share-based buy orders are entered as limit orders with a preset limit price.

Note

Over-the-Counter (OTC) securities are an exception and will remain as limit buy orders with a preset limit price during all trading sessions.

Outside regular market hours and extended hours, dollar-based and share-based buy orders are queued for the opening of regular market hours (unless the stock or ETP is eligible for execution outside regular market hours and extended hours through Robinhood 24 Hour Market, in which case you can enter whole share-based buy limit orders).

Keep in mind

Keep in mind, the last-traded price won’t necessarily be the price that your buy order will be executed at.

App
  1. Go to the stock’s detail page to view the stock’s historical performance, analyst ratings, company earnings, and other helpful information to review when buying or selling a stock
  2. Select Trade → Buy, or just Buy if you don’t currently own the stock
  3. By default, you'll be asked to enter the amount you'd like to purchase in dollars (or you can choose to buy shares, or select another order type, by selecting Dollars)
  4. Review your order and confirm that all the details are correct or select Edit
  5. If all looks good, swipe up to submit your order

Check out order types for more information on what we support.

Web classic
  1. Go to the stock’s detail page to view the stock’s historical performance, analyst ratings, company earnings, and other helpful information to review when buying a stock
  2. Select Trade → Buy, or just Buy if you don’t currently own the stock
  3. In Buy In, select either Dollars or Shares
  4. Select Review Order and confirm that all the details are correct or select Edit
  5. If all looks good, select Buy
Legend

Check out Trading with Robinhood Legend to learn more about buying stocks in Legend.

Disclosure

Disclosure

Trading outside of regular market hours involves additional risks, such as increased price volatility and lower trading volume. You can learn more in the Extended-Hours Trading Disclosure.

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All investing involves risk.

Brokerage services are offered through Robinhood Financial LLC, (“RHF”) a registered broker dealer (member SIPC), and clearing services through Robinhood Securities, LLC, (“RHS”) a registered broker dealer (member SIPC).

Futures and cleared swaps trading is offered by Robinhood Derivatives, LLC, (“RHD”) a registered futures commission merchant with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and a Member of the National Futures Association (NFA). RHD is not FDIC insured or SIPC protected.

Cryptocurrency services are offered through an account with Robinhood Crypto, LLC (“RHC”) (NMLS ID: 1702840). Robinhood Crypto is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the New York State Department of Financial Services. Review a list of RHC's licenses for more information. Cryptocurrency held through Robinhood Crypto is not FDIC insured or SIPC protected.

The Robinhood spending account is offered through Robinhood Money, LLC (“RHY”) (NMLS ID: 1990968), a licensed money transmitter. Review a list of our licenses for more information.

The Robinhood Cash Card is a prepaid card issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Mastercard® International Incorporated. Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated.

Robinhood Gold Card is subject to credit approval and underwriting. Robinhood Gold Card is offered by Robinhood Credit, Inc., and is issued by Coastal Community Bank, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Robinhood Credit, Inc. (“RCT”), is a financial technology company, not a bank.

Robinhood Gold is a subscription-based membership program of premium services offered through Robinhood Gold, LLC (“RHG”).

RHF, RHY, RHC, RCT, RHG, RHD, and RHS are affiliated entities and wholly owned subsidiaries of Robinhood Markets, Inc. RHF, RHY, RHC, RCT, RHG, RHD, and RHS are not banks. Investing products offered by RHF are not FDIC insured and involve risk, including possible loss of principal.

RHY is not a member of FINRA, and products are not subject to SIPC protection, but funds held in the Robinhood spending account and Robinhood Cash Card account may be eligible for FDIC pass-through insurance (review the Robinhood Cash Card Agreement and the Robinhood Spending Account Agreement).

Options trading entails significant risk and is not appropriate for all customers. Customers must read and understand the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options before engaging in any options trading strategies. Options transactions are often complex and may involve the potential of losing the entire investment in a relatively short period of time. Certain complex options strategies carry additional risk, including the potential for losses that may exceed the original investment amount.

RO 4146192

Robinhood, 85 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025. © 2025 Robinhood. All rights reserved.
Follow us on

All investing involves risk.

Brokerage services are offered through Robinhood Financial LLC, (“RHF”) a registered broker dealer (member SIPC), and clearing services through Robinhood Securities, LLC, (“RHS”) a registered broker dealer (member SIPC).

Futures and cleared swaps trading is offered by Robinhood Derivatives, LLC, (“RHD”) a registered futures commission merchant with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and a Member of the National Futures Association (NFA). RHD is not FDIC insured or SIPC protected.

Cryptocurrency services are offered through an account with Robinhood Crypto, LLC (“RHC”) (NMLS ID: 1702840). Robinhood Crypto is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the New York State Department of Financial Services. Review a list of RHC's licenses for more information. Cryptocurrency held through Robinhood Crypto is not FDIC insured or SIPC protected.

The Robinhood spending account is offered through Robinhood Money, LLC (“RHY”) (NMLS ID: 1990968), a licensed money transmitter. Review a list of our licenses for more information.

The Robinhood Cash Card is a prepaid card issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Mastercard® International Incorporated. Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated.

Robinhood Gold Card is subject to credit approval and underwriting. Robinhood Gold Card is offered by Robinhood Credit, Inc., and is issued by Coastal Community Bank, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Robinhood Credit, Inc. (“RCT”), is a financial technology company, not a bank.

Robinhood Gold is a subscription-based membership program of premium services offered through Robinhood Gold, LLC (“RHG”).

RHF, RHY, RHC, RCT, RHG, RHD, and RHS are affiliated entities and wholly owned subsidiaries of Robinhood Markets, Inc. RHF, RHY, RHC, RCT, RHG, RHD, and RHS are not banks. Investing products offered by RHF are not FDIC insured and involve risk, including possible loss of principal.

RHY is not a member of FINRA, and products are not subject to SIPC protection, but funds held in the Robinhood spending account and Robinhood Cash Card account may be eligible for FDIC pass-through insurance (review the Robinhood Cash Card Agreement and the Robinhood Spending Account Agreement).

Options trading entails significant risk and is not appropriate for all customers. Customers must read and understand the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options before engaging in any options trading strategies. Options transactions are often complex and may involve the potential of losing the entire investment in a relatively short period of time. Certain complex options strategies carry additional risk, including the potential for losses that may exceed the original investment amount.

RO 4146192

Robinhood, 85 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025. © 2025 Robinhood. All rights reserved.