Does FTMO's Minimum Trading Days include weekends or holidays?

No, FTMO only counts weekdays when markets are open and you execute trades. Weekends and holidays do not count toward the 4-day minimum requirement. You must have actual trading activity on 4 separate business days during each evaluation phase.

What happens if I breach the Minimum Trading Days?

You automatically fail the evaluation phase even if you've met all other requirements including profit targets. FTMO will terminate your challenge and you'll need to purchase a new evaluation to try again. There are no exceptions or extensions for this rule.

Do days where I only hold positions without new trades count toward FTMO's minimum?

No, only days where you execute new trades count toward the 4-day requirement. Simply holding existing positions or monitoring open trades does not qualify as a trading day. You must enter new positions or close existing ones for the day to count.

Does the Minimum Trading Days requirement reset between Phase 1 and Phase 2 at FTMO?

Yes, the 4-day requirement applies separately to each evaluation phase. You need 4 trading days in Phase 1 and another 4 trading days in Phase 2. The days from Phase 1 do not carry over to Phase 2, so you start fresh with the day count in each phase.

Is FTMO's minimum trading days rule still 4 days in 2026?

Yes, FTMO's minimum trading days requirement remains 4 separate calendar days per phase as of 2026. This rule has been consistent across FTMO's evaluation process and applies to both Phase 1 (30-day period) and Phase 2 (60-day period) of their challenge.

Does FTMO have a minimum trade duration requirement?

No, FTMO does not have a separate minimum trade duration rule requiring positions to be held for a specific time period. The confusion often arises from FTMO's 2-minute news trading restriction and anti-HFT policies, but these are different from minimum hold time requirements that some other prop firms enforce.

How does FTMO's minimum trading days compare to Apex and other firms?

FTMO requires 4 minimum trading days, which is more restrictive than Apex (1 day) and Topstep (0 days), equal to FundedNext (4 days), but less than FundingPips and Funded Trading Plus (both 5 days). The5ers requires 3 days, making FTMO's requirement moderately strict among major prop firms.

Are the minimum trading days the same for FTMO Phase 2 as Phase 1?

Yes, both FTMO Phase 1 and Phase 2 require exactly 4 minimum trading days each. While Phase 1 gives you 30 calendar days and Phase 2 gives you 60 calendar days to complete the challenge, the minimum trading days requirement of 4 separate days remains identical for both phases.

How many days does it typically take to pass the FTMO challenge?

While FTMO gives you 30 days for Phase 1 and 60 days for Phase 2, experienced traders often complete each phase in 1-2 weeks. However, you must still meet the 4 minimum trading days requirement regardless of how quickly you reach the profit target, so the absolute minimum is 4 calendar days per phase.

Updated 2026-04-17

FTMO Minimum Trading Days Rule Explained

Q: What does 'minimum 4 trading days' actually mean at FTMO?

Minimum 4 trading days means you must execute at least one trade on 4 separate calendar days during each challenge phase. Simply holding existing positions overnight or over weekends does not count - you must actively open or close positions on 4 different days to satisfy this requirement.

FTMO

Quick Answer

FTMO requires a minimum of 4 trading days in each evaluation phase before profit targets count.

FTMO's minimum trading days rule requires traders to execute trades on at least 4 separate calendar days during each challenge phase - both the 30-day Phase 1 and 60-day Phase 2. This means you must actively open or close at least one position on 4 different calendar days, regardless of how quickly you reach the profit target. Simply holding existing positions overnight or over weekends does not count toward this requirement. Compared to competitors, FTMO's 4-day requirement sits in the middle range of prop firm restrictions. Apex only requires 1 trading day and Topstep has no minimum requirement, making them more flexible. The5ers requires 3 days, while FundedNext matches FTMO at 4 days. More restrictive firms like FundingPips and Funded Trading Plus require 5 minimum trading days. This positioning makes FTMO moderately strict - not the most lenient, but not the most restrictive either. The practical implication for traders is that you cannot complete an FTMO challenge in fewer than 4 calendar days, even if you're skilled enough to hit the profit target quickly. This rule prevents traders from taking excessive risks to pass challenges rapidly and encourages a more measured approach to trading. Many successful traders actually appreciate this requirement as it forces better risk management and prevents the temptation to over-leverage for quick profits. A common misconception is confusing FTMO's minimum trading days with 'minimum trade duration.' FTMO does not require positions to be held for any specific time period - you can scalp and day trade freely. The 2-minute news trading restriction and anti-HFT policies are separate rules entirely and don't create minimum hold times for individual trades.

Key Rule Details

Minimum

4 days

Applies To

Each phase separately

A trading day is

Any day with at least 1 closed trade

If reached early

Must keep trading until minimum met

Breach

Target not counted until days met

Calculation Example

Account Size: $100,000 — Minimum Trading Days: 4 days

Account Size	$100,000
Minimum Trading Days Limit	4 days
Scenario: Closed P&L	3 days traded
Scenario: Floating P&L	Profit target reached
Total Exposure	Cannot withdraw yet
Remaining Buffer	1 more trading days required

Limit used:75%

Common Mistakes

Weekend Trading Confusion

Traders assume weekend positions count as separate trading days when they don't. FTMO only counts weekdays when markets are open and trades are executed. A trader might think they have 4 days but actually only traded on 3 weekdays, failing the challenge despite hitting their $1,000 profit target on a $10,000 account.

Single Day Profit Rush

Traders hit their profit target in 1-2 days and stop trading, forgetting the minimum day requirement. A trader on a $25,000 account might make $2,500 profit on day one but then stop trading, failing the challenge for not meeting the 4-day minimum despite exceeding the 10% profit target.

Holding-Only Days Don't Count

Traders believe days where they only hold existing positions count as trading days. FTMO requires actual trade execution on each day. If a trader opens positions on Monday and just monitors them until Friday without new trades, they only have 1 trading day, not 5.

Last Minute Day Cramming

Traders rush to complete remaining days in the final days of the 30-day limit. This often leads to forced trades and unnecessary risks just to meet the day requirement. Cramming 3 trading days into the last week while trying to maintain profits frequently results in rule violations or losses that could have been avoided with proper planning.

Protection Strategies

Plan for 6-8 Trading Days Minimum

Always plan to trade on 6-8 days to build a buffer above the 4-day requirement. This protects against days when market conditions prevent trading or technical issues arise. The extra days also allow for more controlled profit accumulation rather than rushing to meet both day and profit requirements simultaneously.

Execute Small Trades on Buffer Days

On days when you don't see strong setups, execute small position trades just to count the trading day. Use position sizes of 0.01-0.1 lots to minimize risk while ensuring the day counts toward your 4-day minimum. This prevents being forced into larger trades later just to meet the requirement.

Set Daily Trading Reminders Early

Set calendar alerts for the first 10 days of your challenge to ensure consistent trading activity. Track your trading days from day one rather than realizing late in the challenge that you need more days. This prevents the pressure of forced trading in the final weeks of your 30-day evaluation period.

Avoid All-in Early Profit Strategies

Resist strategies that aim to hit profit targets in 1-2 days, as they ignore the day requirement. Even if you're up 8% on day two of a 10% target challenge, continue planned trading to accumulate the required days. This prevents the frustration of achieving profit goals but failing due to insufficient trading days.

Related Rules

Profit Target (Phase 1)

10%

→

Profit Target (Phase 2)

→

FTMO Comparisons

Fundednext vs Ftmo Ftmo vs Fundingpips Ftmo vs The Funded Trader Ftmo vs The5ers

Frequently Asked Questions

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Position sizing without the spreadsheet.

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FTMO, FundedNext and FundingPips pre-loaded. No manual entry.

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Last firm, account size, and instrument saved between opens.

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Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Prop firm rules change regularly — always verify current terms on FTMO's official website before purchasing a challenge. Updated 2026-04-17.