Basics

Expiration Date

By Ryan Silk & Lawrence Polatchek · Reviewed April 2026 · Options Trading Glossary

Date option expires

What is Expiration Date?

Expiration Date The date when an option contract expires. After this date, the option no longer exists. Standard options expire on the third Friday of the month.

Complete Definition

The date when an option contract expires. After this date, the option no longer exists. Standard options expire on the third Friday of the month.

Related Terms

Days To Expiration Weekly Options

Written by

ApexVol Research Team

Quantitative options research

All calculations use live institutional-grade data — the same source used by professional volatility desks.

Technical reviewer

Ryan Silk, ApexVol Founder

Reviewed for technical accuracy

10+ years trading options. Built ApexVol's pricing engine, Greeks model, and IV-rank methodology.

This guide is updated as market conditions and institutional data change. Last revised 2026-05-12. How we research →

Want to Learn More?

Explore our educational resources and analytics tools to deepen your understanding.

Read Full Guide

Expected Value All Terms Extrinsic Value

Learn Options Trading

Understanding Options Greeks Implied Volatility Guide How to Trade Options 0DTE Options Trading Options Glossary Strategy Guides Learning Center

Explore More Tools

Options Profit Calculator Payoff, breakeven & Greeks Greeks Calculator Delta, gamma, theta, vega IV Rank Calculator Implied volatility & IV rank Options Chain Real-time Greeks Greeks Heatmap Visual analysis Volatility Lab IV analysis Strategy Simulator Test strategies IV Intelligence 3D visualization Options Screener Find opportunities Historical Data Past snapshots Earnings Historical moves & IV 0DTE Analytics Same-day expiration