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ITM, OTM and ATM options explained
ITM (in-the-money), OTM (out-of-the-money) and ATM (at-the-money) describe the relationship between an option's strike price and the current market price. Moneyness determines how much intrinsic value an option has and how its premium behaves.
In one line
A call option is in-the-money (ITM) when its strike is below the spot price, at-the-money (ATM) when the strike is nearest to the spot, and out-of-the-money (OTM) when the strike is above the spot. For put options the logic is reversed: the put is ITM when its strike is above the spot and OTM when the strike is below it.
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Moneyness for calls and puts
Moneyness tells you whether an option has intrinsic value right now. For a call option, intrinsic value is the amount by which the spot price exceeds the strike. A Nifty call at strike 24,000 when Nifty is at 24,500 has 500 rupees of intrinsic value. That is an ITM call. A call at strike 25,000 when Nifty is at 24,500 has zero intrinsic value, because exercising it would mean paying 25,000 for something worth 24,500. That is OTM. The ATM strike is the one closest to the current spot: in this example, the 24,500 strike.
For put options the logic flips. A put at strike 25,000 when Nifty is at 24,500 has 500 rupees of intrinsic value (the right to sell at 25,000 what the market prices at 24,500). That is an ITM put. A put at strike 24,000 when Nifty is at 24,500 is OTM, because the right to sell at 24,000 is worthless when you can sell in the market at 24,500. ATM is the same for both calls and puts: the strike nearest to spot.
Intrinsic value and time value
Every option premium has two components: intrinsic value and time value. ITM options carry intrinsic value plus time value. ATM options carry only time value (their intrinsic value is zero or nearly zero). OTM options carry only time value. As expiry approaches, time value decays for all options (this is theta decay), and OTM options that are still OTM at expiry expire worthless. ITM options have a non-zero settlement value equal to their intrinsic value.
This is why deep ITM options are more expensive than ATM or OTM options on the same underlying. An ITM option already has real, immediate value built into its price. An OTM option is pure speculation on the underlying moving enough to cross the strike before expiry. The premium of an OTM option can be small (making it tempting for lottery-style bets), but the probability of it expiring with any value is lower than an ITM or ATM option.
How moneyness changes with market movement
Moneyness is not fixed. As the underlying moves, an OTM option can become ATM and then ITM, and vice versa. A call that was OTM in the morning can be ITM by afternoon if the stock rallies. The option's premium follows accordingly, rising as it moves into the money and collapsing as it moves out of the money.
Delta, one of the options Greeks, measures how much the option's premium changes for each 1-point move in the underlying. Deep ITM options have a delta close to 1 (they move nearly in lockstep with the underlying). ATM options have a delta near 0.5. Deep OTM options have a delta close to zero (they barely move even if the underlying moves, unless the move is large enough to bring the strike into play). Understanding delta alongside moneyness helps traders choose the right strike for their strategy.
FAQ4 reader questions · AEO-eligible
Common questions on itm, otm and atm options.
What is an ITM option?
An option is in-the-money when it has intrinsic value. For a call, the strike is below the current spot price. For a put, the strike is above the current spot price. ITM options are more expensive because they already carry real value.
What happens to OTM options at expiry?
An option that is still OTM at the moment of expiry expires worthless. The buyer loses the entire premium paid. This is the most common outcome for OTM options bought speculatively.
What is ATM in options?
ATM (at-the-money) is the strike price nearest to the current spot price of the underlying. ATM options carry the highest time value relative to their premium and are the most actively traded strikes in most option chains.
Why are ITM options more expensive?
Because they have intrinsic value in addition to time value. An ITM option gives you the right to transact at a price already better than the market, and that built-in advantage is priced into the premium.
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