What are E-mini S&P 500 futures?

E-mini S&P 500 futures are traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) and allow traders to gain exposure to the S&P 500 index, a widely recognized barometer of the U.S. stock market. Representing one-fifth of the standard S&P 500 futures contract, E-mini S&P 500 futures make futures trading more accessible to more traders, and have been a success ever since their introduction in 1997. More recently, Micro E-mini S&P 500 futures have been introduced. Though there are now several E-mini contracts available across a variety of indexes, E-mini S&P 500 futures still account for the vast majority of all U.S. stock index futures trading.

Start trading E-mini S&P 500 futures for just $2.25 per contract pricing.

How to trade E-mini S&P 500 futures

E-mini S&P 500 futures represent one-fifth of the standard S&P 500 futures contract. E-mini S&P 500 futures trade electronically nearly 24 hours per day on the CME Globex® trading platform, on a quarterly cycle.

E-mini S&P 500 futures contract specifications

Considering trading E-mini S&P 500 futures? Here are the E-mini S&P 500 futures contract specifications.

E-mini S&P 500 futures contract specifications.
Exchange Chicago Mercantile Exchange, ES
Contract Size $50 x the S&P 500 Index (Micro E-mini S&P 500 contracts also available)  
Minimum Tick Size and Value 0.25, worth $12.50 per contract.
Trading Times E-mini S&P 500 futures trade on the CME Globex® trading platform, from 6:00 p.m. U.S. ET all the way until 5:00 p.m. U.S. ET the following afternoon.
Principal Trading Months E-mini S&P 500 futures trade on a quarterly cycle. Trading months include March, June, September, and December.

At Schwab, you also get access to advanced trading platforms and education, where you can take advantage of market research, real-time E-Mini S&P 500 futures quotes, and other specialized tools.

Why trade E-mini S&P 500 futures?

E-Mini S&P 500 futures provide investors and traders with an efficient way to gain speculative exposure to the U.S. stock market, or they may be used to hedge stock portfolios against overall market risk. Mini S&P 500 futures may also be spread against other popular stock index futures, like Dow futures, or against futures on individual stocks.

It is important to understand the benefits and risks involved with E-Mini S&P 500 futures before placing a futures trade. Compared to traditional investments, with E-Mini S&P 500 futures you can trade nearly 24 hours a day during the trading week and take advantage of trading opportunities regardless of market direction. E-Mini S&P 500 futures also provide the ability to trade with greater leverage and allow a more efficient use of trading capital. However, trading leveraged products like E-Mini S&P 500 futures also involves the risk that losses can exceed the amount originally invested and may not be suitable for all investors.

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About CME E-mini S&P 500 futures

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