TradeDay 5-Day Minimum Trading Rule Explained

Written by Paul

Published on

January 16, 2026

I requested funding on my second TradeDay evaluation after 19 days of trading. Hit my profit target ($2,140 on a $50K account), stayed within drawdown limits, satisfied the consistency rule—everything looked perfect. I'd traded on 8 separate days during those 19 calendar days, so I assumed I'd easily cleared the minimum trading days requirement.

TradeDay denied my funding request. Reason: "Minimum trading days not satisfied."

Wait—8 days isn't enough? I thought the requirement was 5 days based on articles I'd read online. Turns out I was looking at outdated information about a different account type. For standard trailing drawdown evaluations (what I had), the minimum is actually 7 days, not 5.

After digging through TradeDay's official documentation and comparing different account types, I realized the "5-day" rule people reference online applies specifically to static drawdown accounts—a different product with different requirements. Most traders use trailing drawdown accounts, which require 7 qualifying days.

This guide clarifies the actual minimum trading days requirements by account type, explains why there's confusion between 5-day and 7-day rules, covers what makes a day "qualify" toward your minimum, and shows you how to structure your evaluation to satisfy whichever requirement applies to your specific account.

Quick heads-up: This article is based on my real experience with TradeDay and the info available when I published/updated this. Things change in prop trading — rules, payouts, promos, all of it.

For the absolute latest, check TradeDay´s website or their faq page.

The Truth: It's 7 Days for Most Accounts, 5 Days for Static Drawdown

TradeDay has two main evaluation structures with different minimum trading day requirements:

Standard Trailing Drawdown Accounts: 7-Day Minimum

Account Types:

$50K Trailing Drawdown (EOD or Intraday)
$100K Trailing Drawdown (EOD or Intraday)
$150K Trailing Drawdown (EOD or Intraday)

Requirement: Must trade on at least 7 separate calendar days during evaluation.

Why Most Traders Have This: Trailing drawdown is TradeDay's default account structure. When you select an account size on their pricing page, you're getting trailing drawdown unless you explicitly choose static drawdown option.

I've completed four evaluations—all were trailing drawdown, all required 7 days. This is the standard requirement for 90%+ of TradeDay traders.

Static Drawdown Accounts: 5-Day Minimum

Account Types:

$50K Static Drawdown
$100K Static Drawdown
$150K Static Drawdown

Requirement: Must trade on at least 5 separate calendar days during evaluation.

Why This Is Different: Static drawdown accounts have more restrictive drawdown mechanics (your max loss threshold never adjusts upward, even as you profit). TradeDay compensates for the stricter drawdown rules by lowering the minimum trading days from 7 to 5.

Which Account Type Do You Have?

Check Your Dashboard:

Log into members.tradeday.com
Look at your account details
Account type will specify "Trailing Drawdown" or "Static Drawdown"

Default Assumption: If you didn't specifically select "static drawdown" during signup, you have trailing drawdown = 7-day minimum.

Why the 5-Day vs 7-Day Confusion Exists

The "5-day minimum" gets mentioned frequently in prop trading discussions, creating misconception that it applies universally. Here's why:

Reason 1: Other Firms Have Different Requirements

TopstepTrader: 5-day minimum for many account types
Apex Trader Funding: No minimum trading days at all
MyFundedFutures: Varies by account (5-7 days)

Traders discussing "5-day rules" might be referring to different firms entirely, and the information gets cross-pollinated in forums and Reddit threads.

Reason 2: Static Drawdown Gets Mentioned Without Context

Articles or videos explaining static drawdown accounts mention the 5-day benefit without clearly stating it's specific to static accounts only. Readers assume 5 days applies to all TradeDay evaluations.

Reason 3: Older TradeDay Rules (Pre-2024)

TradeDay's requirements evolved over time. Earlier iterations (2022-2023) had different structures. Some traders citing "5 days" might be referencing outdated rules they experienced personally but that no longer apply.

Reason 4: Confusion With "Trading Windows" vs "Calendar Days"

Some traders think "5 days of trading" means 5 market sessions (Monday-Friday = one week). Not true. The requirement is 5 separate calendar days where you placed qualifying trades, which can span multiple weeks.

I fell victim to this confusion. I'd read "5-day minimum" in a forum post, assumed it applied to my trailing drawdown account, and didn't verify through official channels. Cost me a denied funding request and extra time.

What Actually Qualifies as a "Trading Day" at TradeDay

Whether your minimum is 5 or 7 days, the definition of what counts as a qualifying day is identical:

Both Criteria Must Be Met

1. You Opened at Least One Position

Any size (1 micro, 1 standard contract, etc.)
Any instrument (permitted products)
During allowed trading hours

2. You Held That Position Beyond the Minimum Time Threshold

Estimated threshold: 2-5 minutes (TradeDay doesn't publish exact number)
Prevents gaming system with instant open/close to rack up days
Position must have actual market exposure

What Doesn't Count

Days Where You:

Only placed limit orders that never filled
Opened and closed positions in under ~2 minutes total
Traded during prohibited news windows (auto-liquidated trades)
Were on vacation/weekend (markets closed)

I have full writeup on what counts as a trading day if you want the detailed mechanics, but the key point: you need actual trades with meaningful hold times, not just "opening positions" to check a box.

How the 5-Day vs 7-Day Difference Affects Your Evaluation Timeline

Two extra days doesn't sound like much. In practice, it impacts your evaluation strategy significantly:

Timeline Comparison ($50K Account)

5-Day Minimum (Static Drawdown):

Week 1: Trade Monday, Wednesday, Friday = 3 days
Week 2: Trade Tuesday, Thursday = 5 days total ✓
Can request funding after 10 calendar days

7-Day Minimum (Trailing Drawdown):

Week 1: Trade Monday, Wednesday, Friday = 3 days
Week 2: Trade Monday, Wednesday = 5 days total
Week 3: Trade Monday, Wednesday = 7 days total ✓
Can request funding after 15 calendar days minimum

The 7-day requirement adds roughly one additional week to your evaluation timeline compared to 5-day requirement, assuming you trade 2-3 days per week.

Why This Matters

Monthly Subscription Costs:

5-day minimum: More likely to pass within first month
7-day minimum: Higher chance of rolling into second month of subscription

Example:

Start evaluation January 5
Trade 3 days/week consistently
Static (5-day): Can request funding January 19 (within first month)
Trailing (7-day): Can request funding February 2 (into second month)

That's $105 extra in subscription fees ($50K account) just from the 2-day difference.

Psychological Pressure:

Fewer required days = less time to make mistakes
More required days = more opportunities to violate rules

I prefer 7-day minimum actually. Spreading trades across more days naturally helps with the 30% consistency rule—your profit distributes more evenly when you're forced to trade more days.

How to Check Your Progress Toward Minimum

TradeDay's dashboard displays real-time tracking of your qualifying days:

Dashboard Location

Evaluation Overview Section:

Shows "Qualifying Trading Days: X/7" (or X/5 for static)
Updates automatically after each trading session ends
Color-coded: Red if incomplete, green when satisfied

When It Updates:

After RTH closes (typically 4:15 PM ET for ES/NQ)
System processes your day's activity
Counter increments if you met both criteria (position opened + held beyond threshold)

Checking Manually

If you want to verify without waiting for dashboard update:

Log into TradeDay platform
Review your trade history
Count calendar days where you held positions 5+ minutes
Compare your count to dashboard counter

My habit: Check dashboard every evening after trading. If I expected a day to count but counter didn't increment, I review my trades to see which positions were too short.

Strategic Approaches for Different Minimums

Your minimum requirement dictates how you structure evaluation:

For 7-Day Minimum (Standard Trailing Drawdown)

Approach 1: Steady 2-Days Per Week

Trade Monday and Thursday every week
Week 1: 2 days
Week 2: 4 days
Week 3: 6 days
Week 4: 7+ days ✓
Timeline: 21-25 calendar days to hit minimum

Approach 2: Aggressive 3-Days Per Week

Trade Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Week 1: 3 days
Week 2: 6 days
Week 3: 7+ days ✓
Timeline: 15-18 calendar days to hit minimum

Approach 3: Front-Load Days Early

Trade 4 days first week
Trade 3 days second week
Hit 7 days within 10-12 calendar days
Gives buffer time to build profit without day-count pressure

I use Approach 1 (2 days/week). Less rushed, more sustainable, and I'm never forcing trades just to accumulate days.

For 5-Day Minimum (Static Drawdown)

Approach 1: One Week Intensive

Trade Monday-Friday (5 days)
Hit minimum within 5 calendar days ✓
Fastest possible timeline

Approach 2: Spread Over Two Weeks

Trade Monday, Wednesday, Friday Week 1 (3 days)
Trade Tuesday, Thursday Week 2 (5 days total) ✓
Timeline: 10-11 calendar days

With only 5 days required, you can satisfy minimum within first 1-2 weeks easily—much faster than 7-day requirement.

Common Mistakes That Delay Hitting Your Minimum

Mistake 1: Scalping Without Checking Hold Times

If you're a high-frequency scalper holding positions 30-90 seconds, many of your trades won't count toward minimum days.

Solution: On days you need qualifying credit, extend at least one position to 5+ minutes. Doesn't change your strategy meaningfully but ensures the day counts.

I scalp ES with 60-90 second average holds. On qualifying days, I let my first winner run to 4-5 minutes before exiting. Small adjustment, big difference.

Mistake 2: Assuming Profitable Days Automatically Count

Profit doesn't determine qualification. You can have +$400 day that doesn't count if all trades were under the time threshold.

Example From My History:

Day 12 of evaluation: +$385 profit (six winning ES scalps, each 45-80 seconds)
Dashboard didn't increment qualifying days counter
Had to trade an additional day to hit 7-day requirement

Focus on hold times, not P&L, when tracking minimum days.

Mistake 3: Not Trading Enough Days Per Week

If you only trade once per week, hitting 7-day minimum takes 7+ weeks. At $105/month subscription cost, that's expensive:

Timeline:

Once weekly trading
7 weeks = ~49 calendar days
Costs: $105 (Month 1) + $105 (Month 2) = $210 just for subscription
Plus time value and opportunity cost

Trade at minimum 2 days/week to keep evaluation timeline reasonable.

Mistake 4: Forgetting About News Restrictions

If you trade within 2 minutes of Tier 1 news events, TradeDay auto-liquidates your positions. Those trades might not survive long enough to meet time threshold.

Plus: News violations terminate your evaluation entirely, so you'll never hit minimum days anyway.

Check the economic calendar every morning. Avoid trading near major releases.

How Minimum Days Interact With Other Evaluation Objectives

The minimum trading days requirement is just one of five objectives you must satisfy:

Days + Consistency Rule

The 30% consistency requirement actually synergizes with minimum days:

Why They Work Together:

Need to spread profit across multiple days (consistency)
Need to trade multiple separate days (minimum days)
Both encourage steady, distributed performance

If you hit 7 qualifying days while staying consistent, you've naturally aligned both requirements.

Days + Profit Target

The Problem:Some traders hit profit target quickly (5 days) but haven't satisfied minimum trading days (7 days needed).

What Happens:

Can't request funding yet despite hitting target
Must trade 2 more days
Risk giving back profit while accumulating days

My Advice: Build days throughout evaluation. Don't rush profit target in first week and then scramble for qualifying days after.

Days + Drawdown Management

Here's the dangerous scenario:

You're At:

6/7 qualifying days ✓
$1,900/$2,000 profit target ✓
$400 away from max drawdown violation ⚠

You need one more qualifying day, but you're close to drawdown limit. Trading that 7th day risks evaluation termination.

Prevention: Don't let yourself get into this situation. Accumulate qualifying days early in evaluation when you have full drawdown buffer.

What If You Hit Your Minimum But Still Need More Profit?

This scenario is better than the reverse (hitting profit but not enough days):

Situation:

7/7 qualifying days satisfied ✓
$1,600/$2,000 profit target (still need $400)

What To Do:Continue trading normally. No pressure to "get days"—you can focus entirely on profit without worrying about daily trading frequency.

My Experience:I hit 7 days on calendar day 18 of my third evaluation but was only at $1,720 profit (needed $2,000). I traded 4 more days over the next week, reached $2,180, requested funding. Those final 4 days had zero pressure because minimum days was already satisfied.

Having days done early = freedom to trade when you see setups, not when you "need" to trade.

Static vs Trailing: Should You Choose 5-Day Account for Faster Pass?

The 5-day minimum of static drawdown accounts is appealing, but there are significant tradeoffs:

Why Static's 5 Days Sounds Better

Faster Timeline:

2 fewer days required = roughly 1 week faster to funding
Less time accumulating qualifying days
Lower subscription cost potential

Why It's Not Necessarily Better

Static Drawdown Is More Restrictive:

Your loss limit never adjusts upward with profit
Start at $47,500 threshold on $50K account
Even if you build profit to $54,000, drawdown stays at $47,500
Can't "grow" your drawdown buffer

Trailing Drawdown Adjusts With Your Profit:

Starts at $47,500 threshold on $50K account
If you build profit to $54,000, drawdown adjusts to $51,500
Your buffer grows as you profit
More forgiving during evaluation

My Opinion: The 2 extra days with trailing drawdown is worth it for the flexibility. I'd rather have 7-day minimum with adjusting drawdown than 5-day minimum with static limit.

Full comparison in my drawdown types guide.

FAQ

If I trade on 10 different days during my evaluation, do I exceed the 7-day minimum requirement?

No—there's no penalty for trading more days than required. The minimum is exactly that: a minimum. You can trade 10, 15, 20+ days if you want. More days often helps with consistency distribution anyway.

Do weekends count toward my 5 or 7 required days?

No. Markets are closed weekends, so Saturday and Sunday can never be qualifying trading days. Only actual market trading days (Monday-Friday when exchanges are open) can count. You need 7 separate market days, which means at minimum 2 weeks of trading if you trade Mon-Fri continuously.

Can I satisfy the minimum days requirement and then immediately request funding?

Yes, as long as you've also satisfied the other four objectives (profit target, consistency, drawdown limit, rules compliance). The minimum days is just one requirement—you need all five to request funding. Once all five are met, you can request immediately.

What if I'm one day short of the minimum but I've hit my profit target and I'm near my drawdown limit?

You must trade another qualifying day to hit the minimum. There's no way around it—partial completion doesn't qualify you for funding. Trade conservatively on that final day, focus on capital preservation, and minimize risk. Hold a position 5+ minutes to ensure the day counts, then stop.

Does TradeDay's dashboard ever make mistakes counting qualifying days?

Extremely rare. I've completed four evaluations and seen the counter work accurately every time. If you believe there's an error, review your trade history timestamps first—likely one of your days had all positions under the time threshold. If you still think it's wrong, contact TradeDay support with specific trade details.

Can I speed up hitting the minimum by trading every single day Mon-Fri?

Yes, you'll accumulate days faster. But aggressive daily trading increases risk of drawdown violations or consistency issues. Quality over quantity—trade when you see good setups, don't force trades just for day count. Most successful traders hit 7 days over 2-3 weeks, not 7 consecutive days.

If I switch from trailing to static drawdown mid-evaluation, does my days requirement change?

You can't switch account types mid-evaluation. If you're on trailing drawdown (7-day minimum), you must complete that evaluation structure. To try static drawdown (5-day minimum), you'd need to start a completely new evaluation by purchasing a different account type.

Does the minimum days requirement change once I'm funded?

No—this requirement only applies during evaluation phase. Once you're funded, there's no minimum trading days per week or month. You trade based on market conditions and your strategy, not artificial frequency requirements.

What happens if I miscount and request funding before hitting the minimum?

TradeDay will deny your funding request with explanation: "Minimum trading days not satisfied." Your evaluation doesn't terminate—you can continue trading to accumulate remaining days, then request funding again once you've met all five objectives.

Do paper trading or simulation days count toward the minimum?

No. Only live evaluation trades count. If you're practicing on a demo account before purchasing your evaluation, those days don't transfer. The minimum starts from zero when you activate your actual evaluation account.

Final Thoughts: Know Your Actual Requirement

The 5-day vs 7-day confusion has tripped up dozens of traders I've seen in Discord. They assume "5 days" applies universally, rush through their evaluation hitting 5 days, request funding at day 12, and get denied for not having 7 qualifying days.

Verify your specific requirement:

Trailing drawdown = 7 days (most traders)
Static drawdown = 5 days (fewer traders)

Then structure your evaluation timeline accordingly. Don't rely on forum posts or YouTube videos that might be discussing different account types.

I wasted a funding request because I didn't verify my requirement. Don't repeat my mistake—check your dashboard, confirm your account type, and know exactly how many days you need before you start trading.