Mini-SPX Index (XSP) 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.

Snapshot as of Aug 28, 2026.

Spot Price

$771.13

Total OI

784.4K

Total Volume

318.5K

Front Expiration

31 days

Second Expiration

32 days

ATM IV

11.5%

Avg Bid/Ask Spread

13.22%

As of Aug 28, 2026, Mini-SPX Index (XSP) has 784.4K open contracts and 318.5K contracts traded. The nearest expiration is 31 days out, followed by 32 days. ATM implied volatility is 11.5%. Average bid/ask spread across the chain is 13.22%: 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 XSP options chain Data Feeds Strategy Selection

Strategy selection on Mini-SPX 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 11.5% 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 XSP chain depth

The listed-expirations table above shows every expiration available for Mini-SPX 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. XSP front expiration sits at 31 days - the typical hedging horizon for monthly options. The contango term-structure slope of 0.002 means longer-dated tenors price in proportionally more IV.

XSP 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 XSP chain is 13.22% - 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 XSP 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. XSP's current 3.31% 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 →

XSP listed expirations

Per-expiration ATM implied volatility for XSP 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.

XSP most-active contracts

Top 2 contracts from the institutional-grade nightly options scan; ranked by volume within the broader S&P 500/400/600 + ETF universe.

Frequently asked XSP options chain questions

What does the XSP options chain show right now?

As of Aug 28, 2026, Mini-SPX Index (XSP) has 784.4K contracts outstanding and 318.5K traded today, with ATM IV of 11.5%. The full chain spans every listed strike and expiration with bid/ask, Greeks, volume, and open interest per contract.

What expirations are available for XSP options?

The nearest expiration is 31 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 XSP options bid/ask spreads?

Average bid/ask spread across the chain is 13.22%. Wider spreads warrant conservative sizing; mid-market fills are unreliable for retail-size orders.