Day Trading: What the Success Rates Really Look Like
Success stories get the headlines. The data tells a different story. Across studies and industries, only a small minority of day traders achieve durable profitability—and an even smaller group earns enough to live on.
Key Findings (Across Multiple Sources)
- Short-term profit is rare: ~13% of day traders show consistent profit over six months; ~1% over five years.
- Most lose money annually: ~72% of retail day traders end the year with losses.
- As a career: At prop firms, ~4% make a living; 10–15% may make some money but not enough to sustain a career.
- Futures example: ~97% lose money; ~3% profitable in certain studies.
- High attrition: ~40% quit within the first month; only ~13% remain active after three years.
| Timeframe / Context | Metric |
|---|---|
| First month | ~40% quit |
| 6 months | ~13% consistently profitable |
| 3 years | ~13% still active |
| 5 years | ~1% consistently profitable |
| Retail traders (annual) | ~72% lose money |
| Prop trading (career) | ~4% make a living; 10–15% some gains |
| Futures studies | ~97% lose; ~3% profitable |
Sources & Further Reading
- Quantified Strategies — Day Trading Statistics
- Unbiased — Day Trading: Key Statistics
- Trade That Swing — The Day Trading Success Rate
- NewTrading.io — Is Day Trading Profitable?
- Wired — Lose Money Fast — Day Trade
Note: Figures vary by market, timeframe, and methodology, but the direction is consistent across sources: long-term success rates are very low.