Futures Trading Costs Explained

Adding up what a round turn actually costs is a practical exercise worth doing before placing a first futures order, because transaction costs affect every trade regardless of its outcome. Futures trading costs are made up of several components: the broker's commission, regulatory fees, exchange fees, and any account-level charges. Futures trading involves the risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor. This guide sets out each component on the Plus500 (LON:PLUSP) platform, explains which items carry no charge, and shows how the pieces combine on a single trade.

TL;DR

• Plus500 is not a commission-free broker; commissions are charged per side.
• Standard contract commission is $0.89 per side and micro contract commission is $0.49 per side.
• An NFA regulatory fee of $0.02 per side per contract applies to futures, plus exchange fees as applicable.
• There are no platform fees, market data fees, inactivity fees, routing fees or deposit fees.
• Withdrawals are charged at 1.75% of the requested amount, with a $1 minimum and a $150 maximum.

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What Are the Published Commissions?

Commission is charged per side, which means once when you enter a position and once when you exit. A round turn therefore involves two commission charges.

Commissions are stated per side and do not include exchange and NFA fees as applicable. NFA fees apply only to futures contracts.

Which Regulatory and Exchange Fees Apply?

Two additional cost layers sit outside the broker's commission, and both are standard across the industry rather than specific to one platform.

• NFA regulatory fee: $0.02 per side and per contract on futures.
• Exchange execution and clearing fees for non-members, set by the exchange and applied as relevant to the contract traded.

Because these are set externally, they apply in addition to commission and should be included in any cost estimate for a round turn.

What Is Not Charged?

Several charges common elsewhere do not apply, which is worth noting when comparing total cost of ownership rather than commission alone.

• No platform fees
• No market data fees
• No inactivity fees
• No routing fees
• No deposit processing fees

Free live charts and real-time market data are included, so following the market does not carry a separate subscription cost.

How Do the Components Combine on a Single Trade?

Working through the structure once makes the arithmetic clear. Consider one micro contract, opened and closed.

• Entry commission: $0.49 for a micro contract.
• Exit commission: $0.49, since commission is charged per side.
• NFA regulatory fee: $0.02 per side, per contract.
• Exchange execution and clearing fees, as applicable to that contract for non-members.

The same structure applies to standard contracts at $0.89 per side. Trading more contracts multiplies each per-contract component accordingly. Additional fees may apply, and the full schedule is on the Fees & Charges page.

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How Does Margin Differ From a Cost?

Margin is frequently mistaken for a fee, and separating the two prevents confusion when reviewing an account.

Day trading margin is described as the initial amount of money needed to open a futures order position. It is capital committed against the position rather than money paid away, and it is released when the position is closed. Published examples include $50 for the Micro E-mini S&P 500 and $1,250 for Gold. Margin rates may not be reflected in real time. Please visit the platform for current rates.

Commission, by contrast, is paid on entry and again on exit, and it is not returned.

What Funding and Withdrawal Charges Apply?

Account-level charges are separate from trading costs and apply to moving money rather than to positions.

• Deposits: no processing fees are charged. Supported methods include debit cards, bank transfer, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) Pay and Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Pay, with a minimum deposit of $10. Prepaid and credit cards are not accepted.
• Withdrawals: 1.75% of the requested withdrawal amount for all payment methods, with a $1 minimum and a $150 maximum.
• Funds in transit: settlement can take up to three business days, during which funds are tradable but not withdrawable.

Account eligibility depends on residency, verification and other requirements.

Why Do Costs Matter More on Shorter Holding Periods?

Transaction (JO:NTUJ) costs are fixed per contract per side, so they represent a larger share of the result on trades with narrow targets.

A trader aiming to capture a few ticks pays the same commission as one holding for a larger move, which means cost awareness matters most for high-frequency approaches. Sizing, contract choice between micro and standard, and the number of round turns per session all feed into total cost. Practicing in demo mode with real-time quotes is one way to see how frequently a given approach would generate charges.

Why Consider Plus500?

• Futures and Prediction Markets in one platform
• Transparent fees
• Regulated by the CFTC and NFA
• Unlimited demo mode
• Published per-contract commissions with no platform or market data fees
• A free trading academy (Educational resources and news)
• Micro contracts at lower per-side commission than standard contracts

Key Takeaways

• Commission is charged per side: $0.89 for standard contracts and $0.49 for micro contracts.
• NFA fees of $0.02 per side per contract and exchange fees apply in addition.
• Platform, data, inactivity, routing and deposit fees are not charged.
• Withdrawals cost 1.75% of the amount requested, subject to a $1 minimum and $150 maximum.
• Margin is committed capital, not a cost, and is distinct from commission.

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 FAQs

Is Plus500 a Commission-Free Broker?

No. Commissions are charged per side, at $0.89 per standard contract and $0.49 per micro contract, with NFA and exchange fees applying in addition.

What Does "Per Side" Mean?

It means commission is charged when the position is opened and again when it is closed, so a round turn incurs two charges.

Are There Any Market Data Charges?

No. Live charts and real-time market data carry no fees, and no platform fee applies either.

How Much Does It Cost to Withdraw Funds?

Withdrawals are charged at 1.75% of the requested amount for all payment methods, with a minimum of $1 and a maximum of $150.

Is Margin a Fee?

No. Day trading margin is the initial amount needed to open a position. It is capital committed against the position, not a charge paid away.