Choosing expiry time: match the clock to the chart
Expiry is the most under-thought input in fixed-time trading. Traders spend an hour on entry rules then pick an expiry from a dropdown at random. The rule is simple: the expiry must be long enough for the move you predicted to complete, and short enough that the conditions that produced it still hold.
- Expiry should be roughly 3–5 candles of the timeframe you read the signal on.
- Higher volatility allows shorter expiries; flat conditions need longer ones.
- Under 30 seconds, spread and noise dominate the outcome.
Setup-to-expiry table
| Signal timeframe | Setup type | Sensible expiry |
|---|---|---|
| 1-minute chart | Pullback continuation | 1–3 minutes |
| 1-minute chart | Range rejection | 2–5 minutes |
| 5-minute chart | Trend continuation | 10–20 minutes |
| 15-minute chart | Level break and retest | 30–60 minutes |
| Weekend OTC | Mean reversion | 3–10 minutes |
Adjust for the conditions in front of you
In an active London session, a move completes in fewer candles, so the shorter end of the range works. In a quiet pre-open period, the same setup needs more time and often should not be taken at all. If you find yourself extending expiry to make a slow chart interesting, that is a signal to stop trading, not to change the dropdown.
Three expiry errors that cost real money
Spread and tick noise are a large share of the expected move.
A 1-minute read on a 1-hour expiry is no longer the same trade.
You cannot. Decide before, or do not take the trade.
Frequently asked questions
+What is the most reliable expiry for beginners?
Five minutes on a 1-minute chart read during an active session. It is forgiving of small timing errors.
+Should expiry change with payout?
Payout decides whether to take the trade at all; expiry should follow the chart, not the payout.
+Do bot signals include the expiry?
Yes — each signal specifies asset, direction and the expiry it was generated for. Use that expiry, not your own.
+Why did my trade lose by one pip at expiry?
That is the cost of fixed-time settlement. Longer expiry or a wider level reduces its frequency.
TradeFather Signals Team
TradeFather Signals is built and maintained by a small team that develops the signal engines, calculators and broker integrations used across this site. Guides are written from the same data the app runs on: live pair behaviour, payout structures and the outcomes our own users report back through the app.
Use the expiry the signal was built for
Every bot signal carries its own expiry. Match it exactly, and use the expiry advisor when you are trading a setup of your own.