The trading costs you incur depends on several factors, including the markets and products you trade, the trading platform and order routing (datafeed) connection you use, your margin requirements as well as how much you trade.
Click the tabs below to view the rates that apply to most retail traders and understand all the costs associated with trading futures.
Trade More. Pay Less.
Pay as little as $0.50 / side no matter how much you trade. Clients who meet our daily trading volume thresholds qualify for even more savings with deep discounted commissions as low as $0.10 / Side. After you Open your Account, you must contact us at (800) 771-6748 or support@optimusfutures.com to ensure the appropriate commission tier.
| Average Daily Contracts | Commissions Per Side |
|---|---|
| 0 - 20 Contracts | $0.50 |
| 21 - 100 Contracts | $0.40 |
| 101 - 500 Contracts | $0.30 |
| 501 - 1000 Contracts | $0.20 |
| Over 1000 Contracts | $0.10 |
Order Routing and Platform Fees.
Order routing is the process of routing the order to / from exchanges to your trading platform. Order routing fees, also referred to as execution costs, are charged by the datafeed provider and is assessed on a per transaction basis.
| Datafeed | Order Routing Fee |
|---|---|
| Rithmic | $0.25 per side |
| CQG | $0.10 - $0.25 per side |
| CTS | $0.20 - $0.50 per side |
| TT | $0.00 - $0.30 per side |
| OEC | $0.00 per side: NO FEE |
| OAK | $0.00 per side: NO FEE |
| eSignal | $0.00 per side: NO FEE |
| QST | $0.00 per side: NO FEE |
| TradeStation | $0.00 per side: NO FEE |
| See Platform Pricing Comparison | |
*Varies according to FCM and trading platform
Higher Leverage. More Risk.
The trading commissions you pay also depends on your margin requirements - the amount required to enter into a position per contract on an intraday basis. Optimus Futures provides margins based on a percentage of the initial margin* (Example 20%) or a nominal amount (Example $400). Intraday margin (day trading margins) are determined by our clearing firms and based on many factors including market volatility, open interest, customer credit profile and the level of funding in the specific customer's account.
| Day Trading Margins | Clearing Firm | Commissions Per Side |
|---|---|---|
| 50% of Initial Margin | All FCM’s | $0.50 |
| 25% of Initial Margin | TradeStation | $0.60 |
| 20% of Initial Margin | Gain Capital | $0.70 |
| $400 Margins | AMP | Please Contact Us |
| View All Margins | ||
Optimus Futures, LLC and/or our Clearing FCMs maintains the right to liquidate any position at any time if a margin call and/or deficit occurs. The customer would be responsible for any deficit that occurs as a result of liquidations. We will make our best efforts to contact customers to address margin call depending on the severity of the call. Accounts that are subject to margin calls may experience higher commissions due to increased risk. Specific day trading margins from select FCMs that are well below average rates may subject you to much higher fees than provided above. Contracts with relatively low liquidity may subject you to additional fees.
Clearing, Exchange and NFA Regulatory fees apply to all order types regardless of your broker and platform and varies according to the markets and products you trade. Members of exchanges are entitled to discounted Exchange Execution and Clearing fees.
Exchange Fees
Exchange fees are charged directly by the exchange to your brokerage account in return for providing market access. Exchange fees are assessed on a per transaction basis and vary depending upon the market and product being traded.
Clearing Fees
Our FCM’s, also known as a “clearing house”, facilitates the trade between buyers and sellers upon a trader’s order being executed at the exchange. The FCM’s handle all the trade execution, exchange floor and back office operations to ensure that the trade will be settled properly in return for a “clearing fee”, typically provided to brokers at reduced wholesale rates.
National Futures Association (NFA) Fees
The National Futures Association (NFA) is the self-regulatory body of the derivatives industry, including the exchange-based trading of futures products. The NFA requires a fee of US$.02 per side of every exchange-based futures contract traded) and is directly billed to the trader through his or her brokerage account.
| Mini Index - $1.16 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| YM | Mini Dow Futures |
| Financial - $0.96 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| FF | 30 Day Fed Funds Rate |
| NI | 10 Year Interest Rate Swap |
| RS5 | 5 Year Interest Rate Swap |
| Treasury - $0.65 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| US | 30 Year US Treasury Bond |
| TY | 10 Year US Treasury Note |
| FV | 5 Year US Treasury Note |
| TU | 2 Year US Treasury Note |
| UB | Ultra US Treasury Bond |
| Mini Agricultural - $1.03 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| YC | Mini-sized Corn |
| YK | Mini-sized Soybeans |
| YW | Mini-sized Wheat |
| VIX Futures — $1.20 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| VX | CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) Futures |
| E-Mini Index — $1.18 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| ES | E-mini S&P 500 |
| MNF | E-Micro S&P Nifty Fifty |
| NQ | E-mini Nasdaq 100 |
| EMD | E-mini S&P MidCap 400 |
| SMC | E-mini S&P SmallCap 600 |
| XAE | E-Mini S&P 500 Energy Sector |
| XAF | E-Mini S&P 500 Financial Sector |
| XAV | E-Mini S&P 500 HealthCare Sector |
| XAI | E-Mini S&P 500 Industrial Sector |
| XAB | E-Mini S&P 500 Materials Sector |
| XAK | E-Mini S&P 500 Technology Sector |
| XAU | E-Mini S&P 500 Utilities Sector |
| XAP | E-Mini S&P 500 Consumer Staples Sector |
| XAY | E-Mini S&P 500 Consumer Discretion |
| Currency — $1.60 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| AD | Australian Dollar |
| BR | Brazilian Real |
| BP | British Pound |
| CD | Canadian Dollar |
| EC | Euro FX |
| JY | Japanese Yen |
| MP1 | Mexican Peso |
| NE1 | New Zealand |
| RA | South America Rand |
| RF | Euro/CHF Futures |
| RP | EUR/GBP Futures |
| RU | Russian Ruble |
| RY | EUR/JPY Futures |
| SF | Swiss Franc |
| Commodities — $2.03 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| LC | Live Cattle |
| FC | Feeder Cattle |
| LH | Lean Hogs |
| PB | Frozen Pork Bellies |
| CB | Butter Cash Settled |
| DA | Milk Class III |
| LB | Random Length Lumber |
| DY | Dry Whey |
| Interest Rate — $1.25 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| ED | Eurodollar |
| EM | 1-Month Eurodollar (LIBOR) |
| Nikkei - $2.28 per side, per contract | |
| NIY | Nikkei 225 (YEN) |
| NY | Nikkei 225 (USD) |
| E-Mini Currency — $0.85 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| E7 | E-mini Euro FX |
| J7 | E-mini Japanese Yen |
| E-Micro Currency — $0.16 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| M6A | E-micro AUD/USD |
| M6B | E-micro GBP/USD |
| M6C | E-micro USD/CAD |
| M6E | E-micro EUR/USD |
| M6J | E-micro USD/JPY |
| M6S | E-micro USD/CHF |
| Eurex Interest Rate — €0.20 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| FGBS | Euro-Schatz Futures |
| FGBM | Euro-Bobl Futures |
| FGBL | Euro-Bund Futures |
| FGBX | Euro-Buxl® Futures |
| FBTS | Short-term Euro-BTP Futures |
| FBTP | Euro BTP Futures |
| Eurex DAX — €0.50 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| FDAX | DAX® Futures |
| Eurex Volitility Index — €0.20 per side, per contract | |
| FVS | VSTOXX Mini Futures |
| Eurex Equity Index — €0.30 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| FESX | DJ EURO STOXX® 50 Index Futures |
| FSTX | DJ STOXX® 50 Index Futures |
| F2LA | DJ STOXX® Large 200 Index Futures |
| F2MI | DJ STOXX® Mid 200 Index Futures |
| F2SM | DJ STOXX® Small 200 Index Futures |
| F2MX | MDAX® Futures |
| FSTB | DJ STOXX® 600 Banks Futures |
| FSTG | DJ STOXX® 600 Industrial Goods & Services Futures |
| FSTI | DJ STOXX® 600 Insurance Futures |
| FSTM | DJ STOXX® 600 Media Futures |
| FSTZ | DJ STOXX® 600 Personal & Household Goods Futures |
| FSTV | DJ STOXX® 600 Travel & Leisure Futures |
| FSTU | DJ STOXX® 600 Utilities Futures |
| FTDX | TecDAX Futures |
| LIFFE Commodities — £ 0.53 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| CC3 | London Cocoa Futures |
| RC | London Robusta Coffee Futures |
| LIFFE Interest Rates — £ 0.28 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| LT2 | Three Month Euro (EURIBOR) Interest Rate Futures |
| LL | Three Month Sterling (Short Sterling) Interest Rate Futures |
| LF2 | Three Month Euro Swiss Franc Interest Rate Futures |
| LIFFE Fixed Income — £ 0.23 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| LI | Long Gilt Futures |
| H | Medium Gilt Futures |
| G | Short Gilt Futures |
| LIFFE Fixed Income JPY — ¥ 144 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| JGB | Japanese Government Bond (JGB) Futures |
| ICE US Currencies — $0.94 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| EO | Euro-U.S. Dollar |
| EJ | Euro-Jananese Yen |
| GB | Euro-Pounds Sterling |
| SY | Pounds Sterling-Japanese Yen |
| MP2 | British Pound-U.S. Dollar |
| ICE US NYBOT Softs — $2.00 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| CC | Cocoa |
| KC | Coffee "C" |
| SB | Sugar No. 11 |
| SE | Sugar No. 14 |
| OJ | FCOJ-A |
| CT | Cotton No. 2 |
| ICE US Indices — $1.35 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| DX | U.S. Dollar Index |
| CCI | Continuous Commodity Index |
| CR | Rueters Jeffries CRB Index |
| ICE US Russell index — $1.14 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| RF2 | Russell 1000 Index (Mini Size) |
| TF | Russell 2000 Index (Mini Size) |
| ICE Europe Energy — $0.82 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| BRN | Brent Crude Oil |
| GAS | Gasoil |
| WBS | WTI Light Sweet Crude Oil |
| UHO | Heating Oil |
| UHU | RBOB Gasoline |
| Commodities — $1.89 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| KW | KW Wheat |
| NYMEX e_miNY Energy — $1.20 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| QM | E-mini Crude Oil Futures |
| QH | E-mini Heating Oil Futures |
| QU | E-mini Gasoline Futures |
| NYMEX Energy Physically Delivered — $1.45 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| CL | Light Sweet Crude Oil (Physical) |
| NG | Natural Gas (Physical) |
| HO | Heating Oil (Physical) |
| RB | RBOB Gasoline (Physical) |
| NYMEX Softs — $1.45 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| CJ | NYMEX Cocoa |
| KT | NYMEX Coffee |
| TT | NYMEX Cotton |
| YO | NYMEX Sugar No. 11 |
| NYMEX e-miNY Natural Gas — $0.50 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| QN | e-miNY Natural Gas |
| NYMEX Metals — $1.45 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| PL | Platinum |
| PA | Palladium |
| NYMEX Uranium — $1.45 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| UX | Uranium |
| COMEX e-miNY Metals — $0.75 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| QO | e-miNY Gold (COMEX) |
| QC | E-mini Copper Futures |
| COMEX e-miNY Silver — $0.75 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| QI | e-miNY Silver (COMEX) |
| COMEX Metals — $1.45 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| GC | Gold |
| SI | Silver |
| HG | Copper |
| Mini Metals — $0.50 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| YG | E-mini Gold |
| YI | E-mini Silver |
| MSCI Indices — $0.91 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| MFS | mini MSCI EAFE Index Futures |
| MME | mini MSCI Emerging Markets Index Futures |
| Metals — $0.55 per side, per contract | |
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| ZG | 100 oz. Gold |
| ZI | 5000 oz. Silver |
A data fee is a flat fee charged by the exchange for streaming real-time market data to the trader. Data fees are charged on a periodic basis and varies depending on the type of exchange and type of trader. For example, data fees for the CME Globex are $85 monthly per-market for professional traders and $15 monthly per-market for non-professional traders. CLICK HERE to Learn More about CME Market Data Fees.
| Exchange Group | Description | Monthly Fee |
|---|---|---|
| CME Market Data | Bundle - All CME Markets | $15.00 (non-pro) |
| CME/Globex | $5.00 (non-pro) | |
| CBOT/Globex | $5.00 (non-pro) | |
| NYMEX/Globex | $5.00 (non-pro) | |
| COMEX/Globex | $5.00 (non-pro) | |
| ICE Market Data | ICE - US Exchange - TF, DX | $117.00 |
| ICE - UK Exchange - Energies | $117.00 | |
| ICE-LIFFE Exchange - FTSE, Gilt, Short Sterling | $117.00 | |
| CFE/CBOE Data | CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) | $13.00 (non-pro) |
| Foreign Exchange (Non-US) | EUREX | non-pro | 18.00 EUR |
| Osaka - Japan (JPX) | 29.00 USD | |
| Singapore (SGX) | 80.00 USD | |
| Sydney Futures Exchange (SFE) | 67.00 USD | |
| Euronext Equities & Index Derivative - CAC - 40 | ||
| Cash Index Data | $SP500 | 90.00 USD |
| $DOW, ^TICK, ^TRIN, ^ADV, ^DECL, NYSE Internals, Dow Jones Indexes | 6.00 USD | |
| NASDAQ Indexes | 8.00 USD | Misc | Additional User | Multiple users/logins | 10.00 USD |
Request a Custom Commission Quote or let us Beat your Current Commission Rates and find out EXACTLY how much you pay to trade futures. We will provide you an all-inclusive rate with all possible fees factored into the total - Exchange, Clearing, NFA, Platform Routing Connectivity and Commissions. Watch this short demo to see how your personal trading style (markets traded, trading volume and trading platform) impacts your commissions.
Our custom commission quote will show you:
Or feel free to contact us right now at (800) 771-6748 for an instant quote.
Commission Rates above are quoted on a per-side basis for new self-directed accounts opened after March 1st, 2017, with a minimum account balance of $2,500. Commissions, Clearing, Exchange and NFA fees apply to all order types. Exchange fees and NFA fees are subject to change and can be confirmed on the exchange websites. Holding Overnight positions MAY subject you to higher rates. All commissions and fees are charged in the currency of the traded product. Please reference our Fee Schedule for additional fees that may apply to your account.
Discounted commissions are not automatically applied to any account and do not automatically adjust based on monthly volume. You must contact us to request any rate changes. No rebates will be issued for past activity. All commissions are subject to ongoing review and may be increased if clients fail to meet the volume requirements listed above.
Non-Professional Subscriber Fees. Please CLICK HERE for Important CME Market Data Changes as of March 1, 2014.
The margin rates above was drawn from sources believed to be reliable. Although it is believed that information provided is accurate, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of this data. For current margin rates, please visit the exchanges’ Websites listed on our Exchange Access Page. The margins listed on this page are for informational purposes only and are subject to change at any time without notice. Day Trading Margins may differ according to your clearing firm. Please consult your broker to confirm the current margins for your account.
Futures and options trading involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. Clients may lose more than their initial investment. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
This matter should be viewed as a solicitation to trade. Trading futures and options involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. The risk of loss in trading commodity interests can be substantial. You should therefore carefully consider whether such trading is suitable for you in light of your financial condition. The placement of contingent orders by you or broker, or trading advisor, such as a “stop-loss” or “stop-limit” order, will not necessarily limit your losses to the intended amounts, since market conditions may make it impossible to execute such orders. The high degree of leverage that is often obtainable in commodity interest trading can work against you as well as for you. The use of leverage can lead to large losses as well as gains. Optimus Futures, LLC is not affiliated with nor does it endorse any trading system, methodologies, newsletter or other similar service. We urge you to conduct your own due diligence.