How to Buy Nickel on Trading 212: NICK Explained

Published 3 August 2026

You can get exposure to the nickel price on Trading 212 without handling any physical metal. Instead, you invest in a product that follows the nickel price and trades as easily as a share. This guide shows exactly how to buy nickel on Trading 212, what moves it, and how to place your order.

Nickel is used in stainless steel and, increasingly, in the batteries that power electric vehicles, which has made it one of the more talked-about metals. It is also one of the most volatile. If you would rather spread across several base metals, we also cover the industrial metals basket on Trading 212.

Key Takeaways

• You buy nickel through a futures-based commodity ETC, not physical metal or mining shares.
• The main option available on Trading 212 is WisdomTree Nickel (NICK), which tracks the Bloomberg Nickel Subindex.
• Nickel is driven by stainless steel and EV batteries, and it is among the most volatile base metals.
• NICK trades in US dollars with no GBP line, so a pound account pays the 0.15% currency fee on the buy and the sell.
• The ongoing charge is around 0.49% a year, and because it is futures-based, the roll can help or hurt returns.

What You Are Actually Buying

Buying nickel on Trading 212 does not mean metal delivered to you, and it does not mean buying shares in a miner either. Instead, you buy an Exchange-Traded Commodity (ETC) that tracks the price of nickel futures.

Rather than storing physical metal, it uses futures contracts to follow the market, with collateral held to back the position. Nickel is one corner of a wider asset class, and our commodities guide covers the full range.

A Single Metal, Not a Basket

Nickel is a focused, single-metal exposure. WisdomTree Nickel (NICK) tracks the Bloomberg Nickel Subindex, which follows nickel futures on the metals market. Because it is one metal, its price can swing sharply on its own drivers, from stainless-steel demand to the battery supply chain, and it has a history of dramatic moves.

If a single metal feels too concentrated, you can spread the risk across several base metals in one trade. Our guide to buying industrial metals covers the basket that holds nickel alongside aluminium, copper and zinc.

Things to Watch Out For (Fees, Currency and the Roll)

The exposure is futures-based, so the ETC rolls contracts forward as they near expiry, and the shape of the futures curve can add to or subtract from returns. Nickel is also unusually volatile, so position sizing matters, and it may not track the headline spot price exactly.

On costs, WisdomTree Nickel is priced in US dollars and currently has no pound-denominated line, so a GBP account pays Trading 212’s 0.15% currency conversion fee on both the buy and the sell. The ongoing charge, shown as the expense ratio, is around 0.49% a year, and using a limit order helps you control your entry price.

The ETC Questionnaire

There is also one quick step to know about before your first purchase. Because ETCs are classed as complex products, Trading 212 may ask you to complete a short appropriateness questionnaire before you can buy one. Our guide to the Trading 212 ETC questionnaire explains exactly what it asks and how to complete it.

How to Buy Nickel on Trading 212: Step by Step

Step 1: The Search

Open the search, the magnifying glass icon, and type Nickel. Filter to the ETFs section to skip leveraged products and land on the standard tracker.

 

Step 2: Choosing Your Product

At the time of writing, the main option available on Trading 212 is WisdomTree Nickel (NICK), which tracks the Bloomberg Nickel Subindex. Check the name says “Nickel” rather than a basket or a leveraged line such as the 2x product.

Note that it currently trades in US dollars, as there is no pound-denominated line at the time of writing. Fund availability can change, so it is worth checking Trading 212 for the latest options before you buy.

 

 

Step 3: Checking the Details

Click into the product and scroll to Instrument Details. Confirm the ongoing charge, shown as the expense ratio, is around 0.49%, and check the currency, which will read USD for NICK. This is also where you can confirm it is the standard futures-based ETC rather than a leveraged or equity product.

 

 

Step 4: Market vs Limit Orders

When you press buy you have a choice in the top right.

A market order buys instantly at the current price, which is convenient but can slip if the price moves while it processes.

 

 

A limit order lets you set the maximum you will pay and only fills if the price dips to your level, which is especially useful on a volatile metal like nickel.

 

 

Market and limit orders are just the starting point. Trading 212 also offers stop orders, stop-limit orders, and other tools that can help you buy at a specific price or protect against sudden drops. For a full breakdown of how each order type works and when to use them, see our guide on Trading 212 order types.

Conclusion

For most people, WisdomTree Nickel (NICK) is the simplest way to track the nickel price on Trading 212, though it is one of the more volatile metals. Bear in mind it is priced in dollars, so a pound account pays the currency fee, and the exposure is futures-based. If a single metal feels too concentrated, the industrial metals basket spreads the risk across several base metals.

FAQ

What Drives the Nickel Price?

Nickel is driven by stainless-steel demand and, increasingly, EV batteries, while supply concentration and market events can cause sharp swings.

Is WisdomTree Nickel an ETF of Mining Shares?

No. It is a commodity ETC that tracks nickel futures, not the shares of miners, so it moves with the metal price rather than company earnings.

Does It Have a Currency Fee?

Yes, if your account is in a currency other than US dollars. Because NICK is priced in US dollars, Trading 212’s 0.15% currency conversion fee applies each time you buy or sell, so a pound account pays it on both trades. The ongoing charge is around 0.49% a year.

Can I Hold Nickel in an ISA?

Yes. Nickel ETCs can be held in a Stocks and Shares ISA, which shelters any gains from tax.

Why Might It Not Track the Spot Price Exactly?

Because it tracks futures rather than physical metal, and rolling contracts forward can add to or subtract from returns depending on the shape of the curve.