Can you close a call option early?

Asked by: Prof. Olen Roberts  |  Last update: March 31, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (71 votes)

Can I sell a call option early? Yes – call option buyers can close the position at any time by selling the contract for the market value. This is a popular choice, as many traders just speculate on the call option price itself, rather than converting the call option into shares of stock.

What happens if you close an option early?

1. You can buy or sell to “close” the position prior to expiration. 2. The options expire out-of-the-money and worthless, so you do nothing.

Can you close a call early?

If assignment hasn't happened yet, it's typically possible to buy (to close) the call and hold the stock, which likely means taking a loss on the option part of the covered call. Rolling the call to a later expiration and higher strike price can keep the covered call going.

Can you cash out a call option early?

Yes, American call options can be exercised at any time before expiration, while European options can only be exercised on the expiration date. An option gives you the right to buy or sell 100 shares at a designated strike price.

Is it better to close an option or let it expire?

Closing a position is the opposite of risky, nothing can happen to you after you close a position, staying in it is what is risky. There is always risk that an option will go ITM and you will be assigned. Always better to close prior to expiration.

Why You Should (almost) ALWAYS Close Short Options BEFORE Expiration

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When to close a call option?

WHEN TO CLOSE A LONG CALL OPTION. Buyers of long calls can sell them at any time before expiration for a profit or loss, but ideally the trade is closed for a profit when the value of the call exceeds the entry price for purchasing it.

How to exit call option before expiration?

Exiting a Short Call

Anytime before expiration, a buy-to-close (BTC) order can be entered, and the contract will be purchased at the market or limit price.

How soon can you sell a call option?

The buyer can also sell the options contract to another option buyer at any time before the expiration date, at the prevailing market price of the contract. If the price of the underlying security remains relatively unchanged or declines, then the value of the option will decline as it nears its expiration date.

What happens if my call option is in-the-money before expiration?

When the option is in the money and approaches expiration, the holder can either sell the option to lock in the value or exercise the option to buy the shares. If the underlying security trades below the strike price at expiry means the call option is considered out of the money.

Is it better to exercise a call option or sell it?

A stock occasionally pays a big dividend and exercising a call option to capture the dividend may be worthwhile. Or you may not be able to sell it at fair value if you own an option that's deep in the money. It may be preferable to exercise the option to buy or sell the stock if bids are too low.

How do you end a call early?

Steps
  1. Refocus the conversation back to the original point. ...
  2. Summarise the call to signal that the conversation is winding down. ...
  3. Make an excuse to finish the conversation quickly. ...
  4. Wrap up the call with a plan to talk again soon. ...
  5. Wish the caller a great day to signal the end of the conversation.

Can you sell a call option before it hits the strike price?

Can I sell an option below strike price? Options that have value in the marketplace can be bought or sold at any time, whether the underlying price of the stock is below or above the options strike price.

What is the best covered call strategy?

Covered calls are best done in a neutral or slightly bullish market environment where you expect the stock price to stay relatively stable or rise modestly. In these scenarios, the premium collected from selling the call option provides added income while the risk of the option being exercised remains moderate.

What happens if you close early?

Closing early in the month will result in an additional month in which you do not have to make a mortgage payment. However, you're paying mortgage interest during this time, and the amount you will owe in total for your mortgage will be the same as if you had closed later in the month.

When should you exit stock options?

Some situations when you should exit a stock include a decline in a company's fundamentals, overvaluation, finding a better investment opportunity, or requiring the money for other financial goals. You should strive to always ensure that the decision aligns with your investment strategy and financial objectives.

Can you sell a put option early?

You can make money from a put option if your speculation of the market movement is correct. As a long put holder, you can either sell the contact before expiry for a profit if there is a swift bearish movement in the stock price.

Can you execute a call option early?

For call contracts, owners might exercise early to own the underlying stock to receive a dividend. It is extremely important to realize that assignment of exercise notices can occur early, days or weeks in advance of expiration day.

What if I don't sell my option?

An option contract, in contrast to stock, has an end date. It will lose much of its value if you can't buy, sell, or exercise your option before its expiration date. An option contract ceases trading at its expiration and is either exercised or worthless.

Why does Robinhood sell my options at 3:30?

For equity and ETF options, if you have expiration date trading enabled, you'll have until 3:30 PM ET to open positions in same-day expiring contracts. We'll attempt to close out any expiring, at-risk positions starting at 3:30 PM ET. This standard closeout process doesn't apply for index options.

How do I close a call option before expiration?

You close a sell-to-open call option by buying-to-close before expiration. Bear in mind that the options might expire worthless, so you could do nothing and avoid possible commissions. Finally, the options could expire in the money which usually results in a trade of the underlying stock if the option is exercised.

How much can you lose selling a call option?

Sellers of covered call options are obligated to deliver shares to the purchaser if they decide to exercise the option. The maximum loss on a covered call strategy is limited to the price paid for the asset, minus the option premium received.

When to buy to close a call option?

An investor may consider buy to close when they want to buy an options contract to offset a contract they previously sold (wrote), enabling them to exit their position.

Can you close options early?

Because of the capital required to exercise an Options contract, many choose to close the contract before expiration, allowing them to realize any remaining time value left in the contract, and for those contracts in-the-money, any profits from the increase in the Option's intrinsic value without the need for ...

How do I sell my call options before expiration?

When you decide to sell a call option, you must sell the designated shares at the established price to the buyer if they exercise the option before it expires. When you sell a put option, you must buy the designated shares at the established price if the buyer exercises the option.

Can I square off the call option before the expiry date?

You can square off before the expiry date if there's enough market liquidity. If you don't square off, you might exercise the option or deal with delivery. This depends on whether the option is in or out of the money.