When I first started trading in the equity markets, I used to take a lot of trades every day. I thought the more I traded, the more are my chances of becoming profitable or to get better trades. But soon I realised — that’s not how trading works. With time, I learned to limit my trades. Also, having the time boundary of a fixed trading window — from 9:15 AM to 3:30 PM, the official timing for Indian stock markets also helped me control overtrading.
Then came crypto trading — a market that’s open 24×7. And honestly, I’m glad I didn’t start with crypto first. If I had, I probably would’ve traded all day and night! Thankfully, by then I had already learned one important rule — control the urge to trade and avoid FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). That discipline is what helped me sustain in crypto trading.
Before you scroll further — If you’re serious about trading, start the right way:
- Open your Demat & Trading Account with Zerodha — India’s most trusted stock broker.
- Interested in crypto trading? Begin safely on CoinDCX or Delta Exchange — both FIU-registered and government-compliant platforms.
- Want to master trading charts and patterns? Grab this must-read book: Candlestick & Chart Trading Mastery.
Who Should Care About This?
If you’re a prop desk trader or a scalper who trades large volumes professionally, this question doesn’t really apply to you. Your trading style and capital are built for high-frequency trading.
But if you’re a retail trader — whether full-time or part-time alongside your job — then this question is very important: How many trades should you take in a day?
What Successful Traders Do
I know one extremely successful trader who takes only one trade a day — but he trades with large volumes. After that, he’s done for the day and moves on to other things. In fact, most consistently profitable traders I’ve met don’t overtrade. They take a few high-quality trades, close their screens, and do something productive.
On the other hand, almost every loss-making trader I’ve seen spends the entire day glued to the screen — hunting for the next “perfect opportunity.” They end up taking 10–20 trades, and in the process, wipe out their profits or even their capital. This habit of overtrading is what kills most traders — not the market itself.
So, How Many Trades Should You Take?
For a retail trader, the sweet spot is around 2 to 3 trades per day. That’s it. Here’s why:
- Mental fatigue: After analysing and executing 2–3 trades, your brain gets tired. Trading requires full attention and emotional control — both of which drop sharply after a few trades.
- Time and focus: Sometimes, a single trade might take hours to reach your target or stop loss. By then, you’re already mentally drained, and taking more trades can lead to impulsive decisions.
- Higher costs: More trades mean more brokerage and transaction charges. Even if you make profits, those small costs can quietly eat into your gains.
- Reduced quality: Usually, your first trade of the day is your best one — because you’re fresh, focused, and patient. As the day goes on, trades often become emotional or based on FOMO rather than analysis.
The Danger of Overtrading
Overtrading gives you a false sense of productivity. You feel busy, you feel like you’re doing something — but most of the time, you’re just chasing random setups. Markets will always present new opportunities. But not every opportunity is worth taking. The more you stay in front of the screen, the more tempted you’ll be to trade — and that’s when you start making poor decisions.
Final Thoughts
As a retail trader, your goal shouldn’t be to trade more — it should be to trade better. Two or three good trades a day are more than enough to build consistency and confidence. Once you’re done trading, log out, close your screen, and step away. Go to the gym, grab some food, or do something that relaxes you.
Remember: trading is about patience, not action. The market rewards discipline, not activity. So next time you feel tempted to take that “one more trade,” remind yourself — sometimes the best trade is no trade at all.
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