Master Option Order Types: 7 Complete Guides

Option Order Types

Order Types

An introductory guide to option order types. Get started here!

Market Order

Market Order Options

Markets order are filled immediately regardless of price. In both illiquid stocks and options, market orders can lead to horrible fills. 

Always avoid market orders on the market open/close!

Limit Order

Option Limit Order

In options trading, limit orders are the only way to go. Why? They set an upper bound on the maximum debit you are willing to pay and a lower bound on the minimum credit you are willing to receive. 

The downside? Fills aren’t guaranteed!

Stop-loss

Stop Loss Order

A stop-loss order is simply a market order in disguise. Your broker holds these orders until the stop price is breached. They are then sent to the market makers. In the eyes of exchanges, stop-loss orders are the same as market orders.

Stop-Limit

stop limit order options

A stop-limit order is a great alternative to the stop order. Unlike a stop-loss order, the stop-limit order triggers a limit order. 

However, if the limit price is breached, stop-limit orders may never get filled.  

TIF Orders

tif order types: stocks options

So now you know the order types. But for how long do you want that order working, and during what market period? Read all about time-in-force (TIF) order types here!

BTO vs BTC

BTO and STO; BTC and STC Options Trading (2)

The “position effect” box lets us choose whether our order is opening or closing. Which is right for your trade?

The Best Brokerage for Traders

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Use the link below to check out the tastytrade $100 to $2,000 signup bonus offer.

* Applicable exchange, clearing, and regulatory fees still apply to all opening and closing trades except for cryptocurrency orders which are not subject to exchange, clearing, and regulatory fees.

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Mike Martin

Mike Martin

Mike was a writer for projectfinance. He has spent over 15 years in the finance industry, working for such companies as thinkorswim, TD Ameritrade and Charles Schwab. His work has appeared in the Financial Times, the Chicago Sun-Times, and The Buffalo News.

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