How Many Trading Days Are In A Month? 2026 Futures Calendar, Rules, And Planner
Plan your evaluations, payouts, and consistency with a month-by-month trading day breakdown. Includes futures context and prop-firm rule insights.
A trading day is any weekday the exchanges are open. U.S. stocks operate Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM ET. CME futures trade nearly 24 hours via Globex from Sunday evening to Friday, but prop firm rules, payouts, and consistency still align to standard weekday sessions and exchange holidays. That is why the number of trading days in a month matters for your plan.
Average Trading Days Per Month
Most months contain 20 to 22 trading days. February typically has fewer sessions, while 31-day months can reach up to 23 if holidays fall on weekends.
| Month | Calendar Days | Estimated Trading Days (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 21 | Closed Jan 1 (New Yearβs) and Jan 19 (MLK Day) |
| February | 28 | 20 | Closed Feb 16 (Presidentsβ Day) |
| March | 31 | 22 | Full month |
| April | 30 | 21 | Closed Apr 3 (Good Friday) |
| May | 31 | 21 | Closed May 25 (Memorial Day) |
| June | 30 | 21 | Closed Jun 19 (Juneteenth) |
| July | 31 | 22 | Closed Jul 3 (Independence Day observed) |
| August | 31 | 21 | No closures |
| September | 30 | 21 | Closed Sep 7 (Labor Day) |
| October | 31 | 22 | No closures |
| November | 30 | 20 | Closed Nov 26 (Thanksgiving) |
| December | 31 | 21 | Closed Dec 25 (Christmas) |
Total for 2026 is approximately 252 trading days. Holiday observance can slightly adjust counts. Use this as a planning baseline.
Why Trading Days Matter For Your Results
- Consistency tracking: Most prop firms measure activity and payouts by trading days.
- Profit targets: Divide monthly goals by expected sessions to get a daily target you can actually hit.
- Payout cadence: 5, 8, or 10 trading day cycles line up with these counts. Plan ahead for requests.
Consistency Rule Calculator.
Factors That Change Monthly Trading Days
- Weekends: No sessions on Saturday or Sunday.
- Public holidays: Exchange closures reduce sessions.
- Half days: Early closes near Christmas or July 4 reduce trading time but still count as a day.
- Leap years: February may gain a session, which affects monthly distribution.
Futures Context: Sessions vs. Prop Firm Rules
CME futures (ES, NQ, GC, CL, 6E) run nearly 24 hours via Globex, but your evaluation or funded account still adheres to
weekday trading days, holiday closures, and firm rules. This is why monthly trading day counts are critical for scheduling
evaluations, consistency, and payouts.
How Prop Firms Use Trading Days To Build Discipline
- Daily Loss Limit: Caps daily risk so one session cannot ruin your month. Trains emotional control.
- Max Drawdown: Protects equity and forces a sane risk budget across sessions.
- Consistency Rules: Rewards steady distribution of profits across trading days instead of one lucky spike.
Explore firms that emphasize healthy risk structure:
Tradeify,
Lucid Trading,
The Futures Desk.
2026 U.S. Market Holidays
- New Yearβs Day β Jan 1
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day β Jan 19
- Presidentsβ Day β Feb 16
- Good Friday β Apr 3
- Memorial Day β May 25
- Juneteenth β Jun 19
- Independence Day (Observed) β Jul 3
- Labor Day β Sep 7
- Thanksgiving Day β Nov 26
- Christmas Day β Dec 25
Recommended Reads To Strengthen Your Plan
- How Many Trading Days Are In A Year?
Full year plan with 2026 baseline so you can stack monthly targets intelligently.
- End-of-Day Drawdown Explained
Know how trailing vs fixed logic affects psychology and intraday decision making.
- Best Futures Prop Firms Guide
Compare rules, payouts, platforms, and account structures side by side.
- Trading Psychology
Frameworks, journal prompts, and resets to stay consistent across trading days.
- Free Consistency Rule Calculator
Check if your results meet prop firm rules before you request payout.
Ready To Trade Smarter, Not Harder?
Use the monthly trading day rhythm to plan consistency, protect psychology, and schedule payouts with the right firm.
