Expiry time calculator for binary options
Same signal, different expiry, completely different result. This works out whether the current market suits a 1, 5 or 15 minute contract.
Tells you whether to trade 1, 5 or 15 minute expiries right now — based on the live session clock and how much your pair actually moves.
What the expiry time advisor does
Expiry choice is the most underrated variable in binary options. A correct directional read still loses if the expiry is short enough that noise decides the outcome, or long enough that the move has already reverted.
The rule of thumb: your expiry should be long enough that the expected move exceeds normal noise, and short enough to finish before the next scheduled catalyst. The tool above compares your candidate expiries against current session activity, volatility and upcoming news windows.
Shorter is not more profitable. One-minute expiries have the highest payout on many brokers precisely because they are closest to a coin flip.
The formula, explained
Suitable expiry ≈ time for price to travel ≥ 1.5 × ATR(noise) in your direction
- ATR(noise)
- — average bar range on your entry timeframe — the size of random movement
- Session factor
- — London/NY overlap moves faster, so shorter expiries become viable
- News buffer
- — avoid any expiry that spans a high-impact release
A practical mapping: 1m expiry for scalps in high-volatility overlap hours only; 5m as the default for most signals; 15m for range/reversal setups and quiet Asian-session trading.
A real set of numbers
| Condition | 1 minute | 5 minutes | 15 minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| London/NY overlap, trending | Workable | Best | Good |
| Asian session, ranging | Poor | Good | Best |
| Just after high-impact news | Avoid | Avoid | Poor |
| OTC weekend assets | Poor | Best | Good |
| Low volatility midday lull | Poor | Fair | Good |
Five minutes is the safe default in most conditions. One-minute contracts only make sense when volatility is genuinely high enough to clear the noise band.
When to use it — and when not to
Use it when
- You have a directional signal and need to pick a contract length.
- Volatility has shifted and your usual expiry has stopped working.
- You are trading OTC weekend assets with different rhythm to weekday pairs.
- You want to avoid an expiry that straddles a news release.
Don't rely on it when
- Your signal source specifies its own expiry — follow it, since its accuracy was measured on that contract length.
- You are switching expiry mid-losing-streak in the hope of a different result.
Expiry time advisor questions, answered
+What is the best expiry time for binary options?
For most traders and most conditions, 5 minutes. It is long enough to escape tick noise and short enough that the original read still applies.
+Are 1-minute binary options profitable?
They can be, but only in high-volatility windows with a very fast, tested strategy. The higher payouts brokers offer on 60-second contracts reflect how close to random they are.
+Should the expiry match my chart timeframe?
Roughly. A common guide is an expiry of 3–5 candles on your entry timeframe — so 5m candles suit a 15–25 minute expiry, and 1m candles suit a 3–5 minute one.
+Does expiry change the payout?
Yes, frequently. Brokers vary payout by expiry and asset, so check the breakeven win rate for the payout you are actually offered.
Put the numbers to work
Sizing is half the job — the other half is the entry. TradeFather's free signal engines call direction and expiry on Quotex, Pocket Option, Binomo, IQ Option, Olymp Trade and Expert Option, and every tool on this site is free with no subscription.