Does it matter which day of the week you trade? Many traders believe certain days are better than others. Let us look at what the data shows and how you can use this to your advantage.
The Short Answer
There is no single "best" day that works for everyone. But there are patterns you should know about. More importantly, your own data matters more than general statistics.
The truth: The best day to trade is whatever day YOUR data shows you perform best. Track your trades by day of week and you will find your own patterns.
Day by Day Breakdown
Monday
Markets often gap up or down from weekend news. This can create big moves but also more risk. Many traders wait until Monday afternoon before making moves. Options sellers often avoid Mondays because of weekend theta decay already being priced in.
Tuesday
Historically one of the better days for the market. The Monday craziness has settled and traders have a clearer picture. Many institutional investors place orders on Tuesday.
Wednesday
Mid week tends to be stable. Fed announcements often happen on Wednesday, which can cause big moves when they do. Check the economic calendar before trading.
Thursday
Weekly options expire the next day, so theta decay speeds up. Good day for closing winning trades. Economic data like jobless claims comes out Thursday morning.
Friday
Options expiration day (for weekly options). Lots of volatility as options get exercised or expire. Many traders close positions before the weekend to avoid holding risk. Can be choppy and unpredictable.
For Options Traders
Best Days to Sell Options
If you sell options (credit spreads, iron condors, etc.), Tuesday through Thursday is often best. You avoid the Monday gaps and the Friday expiration craziness. You also capture theta decay during the week.
Best Days to Buy Options
If you buy options, Monday can be good if you are catching a trend early in the week. But remember: every day you hold, time decay works against you.
Times to Avoid Trading
- First 15 minutes of market open: Very volatile, spreads are wide
- Last 15 minutes before close: Unpredictable moves
- Lunch hour (12pm to 1pm ET): Low volume, choppy price action
- Before major economic events: Earnings, Fed meetings, jobs reports
What Really Matters
Here is the honest truth: general statistics do not matter as much as your personal stats. Maybe you always lose money on Mondays because you trade emotionally after the weekend. Maybe you do great on Fridays because you are focused.
The only way to know is to track your trades and look at the data.
Find Your Best Trading Days
Pro Trader Dashboard shows your win rate by day of week, time of day, and more. Discover your patterns and trade smarter.
Summary
While there are general patterns (Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to be calmer, Mondays and Fridays more volatile), your own performance data is what matters most. Track every trade, analyze by day of week, and let your data guide your decisions.
Learn more about why tracking matters or check out our guide on options vs stocks.