VIXCLSCBOE Volatility Index: VIX — Current Value & Historical Data
What is CBOE Volatility Index: VIX?
The CBOE Volatility Index, commonly called the VIX or 'fear gauge,' measures the market's expectation of S&P 500 volatility over the next 30 days, derived in real time from the prices of near-the-money SPX options. A rising VIX means options traders are paying up for downside protection; a falling VIX signals complacency. It is the most-cited single number in U.S. equity risk management, feeding into hedge-fund risk limits, bank value-at-risk models, and the design of leveraged volatility ETFs and ETNs. Historical reference points anchor its interpretation: the VIX closed at 9.14 in November 2017, its lowest daily close on record, during the late-cycle low-volatility regime; it spiked to an intraday high of 82.69 in March 2020 at the peak of COVID-19 dislocation, just above the 80.86 closing high set in November 2008 during the Lehman Brothers collapse. Sustained readings above 30 typically coincide with bear markets or acute credit-market stress.
Current CBOE Volatility Index: VIX Value
As of April 16, 2026, the current cboe volatility index: vix is 17.94 Index. This is the most recent observation available for this series, updated daily, close.
Historical Trend
CBOE Volatility Index: VIX fell 1.27% year-over-year. In the series' tracked history, the highest recorded value was 82.69 (March 2020), and the lowest was 9.14 (November 2017).
Methodology & Source
Source: CBOE
Frequency: Daily, Close
Units: Index
VIX measures market expectation of near term volatility conveyed by stock index option prices. Copyright, 2016, Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc. Reprinted with permission....