How to trade after hours on Interactive Brokers?
Many traders who hold Interactive Brokers (IB) accounts struggle to figure out how to execute their trades outside regular trading hours. After-hours trading for IB clients presents its unique set of challenges, particularly the need to learn how to enable this feature across the different trading platforms.
Interactive Brokers provides access to extended hours trading, which includes both premarket and after-hours sessions. Our guide offers step-by-step instructions to navigate this feature effectively.
As a brokerage expert, I use and test a variety of brokers worldwide by doing real trades. Here are my key points on trading outside regular hours with Interactive Brokers:
- IBKR Pro account holders benefit from a broader time frame for extended-hours trading.
- IB clients can set trading hours for each trade separately or through global configuration settings.
- Extended trading hours apply to stocks, ETFs, stock options, and CFDs (outside the US)
- For a comprehensive review of IB’s services and trading features, explore our regularly updated Interactive Brokers review.
- How to trade after hours on Interactive Brokers?
- IBKR Pro account holders have a wider time slot for extended-hours trading
- IB clients can set trading hours for each trade separately or through global configuration settings
- Extended trading hours apply to stocks, ETFs, stock options, and CFDs (outside the US)
- Explore our detailed Interactive Brokers review for deeper insights into its trading features
- FAQs
IBKR Pro account holders have a wider time slot for extended-hours trading
Extended-hours trading refers to the periods when trading is allowed outside the standard market hours. These periods include both premarket and after-hours trading. They offer traders the opportunity to react to news and events that occur when the regular market is closed.
Every trader with an Interactive Brokers account has access to after hours trading service. Depending on the type of account you hold at IB, you will have different schedules available for after hours trading. IBKR Pro account holders have a wider time slot for extended-hours trading than those having an IBKR Lite account.
Account type | Premarket trading start time | After-hours trading start time | After-hours trading end time |
---|---|---|---|
IBKR Pro accounts | 4:00 AM EST (9:00 AM GMT+1) | 4:00 PM EST (9:00 PM GMT+1) | 8:00 PM EST (1:00 AM GMT+1) |
IBKR Lite accounts | 7:00 AM EST (12:00 PM GMT+1) | 4:00 PM EST (9:00 PM GMT+1) | 8:00 PM EST (1:00 AM GMT+1) |
Data updated on March 19, 2024
Interactive Brokers also offers an Overnight Trading feature for certain US stocks and ETFs, active from 8:00 p.m. to 3:50 a.m. EST, Sunday through Thursday nights. Trades made in this period are dated to the following trading day. Importantly, overnight trading aligns with the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) holiday schedule. This means if the NYSE is closed on the following day, Interactive Brokers will not hold an overnight trading session the night before.
When trading in extended hours, you need to be cautious as liquidity significantly decreases during these periods, which may lead to increased volatility. To boost liquidity, IB offers its own IBEOS Alternative Trading System (ATS) and is connected to the Blue Ocean ATS.
IB clients can set trading hours for each trade separately or through global configuration settings
By default, when you place an order, it is executed during the standard trading hours of the market. IB clients can alter the Regular Trading Hours (RTH) setting either on a case-by-case basis before placing a particular order, or by adjusting global configurations for all their orders.
For individual orders on IB’s Trader Workstation (TWS), you can change the RTH setting by clicking the 'DAY' field in the order entry panel before placing the order. A drop-down menu will appear, where you can select 'Fill outside RTH.' There are other options as well, allowing you to align the execution of your order with your trading strategy.
If you want after hours execution to apply to all your orders (where relevant), you can change the global settings in TWS by following these steps:
- Select the File menu at the top of the main TWS screen, then choose Global Configuration.
- In the window that opens, expand the Presets section by clicking the '+' next to it.
- Select the product type (i.e. Stocks or ETFs) by clicking on it.
- In the Primary Order section, ensure the Order Type is set to Limit Order (LMT). Note that this setting is not applicable if Market Order (MKT) or Stop Order (STP) is the default order type.
- In the Timing section, check 'Allow order to be activated, triggered, or filled outside of regular trading hours'.
- Click Apply, then OK to save these settings.
You can change both individual order settings and default RTH settings in the Interactive Brokers (IBKR) mobile applications for Android and iOS devices.
Here is how you can change the RTH settings for individual orders in the IB mobile app:
- In the Mobile Order Ticket, there's a 'Time-in-force' line item for Android users. Tap the small arrow on the right to expand this section.
- You'll find an 'Outside RTH' option with a toggle switch, which can be set to ON (to fill outside RTH) or OFF (to restrict to RTH).
- You can also toggle 'Overnight Trading' on or off directly in the Order Ticket.
This feature is also available in the iOS version, where you can toggle 'Outside RTH' on or off in the Order Ticket.
Here is how you can adjust default RTH settings in the mobile app:
- Access the menu (More) and select 'Setting'
- From the list select 'Trading Settings'
- Choose the product type for which you want to edit the Presets
- Tap on 'Timing' and then toggle the 'Outside RTH' option on or off as per your requirement
- To save your changes, simply tap the back button, and these settings will be updated in the Cloud.
Extended trading hours apply to stocks, ETFs, stock options, and CFDs (outside the US)
At Interactive Brokers, extended trading hours provide clients with the opportunity to trade a diverse range of asset types. During these periods, the platform facilitates trading in stocks, ETFs, and stock options. Importantly, for clients located outside the United States, there is the added option of trading in CFDs (Contracts for Difference).
In addition to the extended trading hours, the Overnight Trading feature applies to over 10,000 US stocks and ETFs. Note that fractional trading is not available in these sessions.
Explore our detailed Interactive Brokers review for deeper insights into its trading features
BrokerChooser’s IBKR review examines over 600 data points to provide a balanced view and an account of our first-hand experience with IB services. We evaluate key aspects like fees, safety, ease of transactions, and platform usability with real accounts and funds. This rigorous process ensures that our insights are practical and relevant for traders.
For a thorough understanding of what Interactive Brokers offers, we encourage you to explore our detailed review. Additionally, you can leverage our Compare Broker tool to compare Interactive Brokers with different brokers worldwide based on a wide array of criteria. Our evaluation is grounded in real experience and user-centric analysis.
FAQs
Is market data available in the extended-trading hours on Interactive Brokers?
Market data is freely available during the extended hours and US overnight trading session.
Who is eligible to trade in the US overnight trading session?
All traders holding accounts with Interactive Brokers have the opportunity to participate in the US overnight trading session.
Is fractional trading allowed overnight on Interactive Brokers?
Fractional trading is not permitted in the US overnight trading session.
What is the commission when trading during the US overnight session?
For IBKR Pro accounts, the commission is the same as regular trading hours. IBKR Lite accounts are charged the standard fixed rate.