The Fidelity Trading Fee Calculator helps investors estimate the various costs associated with trading on the Fidelity platform, including $0 commissions on stocks/ETFs, SEC regulatory fees, FINRA TAF on sell orders, and options contract charges.
Even with commission-free trading in 2026, regulatory fees still apply.
For example, selling $10,000 worth of stock (100 shares) incurs approximately $0.29 in total regulatory fees.
Understanding Fidelity's Fee Structure in 2026
Fidelity offers $0 commissions on U.S. stock and ETF trades, but several regulatory and product-specific fees still apply.
Understanding these fees helps you accurately estimate your true trading costs:
- SEC Fee (Sell Orders Only): A regulatory fee on the total principal value of securities sold, charged by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Current rate: $27.80 per $1,000,000 of principal (0.00278%).
- FINRA TAF (Stock/ETF Sells Only): The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Trading Activity Fee, applied per share for stock and ETF sales. Rate: $0.000166 per share, capped at $8.30 per trade.
- Options Contract Fee: A per-contract fee for all options trades (both buys and sells). Rate: $0.65 per contract at Fidelity.
- Mutual Fund Commission: A flat $49.95 fee per transaction for non-NTF mutual funds. NTF funds trade commission-free.
Worked Example: Selling $10,000 of Stock
An investor sells $10,000 worth of stock (100 shares at $100/share) through Fidelity.
Since this is a sell order for stocks, both regulatory fees apply.
Step-by-step calculation:
- Commission: $0.00 (Fidelity offers $0 commission on stocks/ETFs)
- SEC Fee: $10,000 x ($27.80 / $1,000,000) = $10,000 x 0.0000278 = $0.2780
- FINRA TAF: 100 shares x $0.000166/share = $0.0166
- Options Contract Fee: Not applicable for stock trades = $0.00
- Total Fees: $0.2780 + $0.0166 = $0.2946
- Net Proceeds: $10,000 - $0.2946 = $9,999.71
- Fee as % of Trade: ($0.2946 / $10,000) x 100 = 0.0029%
The total regulatory fees for this $10,000 stock sale are just $0.29, demonstrating how minimal these costs are for standard stock trades at Fidelity.
When Fees Matter Most: Options and Mutual Funds
While stock and ETF regulatory fees are negligible, other asset types carry more significant costs:
Options Example: Buying 20 contracts at $5.00 per contract ($10,000 total trade value):
- Options contract fee: 20 x $0.65 = $13.00
- Total fee as percentage: 0.13% of trade value
Mutual Fund Example: Buying $10,000 of a non-NTF mutual fund:
- Commission: $49.95 flat fee
- Total fee as percentage: 0.50% of trade value
These examples show why asset type selection significantly impacts total trading costs.
Active options traders making 10 trades per week at 20 contracts each would pay $6,760 annually in contract fees alone.
Hidden Costs Beyond Direct Trading Fees
Beyond the direct regulatory fees that this calculator estimates, investors should be aware of additional costs that can impact returns:
- Expense Ratios: Mutual funds and ETFs charge annual expense ratios (typically 0.03% to 1.5%) that are deducted from fund assets. A $100,000 portfolio in a fund with a 0.50% expense ratio costs $500/year.
- Bid-Ask Spread: The difference between buy and sell prices is an implicit cost not shown as a fee. Thinly traded stocks or options can have spreads of 1% or more.
- Payment for Order Flow: While not a direct fee, some brokers route orders to market makers who may not provide the best execution price.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: Trading international securities may incur additional charges.
Comparing Major Brokerage Fee Structures in 2026
Most major brokers now offer $0 commissions on U.S. stocks and ETFs.
Key differences emerge in options and mutual fund pricing:
| Feature | Fidelity | Schwab | E*TRADE | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock/ETF Commission | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Options (per contract) | $0.65 | $0.65 | $0.65 | $0 |
| Mutual Fund (non-NTF) | $49.95 | $49.95 | $19.99 | N/A |
| SEC/FINRA Fees | Passed through | Passed through | Passed through | Passed through |
All brokers pass through SEC and FINRA regulatory fees on sell orders.
The primary differentiators are options contract fees and mutual fund transaction costs.
