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Best Stocks for Options Trading 2026: Top 10
The 10 stocks with the most liquid options, ranked by average daily option volume, with the at-the-money spread, the cash to cover 100 shares and the strategies each one suits.
On this page
- The short answer
- The full ranking
- Most-traded options stocks, live
- What Makes a Stock Good for Options Trading?
- Most Active Stock Options in 2026: Top 10 by Volume
- Why the Spread Matters More Than the Volume
- Which Stock Fits Which Strategy
- Do Stocks Have Daily Options?
- How to Check a Stock's Options Liquidity Yourself
- Questions
- Keep reading
The short answer
The best stocks for options trading are the ones where options change hands in size: heavy daily volume, spreads of a few cents at the money, and new expirations every few days.
On this page, IV means implied volatility, the yearly move the options market is pricing in. IV percentile shows where today's IV sits against the past year, from 0 (lowest) to 100 (highest). ETFs such as SPY and QQQ trade even more options, and have their own ranking.
Over the 20 trading sessions to September 28, 2026, NVDA averaged about 2.9 million option contracts a day and TSLA about 2.5 million, the two most traded stock options markets. The ten most active stocks together averaged about 12.2 million a day.
Ranked at a glance
10 picks,
in order.
Ranked by average daily option volume over the last 20 trading sessions (ORATS data to September 28, 2026), screened from 65 of the most active optionable stocks. ETFs are left out. Spreads are closing at-the-money quotes on September 28 for the October 16 expiry.
| Rank | Name | Key stat | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NVDA (NVIDIA) | IV percentile 28 (IV 41.4%) | The most traded single-stock options market, at about 2.9 million contracts a day. At-the-money spreads are 10 to 15 cents on an option worth about $7. |
| 2 | TSLA (Tesla) | IV percentile 11 (IV 39.0%) | A close second by volume, at about 2.5 million contracts a day. Its IV usually runs well above the other mega caps, so each contract carries more premium. |
| 3 | AAPL (Apple Inc.) | IV percentile 46 (IV 27.1%) | The third busiest stock options market, at about 1.6 million contracts a day, and usually the calmest of the ten. A common first stock for options traders. |
| 4 | META (Meta Platforms) | IV percentile 88 (IV 39.0%) | About 1 million contracts a day. A high share price means large premiums per contract, and spreads that are wider in dollars than the cheaper names. |
| 5 | MU (Micron Technology) | IV percentile 8 (IV 52.6%) | About 930,000 contracts a day, and the tightest spread on this list for its price: 15 cents on an option worth about $60. |
| 6 | INTC (Intel) | IV percentile 21 (IV 66.3%) | About 910,000 contracts a day at the lowest share price on this list, so it is the easiest of the ten to own 100 shares of. |
| 7 | AMZN (Amazon) | IV percentile 95 (IV 44.7%) | About 740,000 contracts a day, with spreads of 10 to 15 cents at the money and IV that usually sits between AAPL and TSLA. |
| 8 | AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) | IV percentile 35 (IV 61.0%) | About 590,000 contracts a day. High IV and a high share price make each contract expensive, with spreads of about 40 to 45 cents at the money. |
| 9 | GOOGL (Alphabet) | IV percentile 72 (IV 38.4%) | About 510,000 contracts a day. Liquid, but the widest spread on this list relative to the option price: 35 cents on an option worth about $9. |
| 10 | MSFT (Microsoft) | IV percentile 69 (IV 33.1%) | About 500,000 contracts a day, with lower IV than most of the list and a steadier price, which makes it a covered-call standard. |
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NVDA (NVIDIA) Top pick
The most traded single-stock options market, at about 2.9 million contracts a day. At-the-money spreads are 10 to 15 cents on an option worth about $7.
IV percentile 28 (IV 41.4%), measured 2026-10-26
Ideal for Short-term directional trades and spreads where fill quality matters most
Pros Most traded options of any stock on this list; At-the-money spreads of 10 to 15 cents; Strikes every $2.50 near the money; Expirations on Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Cons Earnings moves can run straight through short strikes; About $22,900 to cover 100 shares (September 28 close)
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TSLA (Tesla)
A close second by volume, at about 2.5 million contracts a day. Its IV usually runs well above the other mega caps, so each contract carries more premium.
IV percentile 11 (IV 39.0%), measured 2026-10-26
Ideal for Premium sellers who size for big moves, and short-dated directional trades
Pros About 2.5 million contracts a day; Higher IV than most large stocks, so bigger premiums; At-the-money spreads of about 15 cents; Expirations on Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Cons Large overnight gaps on news; About $35,800 to cover 100 shares
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AAPL (Apple Inc.)
The third busiest stock options market, at about 1.6 million contracts a day, and usually the calmest of the ten. A common first stock for options traders.
IV percentile 46 (IV 27.1%), measured 2026-10-26
Ideal for Covered calls, spreads and a first options trade
Pros About 1.6 million contracts a day; Usually the lowest IV on this list, so steadier prices; At-the-money spreads of about 20 cents; Strikes every $2.50 near the money
Cons Smaller premiums than the higher-IV names; About $33,800 to cover 100 shares
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META (Meta Platforms)
About 1 million contracts a day. A high share price means large premiums per contract, and spreads that are wider in dollars than the cheaper names.
IV percentile 88 (IV 39.0%), measured 2026-10-26
Ideal for Defined-risk spreads and earnings trades
Pros About 1 million contracts a day; Large premium per contract; Strikes every $2.50 near the money
Cons At-the-money spreads of 45 to 60 cents, about 2% of the option price; About $71,800 to cover 100 shares, too much for most cash-secured puts
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MU (Micron Technology)
About 930,000 contracts a day, and the tightest spread on this list for its price: 15 cents on an option worth about $60.
IV percentile 8 (IV 52.6%), measured 2026-10-26
Ideal for Spreads and short-dated trades on a large account
Pros Spread of about 0.25% of the option price at the money; IV usually high for a large company, so big premiums; Expirations on Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Cons Over $1,000 a share: about $105,300 to cover 100 shares; The memory-chip cycle makes big swings common
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INTC (Intel)
About 910,000 contracts a day at the lowest share price on this list, so it is the easiest of the ten to own 100 shares of.
IV percentile 21 (IV 66.3%), measured 2026-10-26
Ideal for Wheel and covered calls on a mid-size account
Pros Cheapest of the ten: about $11,600 to cover 100 shares; At-the-money spreads of about 10 cents; Strikes every $1 near the money
Cons IV usually high, so moves can be sharp; News about the turnaround moves the stock hard
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AMZN (Amazon)
About 740,000 contracts a day, with spreads of 10 to 15 cents at the money and IV that usually sits between AAPL and TSLA.
IV percentile 95 (IV 44.7%), measured 2026-10-26
Ideal for Covered calls and spreads
Pros At-the-money spreads of 10 to 15 cents; Middle-of-the-range IV; Strikes every $2.50 near the money
Cons Earnings gaps; About $24,600 to cover 100 shares
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AMD (Advanced Micro Devices)
About 590,000 contracts a day. High IV and a high share price make each contract expensive, with spreads of about 40 to 45 cents at the money.
IV percentile 35 (IV 61.0%), measured 2026-10-26
Ideal for Spreads that sell rich premium with defined risk
Pros High IV, so large premiums; About 590,000 contracts a day; Expirations on Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Cons About $60,700 to cover 100 shares; Strikes every $5 near the money, so fewer choices
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GOOGL (Alphabet)
About 510,000 contracts a day. Liquid, but the widest spread on this list relative to the option price: 35 cents on an option worth about $9.
IV percentile 72 (IV 38.4%), measured 2026-10-26
Ideal for Covered calls and longer-dated trades where you trade less often
Pros About 510,000 contracts a day; IV usually moderate; Strikes every $2.50 near the money
Cons At-the-money spreads near 4% of the option price; About $34,200 to cover 100 shares
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MSFT (Microsoft)
About 500,000 contracts a day, with lower IV than most of the list and a steadier price, which makes it a covered-call standard.
IV percentile 69 (IV 33.1%), measured 2026-10-26
Ideal for Covered calls on a large account
Pros Steadier price and lower IV; About 500,000 contracts a day; Expirations on Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Cons At-the-money spreads of 40 to 50 cents, 3 to 4% of the option price; About $50,900 to cover 100 shares
Live data, refreshed October 27, 2026. October 2026 data refresh: AAPL IV percentile 18→46, META IV percentile 79→88, INTC IV percentile 29→21, AMZN IV percentile 65→95, GOOGL IV percentile 58→72, MSFT IV percentile 60→69.
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Most-traded options stocks, live
Live, as of 27 Oct 2026, 16:27 UTC| Ticker | Price | Avg opt vol | IV30 | IV %ile (1y) | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NVDA | $216.00 | 2,659,467 | 40.1% | 22 | — |
| TSLA | $391.62 | 2,046,962 | 38.0% | 8 | — |
| AAPL | $343.91 | 1,279,754 | 25.8% | 31 | — |
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What Makes a Stock Good for Options Trading?
The best stocks for options trading are the ones where options change hands in size. That shows up in four places:
- Volume: hundreds of thousands of contracts a day, so there is always someone on the other side of your order.
- Spread: the gap between the bid and the ask at the money. This is what you pay every time you trade, so a few cents matters.
- Expirations: the ten stocks below list options expiring on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, not only Fridays, so you can pick your timing closely.
- Strikes: strikes every $1 to $5 near the share price, so you can place a trade where you want it.
IV (implied volatility, the yearly move the options market is pricing in) decides what kind of trade suits each stock. It does not decide whether the stock is good to trade: a liquid low-IV stock is still easy to trade, it just pays less premium.
Most Active Stock Options in 2026: Top 10 by Volume
Average daily option volume over the 20 trading sessions to September 28, 2026 (ORATS data), with the closing at-the-money call spread on the October 16 expiry and the cash to cover 100 shares at the September 28 close.
| Rank | Stock | Contracts a day | At-the-money spread | Cash per 100 shares |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NVDA | 2.9 million | $0.10 on $7.25 | $22,900 |
| 2 | TSLA | 2.5 million | $0.15 on $13.73 | $35,800 |
| 3 | AAPL | 1.6 million | $0.20 on $7.55 | $33,800 |
| 4 | META | 1.0 million | $0.45 on $24.23 | $71,800 |
| 5 | MU | 930,000 | $0.15 on $60.08 | $105,300 |
| 6 | INTC | 910,000 | $0.10 on $6.60 | $11,600 |
| 7 | AMZN | 740,000 | $0.15 on $7.18 | $24,600 |
| 8 | AMD | 590,000 | $0.45 on $28.58 | $60,700 |
| 9 | GOOGL | 510,000 | $0.35 on $9.28 | $34,200 |
| 10 | MSFT | 500,000 | $0.40 on $12.00 | $50,900 |
Screened from 65 of the most active optionable stocks. ETFs are left out: SPY alone trades more options than any stock, and ETFs have their own ranking.
Why the Spread Matters More Than the Volume
Every stock on this list has plenty of volume. What differs is how much of the option's price you give up to the spread. Buying at the ask and later selling at the bid costs you the full spread on a round trip:
- MU: 15 cents on a $60 option, about 0.25%. $15 per contract.
- NVDA: 10 cents on a $7.25 option, about 1.4%. $10 per contract.
- GOOGL: 35 cents on a $9.28 option, about 3.8%. $35 per contract.
On a trade you open and close several times a month, a 3 to 4% spread adds up fast. On a covered call you sell once and let expire, it barely matters. Use limit orders at or near the mid price on every name here.
Which Stock Fits Which Strategy
- Covered calls and the wheel: AAPL, MSFT and AMZN for steadier prices; INTC if you need to own 100 shares for less. See the covered call and wheel strategy lists.
- Selling premium: TSLA, MU, AMD and INTC usually carry the most IV. Check where today's IV sits against its past year before selling; the IV percentile on each pick above does that. For more names, see high IV stocks.
- Short-dated directional trades: NVDA and TSLA, for the tightest spreads and the deepest same-week chains.
- Small accounts: most of these stocks cost $20,000 or more per 100 shares. Trade defined-risk spreads on them, or use the small-account list.
Do Stocks Have Daily Options?
Not yet. Even NVDA and TSLA list Monday, Wednesday and Friday expirations, not one for every weekday. If you want an option that expires every trading day, you need SPY, QQQ, IWM or index options such as SPX. The options expiration guide lists who has what.
How to Check a Stock's Options Liquidity Yourself
- Open the chain for the expiry you want to trade.
- Look at the strike nearest the share price. A spread under 2% of the option's price is good; over 5% is expensive.
- Check open interest at your strike: a few thousand contracts means other traders are already there.
- Look at the strikes you would actually use, not only the at-the-money one. Spreads widen further from the money.
The options chain in the ApexVol Terminal shows bid, ask, volume and open interest for every strike, on live data.
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Questions
About this ranking.
What is the best stock for options trading?
By volume, NVDA. Over the 20 trading sessions to September 28, 2026 it averaged about 2.9 million option contracts a day, with at-the-money spreads of 10 to 15 cents. TSLA was a close second. For a first trade, AAPL is often easier: lower IV and a steadier price.
Which stocks have the most options volume?
Over the 20 trading sessions to September 28, 2026, NVDA and TSLA led, each averaging more than 2.5 million contracts a day. AAPL, META and MU came next. INTC, AMZN, AMD and GOOGL followed, and MSFT was tenth at about 500,000 a day.
Do stocks have daily options?
No. As of September 2026 none of the ten stocks on this list has an expiration every day. They list Monday, Wednesday and Friday expirations for the next two to three weeks, then Fridays. For an expiration every weekday, use SPY, QQQ or IWM, or index options such as SPX.
Are stocks or ETFs better for options trading?
ETFs such as SPY and QQQ usually have tighter spreads and no earnings report of their own. Stocks carry more premium and react to company news, which is what you want for earnings and single-company trades. Many traders use both.
What is the best stock for options with a small account?
Among these ten, INTC needs the least cash: about $11,600 to secure one put or cover one call at the September 28 close. Below $10,000, look at cheaper names on the small-account list, or trade defined-risk spreads, which need far less cash than the shares.
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