LemonTrades
TL;DR
- Yes. FINRA’s pattern day trader rule ended on June 4, 2026, so Robinhood no longer limits day trades or requires $25,000 in a margin account.
- The $2,000 minimum for margin still applies, and your equity has to cover your positions throughout the day.
- In a cash account, you can only trade with money that has settled, which takes one business day after a sale.
- LemonTrades tells you what moved your market, and why, within seconds, the news a day trader needs.
For years, small accounts were limited to three day trades in five days. That’s over. Here’s how it works now.
| Before June 4, 2026 | Now | |
|---|---|---|
| Day trades in a margin account | 3 in 5 days under $25,000 | No limit |
| Minimum to day trade with margin | $25,000 | $2,000 |
| What Robinhood checks | A count of your day trades | Your equity against your positions, in real time |
| If you break the rule | A day trade call or a 90-day limit | An intraday margin deficit |
How intraday margin works
Under the new standard, Robinhood must make sure you hold enough equity for your open positions at every moment of the day, not only at the close. It has a maintenance requirement for each position, and it watches your account in real time. If your equity falls below that requirement, you have an intraday margin deficit. Robinhood says it monitors accounts to stop activity from creating or increasing a deficit, so a big loss can block new trades when you most want to act. Positions can also be sold to cover it.
Day trading in a cash account
- The pattern day trader rule never applied to cash accounts.
- You can only use settled money. Stock sales settle in one business day.
- Buying with unsettled money and selling before it settles can break the rules, and repeat violations can limit your account.
- You can’t lose more than you put in, which makes it the safer way to start.
What you can day trade on Robinhood
US stocks and ETFs, options and crypto. Robinhood’s rules can differ by product and change over time, so check its help page before you rely on any detail. Its 24-hour market lets you trade many stocks through the night on weekdays, though spreads can be wider. For comparison, see how to buy Tesla on Robinhood.
Should you?
No more limits doesn’t mean better odds. Most day traders lose money, and fast trading adds costs: wider spreads and taxes at ordinary income rates on short-term gains. Read is day trading worth it first, and practice with paper trading before using real money. Basics: what day trading is.
Sources
Education, not financial advice. All investing involves risk, including the loss of your money. See our disclaimer.
