E-mini S&P 500 Futures (September 2026) (ESU6) Options Chain

The options chain displays all available contracts with real-time quotes, Greeks, volume, and open interest for each strike and expiration. It is the primary tool for options trade selection.

E-mini S&P 500 Futures (September 2026) (ESU6) operates in the Equity Index Futures sector, specifically the Equity Index Futures industry, listed on CME. E-mini S&P 500 Futures September 2026 contract: CME E-mini S&P 500 futures (ES): the most liquid US equity index futures contract, tracking the S&P 500 index.

Snapshot as of Jul 16, 2026.

Spot Price

$7573.75

Total OI

3.3M

Total Volume

1.3M

Front Expiration

29 days

Second Expiration

32 days

ATM IV

13.2%

Avg Bid/Ask Spread

13.23%

As of Jul 16, 2026, E-mini S&P 500 Futures (September 2026) (ESU6) has 3.3M open contracts and 1.3M contracts traded. The nearest expiration is 29 days out, followed by 32 days. ATM implied volatility is 13.2%. Average bid/ask spread across the chain is 13.23%: wider spreads, size positions conservatively. The options chain aggregates every listed strike and expiration, letting traders evaluate skew, term structure, and liquidity in a single view.

How ESU6 options chain Data Feeds Strategy Selection

Strategy selection on E-mini S&P 500 Futures (September 2026) options does not derive from any single metric in isolation. The options chain view above sits inside a broader read: ATM IV currently sits at 13.2% and dealer gamma exposure is negative, so dealer hedging amplifies directional moves. Combine the options chain data here with the volatility-skew surface, dealer-gamma exposure, max-pain level, and upcoming-events calendar to build a positioning thesis. Risk-defined structures (credit spreads, debit spreads, iron condors) are usually safer than naked positions while the regime is uncertain; the data on this page anchors the inputs but does not by itself constitute a trade thesis.

How to read the ESU6 chain depth

The listed-expirations table above shows every expiration available for E-mini S&P 500 Futures (September 2026) options with its days-to-expiration count and ATM implied volatility. Front-month expirations carry the most volume, the highest gamma, and the tightest bid-ask spreads; longer-dated tenors carry less liquidity but more vega exposure. ESU6 front expiration sits at 29 days - the typical hedging horizon for monthly options. The backwardated slope of -0.002 means near-dated IV is pricing acute event risk.

ESU6 chain mechanics and execution

Options are listed at standardized strike intervals (typically $1 for sub-$25 underlyings, $2.50-$5 for mid-cap, $10-$50 for large-cap), and the deltas of each listed strike are determined by where IV lies relative to the strike's moneyness. Average bid/ask spread on the ESU6 chain is 13.23% - a measure of liquidity. Tighter spreads on liquid strikes mean lower transaction costs; wider spreads on long-dated or far-OTM strikes mean execution drag can dominate the math. The chain table on the SPA side shows the full per-strike, per-expiration grid; this SSR page summarizes the listed expirations and the front-month context to anchor the structural read.

Using the ESU6 chain to build structures

Strategy selection starts with the chain: directional theses use single-leg calls or puts, range-bound theses use credit spreads or iron condors, vol theses use straddles or strangles, calendar theses use diagonal spreads. ESU6's current 3.78% expected move anchors wing placement - structures with wings at the implied band collect the modal-outcome premium under lognormal assumptions. Cross-reference with the gamma-exposure profile to understand where dealer hedging will reinforce or fight your position, and with the volatility-skew chart to confirm the strikes you're trading sit at the IV levels your strategy assumes.

Learn how the options chain is reported and how to read the data →

ESU6 listed expirations

Per-expiration ATM implied volatility for ESU6 options. Each row is one listed expiration with its days-to-expiration count and ATM IV pulled from the same term-structure feed that powers the SPA's expiration filter. Front-month expirations carry the highest gamma, the tightest bid-ask spreads, and the most volume; longer-dated tenors carry less liquidity but more vega.

Frequently asked ESU6 options chain questions

What does the ESU6 options chain show right now?

As of Jul 16, 2026, E-mini S&P 500 Futures (September 2026) (ESU6) has 3.3M contracts outstanding and 1.3M traded today, with ATM IV of 13.2%. The full chain spans every listed strike and expiration with bid/ask, Greeks, volume, and open interest per contract.

What expirations are available for ESU6 options?

The nearest expiration is 29 days out, followed by 32 days. Listed expirations typically extend monthly with weeklies between, plus LEAPS one to two years out for liquid names.

How tight are ESU6 options bid/ask spreads?

Average bid/ask spread across the chain is 13.23%. Wider spreads warrant conservative sizing; mid-market fills are unreliable for retail-size orders.