Commissions at Interactive Brokers
If you trade with Interactive Brokers, you may already be aware that the broker has two main pricing plans for clients:
IBKR Lite and
IBKR Pro. Each plan is built for a different type of investor and uses a different commission structure.
Whether you have IBKR Lite or IBKR Pro, you may want to know how to bring down your trading commissions at Interactive Brokers.
We contacted IBKR about reducing our commissions. Keep reading to see what we found out.
Types of Commissions at IBKR
Before getting into whether lower commissions can be negotiated at IBKR, let’s first review the commissions the broker charges.
For this article, we will focus on U.S. commissions because IBKR is a broker with a global presence.
Stocks and ETFs
The commissions you pay for U.S. exchange-listed stocks and ETFs depend on the type of account you have.
IBKR Lite =
$0 for eligible U.S. exchange-listed stocks and ETFs. OTC securities, foreign stocks, de-listed ETPs, warrants, and other non-qualifying products are not part of
the zero-commission plan. For those products, IBKR Lite accounts are generally placed under fixed pricing, which is
$0.005 per share for U.S. stocks and ETFs, with a
$1 minimum per order.
IBKR Pro =
$0.005 per share under the fixed plan, with a
$1 minimum per order. Under tiered pricing, IBKR Pro charges
$0.0005 to $0.0035 per share, with a
$0.35 minimum per order. Tiered IBKR Pro pricing depends on monthly trading volume.
Options
Options commissions at IBKR are charged per contract. For IBKR Pro, options commissions depend on trading volume and the option premium.
IBKR Lite =
$0.65 per contract, with a
$1 minimum per order for the first 1,000 U.S. option contracts traded each month. For U.S. options volume above 1,000 contracts per month, IBKR uses the IBKR Pro U.S. options tiered commission model.
IBKR Pro =
$0.15 to $0.65 per contract, with a
$1 minimum per order.
Futures
Futures commissions are also charged on a per-contract basis. For IBKR Pro, prices also depend on monthly trading volume.
IBKR Lite =
$0.85 per contract for many U.S. dollar-denominated futures and futures options,
$0.25 per contract for many spot-quoted and E-micro futures,
$0.20 to $5.00 per contract for many cryptocurrency futures and futures options,
$0.50 per contract for E-mini FX futures, and
$0.15 per contract for E-micro FX futures.
IBKR Pro =
$0.25 to $0.85 per contract for many U.S. dollar-denominated futures and futures options,
$0.10 to $0.25 per contract for many spot-quoted and E-micro futures,
$0.11 to $5.00 per contract for many cryptocurrency futures and futures options,
$0.15 to $0.50 per contract for E-mini FX futures, and
$0.05 to $0.15 per contract for E-micro FX futures.
Cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrency trades through Paxos or Zero Hash on Interactive Brokers’ platform cost
0.12% to 0.18% of trade value. There is a
$1.75 minimum per order, but the minimum is capped at
1% of trade value.
Here is a quick summary for reference:
Interactive Brokers Promotion
Open IB Account
Are Lower Commissions at Interactive Brokers Possible?
As shown above, Interactive Brokers has a detailed pricing schedule that covers many types of investors.
Because the broker already has a built-in system for lower commissions, attempts to negotiate a separate commission reduction may not go very far. If you have special circumstances that could make your case stronger, your chances of getting better rates could improve.
One important point is that IBKR’s commission-reduction structure is mainly aimed at high-volume traders and larger accounts.
When I contacted the broker to ask for lower commissions, my case was based on being a medium-sized account holder with a record of consistently successful trades. Unfortunately for me, that was not enough to start a serious discussion.
That does not mean a customer-specific commission reduction is impossible, however.
Considerations for Negotiating Commissions
Here are a few steps you can try when making your case.
Age of the Account
If you have had your Interactive Brokers account for more than a year, you may have a better chance of starting a useful conversation about commissions. Brokers generally value long-term customers and may be more willing to work with them.
Account Size
Another factor to think about is the size of your account. As mentioned above, IBKR is already structured to give lower rates to customers with high trading volume. Lower rates are already included in the pricing schedule. Increasing your account balance, even if it does not quite reach the minimum threshold for a price break, may help make your request stronger.
Trading Activity
Trading volume and frequency are also part of IBKR’s commission-reduction structure. Even if you are not trading more than
10,000 options contracts each month, getting a personal commission deal may be possible if your volume is higher than average.
Trading History
The quality of your trading may also help persuade the broker to reduce your trading costs. A consistent trading record that is both predictable and profitable can show the broker that giving you a commission break may make business sense.
Updated on 8/18/2026.
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