Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) 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.
Snapshot as of Jul 15, 2026.
- Spot Price
- $16.78
- Total OI
- 13.5M
- Total Volume
- 605.5K
- Front Expiration
- 28 days
- Second Expiration
- 35 days
- ATM IV
- 71.3%
- Avg Bid/Ask Spread
- 37.42%
As of Jul 15, 2026, Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) has 13.5M open contracts and 605.5K contracts traded. The nearest expiration is 28 days out, followed by 35 days. ATM implied volatility is 71.3%. Average bid/ask spread across the chain is 37.42%: 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 VIX options chain Data Feeds Strategy Selection
Strategy selection on Cboe Volatility Index 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 71.3% 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 VIX chain depth
The listed-expirations table above shows every expiration available for Cboe Volatility Index 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. VIX front expiration sits at 28 days - the typical hedging horizon for monthly options. The backwardated slope of -0.018 means near-dated IV is pricing acute event risk.
VIX 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 VIX chain is 37.42% - 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 VIX 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. VIX's current 20.44% 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 →
VIX listed expirations
Per-expiration ATM implied volatility for VIX 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.
| Expiration | DTE | ATM IV |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 22, 2026 | 7 | 84.0% |
| Jul 29, 2026 | 14 | 71.8% |
| Aug 5, 2026 | 21 | 73.5% |
| Aug 12, 2026 | 28 | 71.9% |
| Aug 19, 2026 | 35 | 70.1% |
| Sep 16, 2026 | 63 | 64.2% |
| Oct 21, 2026 | 98 | 58.4% |
| Nov 18, 2026 | 126 | 54.6% |
| Dec 16, 2026 | 154 | 51.9% |
| Jan 20, 2027 | 189 | 46.1% |
| Feb 17, 2027 | 217 | 44.2% |
| Mar 17, 2027 | 245 | 43.3% |
VIX most-active contracts
| Type | Strike | Expiration | Volume | OI | IV | Bid | Ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CALL | $21.00 | Jul 22, 2026 | 41.4K | 100.0K | 135.1% | $0.15 | $0.19 |
| CALL | $21.00 | Aug 19, 2026 | 37.0K | 96.3K | 96.7% | $1.13 | $1.18 |
| PUT | $16.00 | Jul 22, 2026 | 24.9K | 207.9K | 68.4% | $0.36 | $0.40 |
| CALL | $23.00 | Aug 19, 2026 | 21.1K | 130.4K | 107.2% | $0.90 | $0.95 |
| CALL | $20.00 | Jul 22, 2026 | 20.1K | 217.6K | 123.2% | $0.19 | $0.23 |
| CALL | $19.00 | Jul 22, 2026 | 18.2K | 73.9K | 110.5% | $0.25 | $0.29 |
| PUT | $17.00 | Sep 16, 2026 | 17.3K | 149.8K | 64.2% | $0.99 | $1.04 |
| PUT | $17.00 | Jul 22, 2026 | 17.0K | 181.3K | 84.0% | $1.00 | $1.05 |
Top 8 contracts from the institutional-grade nightly options scan; ranked by volume within the broader S&P 500/400/600 + ETF universe.
Frequently asked VIX options chain questions
- What does the VIX options chain show right now?
- As of Jul 15, 2026, Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) has 13.5M contracts outstanding and 605.5K traded today, with ATM IV of 71.3%. The full chain spans every listed strike and expiration with bid/ask, Greeks, volume, and open interest per contract.
- What expirations are available for VIX options?
- The nearest expiration is 28 days out, followed by 35 days. Listed expirations typically extend monthly with weeklies between, plus LEAPS one to two years out for liquid names.
- How tight are VIX options bid/ask spreads?
- Average bid/ask spread across the chain is 37.42%. Wider spreads warrant conservative sizing; mid-market fills are unreliable for retail-size orders.