Trade Duration / Holding Period
The length of time a position is held from entry to exit.
Formula
Duration = Exit Time - Entry Time
More Details
What is Trade Duration?
Trade Duration (or Holding Period) measures how long you hold positions. It's crucial for understanding your trading style and optimizing performance.
Duration Categories
| Duration | Style | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Seconds-Minutes | Scalping | High frequency, small moves |
| Minutes-Hours | Day Trading | Intraday, no overnight |
| Hours-Days | Swing Trading | Overnight holds |
| Days-Weeks | Position Trading | Trend following |
Why Duration Matters
- Capital efficiency: Shorter duration = more opportunities
- Overnight risk: Longer duration = gap exposure
- Commission impact: High frequency = higher costs
- Psychology: Some traders can't hold overnight
Duration vs Performance
Common patterns:
- Winners held too short (fear of giving back)
- Losers held too long (hope for recovery)
Optimal duration varies by setup and market conditions.
TradesViz Duration Analysis
- Average duration by setup
- Duration vs P&L correlation
- Winner vs loser duration comparison
- Optimal exit timing discovery
- Time-in-trade visualization
Where to find it in TradesViz
Summary > Overall Statistics shows average trade duration. Trades Analysis > PnL Charts > PnL vs Duration displays performance by duration range. Each trade's duration is visible in the Trades Table.
Example
Entry at 9:35 AM, exit at 11:20 AM = 1 hour 45 minutes duration