Understanding how many forex trading days in a year is essential for managing expectations, planning strategies, and backtesting results accurately. Unlike stock markets, the forex market operates nearly 24 hours a day, five days a week, across different global trading sessions. But how many actual days can traders actively participate each year?

This article explains the total number of forex trading days annually, how holidays and weekends affect the calendar, and how to use this information in your trading schedule.

Key Takeaways

• The forex market is open five days a week, Monday to Friday.
• On average, there are 252 trading days in a calendar year.
• Public holidays may slightly reduce the number of active days, depending on your broker.
• Trading volumes vary by day and session (e.g., London, New York).
• Strategic traders align their activities with peak-volume sessions.

Total Forex Trading Days in a Year

The forex market opens each week from Monday morning in Asia (Sydney) and closes Friday evening in New York. Since it operates five days a week, the maximum number of trading days in a standard year is calculated as:

• 365 days/year – 104 weekend days = 261 weekdays
• Subtract roughly 9 public holidays affecting global markets
• ≈ 252 forex trading days annually

This number may vary slightly depending on leap years and regional broker holidays.

Breakdown by Region and Session

Region	Trading Session	Approx Start (GMT)	Impact on Volume
Sydney	Asian	22:00	Low
Tokyo	Asian	00:00	Medium
London	European	08:00	High
New York	US	13:00	Very High

Many traders only engage during the London and New York overlap (13:00–16:00 GMT) for higher liquidity and tighter spreads.

Why It Matters: Trade Planning and Journaling

In structured forex education like the Forex Course, students learn to break down annual trading into quarters, then into high-probability trading days. With approximately 252 days, removing low-volume holidays and news events, traders often aim to focus on around 150–180 meaningful trading days per year.

One student, Clara from Lagos, built a trading routine using a trading journal that segmented each month into four-week cycles with a maximum of 16 sessions. Her improved consistency came from avoiding overtrading and aligning with high-volume days only.

Best Days to Trade Forex

Day	Volume & Volatility	Notes
Monday	Low	Market reacts to weekend news
Tuesday	High	Trend formation often begins
Wednesday	High	Midweek volatility, news-driven
Thursday	High	Breakouts and trend continuation
Friday	Medium	Early activity, then tapers off

Avoid trading during Friday afternoons and just after major holidays when liquidity drops.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many trading days are there in forex per year?

There are approximately 252 forex trading days in a year, excluding weekends and major public holidays.

Do forex markets open on holidays?

No, forex trading is paused on major global holidays such as Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Can I trade forex on weekends?

No, the forex market is closed from late Friday evening to early Monday morning.

Is Friday a good day to trade forex?

Friday morning can be good, but volatility often drops after mid-day as traders close positions before the weekend.

Which day is best for forex trading?

Tuesday through Thursday offer the highest volume and most reliable price movement.