E-mini S&P 500 Futures (December 2026) (ESZ6) Options Chain

The options chain displays all available contracts with end-of-day quotes, Greeks, volume, and open interest for each strike and expiration, and streams live quotes for traders who connect a broker. It is the primary tool for options trade selection.

E-mini S&P 500 Futures (December 2026) (ESZ6) operates in the Equity Index Futures sector, specifically the Equity Index Futures industry, listed on CME. E-mini S&P 500 Futures December 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 Oct 15, 2026.

Spot Price
$7793.50
Total OI
3.6M
Total Volume
1.7M
Front Expiration
29 days
Second Expiration
32 days
ATM IV
12.4%
Avg Bid/Ask Spread
8.99%

As of Oct 15, 2026, E-mini S&P 500 Futures (December 2026) (ESZ6) has 3.6M open contracts and 1.7M contracts traded. The nearest expiration is 29 days out, followed by 32 days. ATM implied volatility is 12.4%. Average bid/ask spread across the chain is 8.99%: 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 ESZ6 options chain Data Feeds Strategy Selection

Strategy selection on E-mini S&P 500 Futures (December 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 12.4% 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 ESZ6 chain depth

The listed-expirations table below shows every expiration available for E-mini S&P 500 Futures (December 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. ESZ6 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.

ESZ6 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 ESZ6 chain is 8.99% - 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 ESZ6 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. ESZ6's current 3.56% 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 →

ESZ6 listed expirations

Per-expiration ATM implied volatility for ESZ6 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.

ExpirationDTEATM IV
Oct 16, 2026112.6%
Oct 19, 202649.0%
Oct 20, 202659.5%
Oct 21, 202669.9%
Oct 22, 2026710.4%
Oct 23, 2026810.8%
Oct 26, 20261110.2%
Oct 27, 20261210.5%
Oct 28, 20261311.1%
Oct 29, 20261411.7%
Oct 30, 20261512.1%
Nov 2, 20261811.5%
Nov 3, 20261911.7%
Nov 4, 20262012.2%
Nov 5, 20262112.2%
Nov 6, 20262212.5%
Nov 9, 20262512.2%
Nov 10, 20262612.4%
Nov 11, 20262712.4%
Nov 12, 20262812.5%
Nov 13, 20262912.5%
Nov 16, 20263212.3%
Nov 17, 20263312.4%
Nov 18, 20263412.5%
Nov 19, 20263512.6%
Nov 20, 20263612.7%
Nov 27, 20264312.6%
Nov 30, 20264612.4%
Dec 4, 20265012.8%
Dec 11, 20265713.1%
Dec 18, 20266413.0%

Frequently asked ESZ6 options chain questions

What does the ESZ6 options chain show right now?
As of Oct 15, 2026, E-mini S&P 500 Futures (December 2026) (ESZ6) has 3.6M contracts outstanding and 1.7M traded today, with ATM IV of 12.4%. The full chain spans every listed strike and expiration with bid/ask, Greeks, volume, and open interest per contract.
What expirations are available for ESZ6 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 ESZ6 options bid/ask spreads?
Average bid/ask spread across the chain is 8.99%. Wider spreads warrant conservative sizing; mid-market fills are unreliable for retail-size orders.