Options Expiration Calendar

Overview

Options expiration calendars show when contracts expire: weeklies, monthlies, quarterlies, and LEAPS. Understanding the expiration cycle is crucial for managing open positions and avoiding assignment surprises. Use the options profit calculator to model how time decay accelerates as expiration approaches. Check the options chains page for live open interest and volume data, and read our spread payoff diagrams guide to understand how multi-leg positions behave into expiry.

Key Takeaways

• Standard monthly expirations occur on the third Friday of each month
• Weekly options expire every Friday setting up short-term trading opportunities
• Quarterly expirations (triple and quadruple witching) cause elevated volume and volatility
• 0DTE (zero days to expiration) options have exploded in popularity and risk

Practical Tips

• Close or roll positions at least one day before expiration to avoid pin risk
• Be aware of quadruple witching dates — third Friday of March, June, September, December
• Track 0DTE volume as a gauge of short-term market sentiment and positioning