Forex trading operates 24 hours a day, five days a week — from Monday to Friday. However, the actual number of forex trading days in a month depends on the calendar, public holidays, and weekends. On average, there are 20 to 22 forex trading days in a month.

This article breaks down how forex trading days are counted, what can affect them, and why understanding the number of available trading days matters for planning, strategy, and risk management.

Key Takeaways

• The forex market is open Monday to Friday, 24 hours per day
• Each month typically has 20–22 forex trading days, depending on weekends
• Public holidays like Christmas and New Year may reduce trading days
• Fewer trading days can affect monthly goals, volatility, and liquidity
• Understanding this helps with strategy planning and performance tracking

How Forex Trading Days Are Calculated

The standard calculation excludes:

• Weekends (Saturday and Sunday)
• Public holidays in major markets (like US, UK, or Japan)

Assuming a month has 30 days, and 8 or 9 fall on weekends, that leaves around 21 or 22 potential forex trading days.

Monthly Trading Days Example

Month	Typical Days	Trading Days (Approx)
January	31	21 (minus NY holidays)
February	28/29	20
March	31	22
April	30	21
May	31	21 (minus bank holidays)
December	31	20 (due to holidays)

The exact number may vary slightly each year based on how the calendar falls.

Market Holidays and Their Impact

Although forex is decentralised and technically always open during weekdays, major bank holidays in financial hubs like London, New York, or Tokyo can significantly reduce liquidity.

Key forex trading holidays include:

• New Year’s Day
• Christmas Day
• Good Friday & Easter Monday
• US Thanksgiving
• UK Summer Bank Holiday

These don’t always shut down forex entirely but can reduce activity to such an extent that most professionals avoid trading.

Why Trading Days Matter

Understanding how many forex trading days there are in a month helps you:

• Set realistic trading goals
• Backtest strategies over consistent timeframes
• Plan for periods of low liquidity or volatility
• Track monthly performance fairly

If you aim to make 400 pips a month, that might mean targeting 20 pips per trading day across 20 days — but if there are only 18 days due to holidays, your plan should adjust accordingly.

Mid-Article Insight

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Real-World Case Study: Planning for Fewer Days

A full-time trader in London built a monthly trading plan based on 20 days. In December, he found only 16 viable trading sessions due to public holidays and low-volume days around Christmas. Without adjusting his strategy, he overtraded, leading to poor decisions. He later revised his monthly calendar to reflect actual trading days, which helped optimise his planning and risk allocation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many forex trading days are in a year?

Typically, there are about 252 trading days in a year, excluding weekends and holidays.

Are weekends counted as forex trading days?

No. Forex markets are closed to retail traders from Friday evening to Sunday evening (GMT), although the interbank market may still operate.

Does every month have the same number of trading days?

No. It varies depending on weekends and public holidays. February often has the fewest, while months like March or October can have the most.

Is forex trading possible on holidays?

Technically yes, but liquidity is usually so low that it’s not advisable. Many brokers reduce support or pause services.

How do trading days affect performance?

Fewer trading days may increase pressure to meet goals, while more days allow for better pacing. Strategy must adapt to available market time.

Conclusion

The number of forex trading days in a month is usually between 20 and 22, depending on weekends and holidays. Knowing this helps you plan better, execute more consistently, and adjust strategies for real-world conditions. Every trading day is a chance to improve — but not every day is optimal for trading. Use your time wisely.