Options Expiration Explained
Understanding expiration dates is crucial for every options trade. Learn about expiration cycles, weekly vs monthly options, LEAPS, and how to manage positions as expiration approaches.
What is Options Expiration?
Options expiration is the date and time when an options contract becomes void. After this point, the option holder loses the right to buy (call) or sell (put) the underlying asset at the strike price. Understanding expiration is fundamental because it directly affects option pricing, strategy selection, and risk management.
Every option has a finite lifespan, which distinguishes it from stocks that can be held indefinitely. This time limitation creates both opportunities and risks that traders must carefully navigate.
Types of Options by Expiration
Weekly Options (Weeklys)
Weekly options expire every Friday and provide precise timing for short-term trades. They were introduced in 2005 and have grown enormously popular for their flexibility.
Advantages
- • Lower premiums
- • Precise timing around events
- • Higher leverage potential
- • Ideal for earnings plays
Disadvantages
- • Faster time decay
- • Less time for thesis to play out
- • Higher gamma risk near expiry
- • Can be wider bid-ask spreads
Monthly Options (Standard)
Monthly options expire on the third Friday of each month and are the traditional standard. They offer the best liquidity and are the most heavily traded contracts.
Advantages
- • Best liquidity & tight spreads
- • More time for trades to work
- • Slower time decay initially
- • Standard for most strategies
Disadvantages
- • Higher premiums
- • Less precise timing
- • May carry through events
- • Capital tied up longer
Quarterly Options
Quarterly options expire on the last trading day of March, June, September, and December. They're commonly used for index options and align with financial quarter ends.
These are particularly important for institutional hedging around quarter-end reporting periods and portfolio rebalancing dates.
LEAPS (Long-Term Options)
LEAPS (Long-Term Equity Anticipation Securities) have expiration dates exceeding one year, up to three years out. They expire in January and behave more like stock positions.
Best Uses
- • Stock replacement strategies
- • Long-term directional bets
- • Covered call writing
- • Portfolio hedging
Key Features
- • High delta for ITM options
- • Minimal daily time decay
- • Higher absolute premiums
- • Lower liquidity than near-term
When Exactly Do Options Expire?
| Option Type | Last Trading | Expiration | Exercise Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equity Options | 4:00 PM ET | Friday (usually) | 5:30 PM ET |
| SPX Index Options | 4:00 PM ET (PM) | Friday | Settlement at open (AM) |
| SPY/QQQ ETF Options | 4:00 PM ET | Friday | 5:30 PM ET |
| VIX Options | 4:00 PM ET (day before) | Wednesday | Settlement at open |
AM vs PM Settlement
Index options can be AM-settled (based on opening prices) or PM-settled (based on closing prices). This distinction is critical—AM-settled options stop trading the day before expiration but settle based on the next morning's opening prices, creating overnight gap risk.
Understanding Expiration Cycles
Historically, stocks were assigned to one of three expiration cycles. While weekly options have made this less relevant, understanding cycles helps explain why certain months have options available:
Cycle 1 (JAJO)
January, April, July, October
Cycle 2 (FMAN)
February, May, August, November
Cycle 3 (MJSD)
March, June, September, December
Today, most actively traded stocks have options available for the current month, next month, two following cycle months, and multiple weekly expirations. High-volume stocks like AAPL, TSLA, and SPY have options expiring every week.
What Happens at Expiration?
In-the-Money (ITM) Options
Options that are ITM by $0.01 or more are typically automatically exercised by the Options Clearing Corporation (OCC). This is called "exercise by exception."
Call Options (ITM)
You buy 100 shares per contract at the strike price. Make sure you have sufficient buying power or cash to cover the purchase.
Put Options (ITM)
You sell 100 shares per contract at the strike price. If you don't own shares, this creates a short stock position.
Out-of-the-Money (OTM) Options
OTM options expire worthless automatically. No action is required—the premium paid is lost, and the contract simply disappears from your account after expiration.
At-the-Money (ATM) Options
Options exactly at the strike are technically OTM and expire worthless. However, stocks that close very near a strike create "pin risk"—uncertainty about whether the option will be exercised.
If you're short options near the money, you may not know until Monday whether you've been assigned, creating weekend uncertainty about your position.
Expiration Week Dynamics
The week leading up to expiration—especially the final two days—creates unique market dynamics that experienced traders use to their advantage:
📈 Gamma Acceleration
As expiration approaches, gamma (the rate of delta change) increases dramatically for ATM options. This causes rapid swings in option prices with small stock moves, creating both opportunity and risk.
⏱️ Theta Decay Acceleration
Time decay accelerates exponentially in the final days. An option might lose 30% of its remaining value in the last day alone. This benefits sellers but punishes buyers who hold too long.
📌 Option Pinning
Stocks sometimes gravitate toward strikes with heavy open interest as market makers hedge their positions. This "max pain" effect is most pronounced at monthly expirations on stocks with high options volume.
📊 Gamma Exposure (GEX) Impact
Large gamma positions from expiring options can amplify or suppress volatility depending on whether dealers are long or short gamma. Tracking GEX helps predict potential support and resistance levels.
View live GEX analysisManaging Expiration Risk
Best Practices
Close or Roll Positions Early
Don't wait until expiration day. Consider closing positions with 1-2 weeks remaining to avoid gamma and pin risk. Rolling to the next expiration preserves your position.
Monitor Assignment Risk
If you're short options, be aware of your assignment probability. ITM shorts are almost certain to be assigned. Close or roll if you don't want the stock position.
Check Dividend Dates
Short calls may be exercised early before ex-dividend dates if the dividend exceeds the remaining time value. Know your dividend schedule.
Maintain Buying Power
Ensure you have sufficient margin or cash to cover potential exercise. Brokers may force-close positions if you lack the buying power for assignment.
Use "Do Not Exercise" Instructions
If you own an ITM option but don't want to exercise (perhaps due to commissions or strategy reasons), submit DNE instructions to your broker before the deadline.
Choosing Expiration for Your Strategy
| Strategy | Recommended Expiration | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Earnings Play | Weekly (first after earnings) | Minimizes time decay, captures event |
| Credit Spreads | 30-45 DTE | Optimal theta decay, manageable gamma |
| Long Calls/Puts | 60-90 DTE | Time for thesis to develop, slower decay |
| Iron Condors | 30-45 DTE | Balance of premium and risk |
| Stock Replacement | LEAPS (1+ year) | High delta, minimal decay |
| Day Trading | 0-7 DTE | Maximum leverage, high gamma |
Frequently Asked Questions
Track Expiration Impact in Real-Time
Use ApexVol's GEX analysis and options flow tools to see how expiring options affect market dynamics. Monitor gamma exposure, pin risk levels, and dealer positioning as expiration approaches.