How To Day Trade On Robinhood Without 25k (2024)

FAQs

How To Day Trade On Robinhood Without 25k? ›

With a cash account, you can day trade without the $25k minimum, but you're limited by the settlement period of funds, typically two business days after a trade. Margin accounts offer more flexibility but come with the PDT rule and increased risks due to leverage.

You can day trade without $25k in accounts with brokers that do not enforce the Pattern Day Trader rule, which typically applies to U.S. stock markets. Consider forex or futures markets, which have different regulations and often lower entry barriers for day trading. Swing trading is another option.

If you've been flagged as a pattern day trader (PDT), you can still sign up for the brokerage cash sweep program, but you won't be eligible to earn interest while in a margin account. If you're flagged as a PDT while enrolled in the brokerage sweep program, your cash will be swept back from program banks.

Open Multiple Brokerage Accounts

One way to navigate the PDT rule is by distributing your trading activity across multiple brokerage accounts. By doing so, you can potentially make more day trades in a week than the rule typically allows for a single account.

With Robinhood Gold, you can bypass the PDT rule and enjoy unlimited day trades, even with an account balance below $25,000. Consider Opening a Cash Account: If you prefer not to upgrade to Robinhood Gold or maintain a high account balance, you can open a cash account instead of a margin account.

Account suspension: In some cases, a brokerage firm may suspend your account if you repeatedly violate the PDT Rule or other trading rules. The suspension may last for a certain period of time, or the firm may terminate your account altogether.

What happens if you are flagged as a PDT but have over 25,000? ›

When a customer with more than $25,000 is flagged as a PDT, the customer can day trade for unlimited times if he/she has sufficient day-trading buying power(DTBP). Your DTBP is equal to the excess maintenance margin that is available in your account multiplied by two (or by four, brokers can adjust the leverage).

Trades with non-marginable securities are subject to cash account rules, not margin account rules, meaning you can day trade in your margin account without fear of being flagged as a pattern day trader.

You'll be considered a “Pattern Day Trader” if you execute 4 or more day trades within 5 trading days, provided that the number of day trades represents more than 6% of your total trades within your margin account for that same 5 trading day period.

Under the PDT rules, you must maintain minimum equity of $25,000 in your margin account prior to day trading on any given day. If the account falls below the $25,000 requirement, you cannot day trade until you are back at or above the $25,000 minimum.

If you're flagged as a pattern day trader, you must have $25,000 in portfolio value (minus any crypto positions) before you can continue day trading. Robinhood Securities, LLC (RHS) may also impose additional requirements and certain customers may not be eligible to use margin based on RHS internal guidelines.

PDT Rule. Any US-based prospective day trader quickly learns about the dreaded pattern day trader (PDT) rule. The PDT essentially states that traders with less than $25,000 in their margin account cannot make more than three day trades in a rolling five day period.

You'll need to deposit at least $25,000 to meet the account minimums for day trading. Note that you are likely to need more to give yourself a buffer against losses.