Glossary

What Is an Expiry Time? Definition & Guide

Expiry time is when your binary options trade settles. Learn how expiry affects your analysis, which durations to use as a beginner, and why matching expiry to timeframe matters.

Maria R.
• 28 июля 2026

Expiry time is the moment at which a binary options trade settles. At this exact moment, the platform compares the current asset price to your strike price (entry price) and determines whether your trade is In the Money or Out of the Money.

What Happens During the Trade

Once you place a trade, the expiry time is fixed. What happens to price between entry and expiry has no bearing on the outcome — only the price at the exact expiry moment matters.

Example: You place a Call on EUR/USD at 09:00 with a 15-minute expiry. Your trade expires at 09:15. Price spikes up at 09:08 and falls back at 09:14 — if price is below your entry at exactly 09:15, you lose, regardless of the profitable mid-session period.

Common Expiry Durations

Duration Notes
60 seconds Very high randomness — analysis has minimal predictive value
5 minutes High noise — difficult to trade analytically
15 minutes Moderate — analysis starts to be relevant
30 minutes Better for technical analysis
1 hour Most suitable for indicator-based approaches
End of day Long-term directional views

Choosing the Right Expiry

Match expiry to your chart timeframe. If you are analysing a 15-minute chart and making decisions based on patterns visible on that timeframe, use a 15-minute or 30-minute expiry. If you are using a 1-hour chart, use a 1-hour expiry.

Avoid very short expiries as a beginner. 60-second and 5-minute contracts are primarily driven by random price noise. Technical analysis has minimal relevance at these durations. They generate a high volume of trades quickly — which creates the psychological conditions for poor decision-making.

Related Terms

→ Strike Price | Payout Rate | In the Money | OTC | Volatility

You Might Also Like