It's 4:00 PM on expiration day. The market closes in 30 minutes. A $0.50 premium that's worthless tomorrow is still worth $0.48 today. That $0.48 is yours to capture in the final hour.
This is 0DTE (zero days to expiration) trading. It's where time decay becomes explosive. It's also where discipline separates consistent income earners from gamblers.
0DTE trading isn't new—market makers have done it for decades. But in the last 3 years, retail trader access to 0DTE has exploded. Today, you can trade SPX options that expire literally tomorrow. The volumes are massive. The opportunities are real. And the risks are equally extreme.
This guide shows you how to capture 0DTE income without blowing up your account.
The 0DTE Phenomenon: Why It's Exploding in 2025
Why Retail Traders Are Moving to 0DTE
1. Theta Acceleration Is Extreme
Compare premium decay across expiration phases:
| Time to Expiration | SPY Call Premium | Daily Decay | Decay Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 DTE | $1.50 | $0.04 | 2.7% per day |
| 3 DTE | $0.60 | $0.15 | 25% per day |
| 1 DTE | $0.25 | $0.20 | 80% per day |
| 0 DTE (4 PM) | $0.05 | $0.05 | 100% decay by close |
At 0DTE 4:00 PM, every minute matters. You're not measuring time in days—you're measuring it in hours and minutes.
2. Probability of Max Profit Skyrockets
At 0DTE close to expiration:
- Deep OTM spreads: 95%+ probability of max profit
- Slight OTM spreads: 85-90% probability
- Near-the-money: 50-60% probability
Compare to 14 DTE (75-80% probability). At 0DTE, you're trading near certainty, not probability.
3. Capital Efficiency
A 0DTE spread requires only hours to capture ~50% premium. At 14 DTE, it takes 7 days to capture the same 50%.
0DTE = 7x faster capital cycles.
4. Lower Overnight Gap Risk
With only hours until close, you don't have to worry about earnings, Fed announcements, geopolitical shocks, or overnight gaps. The risk surface is finite and visible.
The Physics of Theta Acceleration: How 0DTE Differs
At 0DTE, the mathematics of theta decay change fundamentally.
Theta Decay Is Nonlinear, Not Linear
Most traders think theta decay is linear: same decay each day.
Wrong. Theta acceleration is exponential as expiration approaches.
Example: SPY 450 Put
| Days to Expiration | Premium Value | Theta (daily decay) | Cumulative Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | $2.00 | -$0.04 | -$0.04 (day 1) |
| 6 | $1.96 | -$0.08 | -$0.12 (day 2) |
| 5 | $1.88 | -$0.12 | -$0.24 (day 3) |
| 4 | $1.76 | -$0.16 | -$0.40 (day 4) |
| 3 | $1.60 | -$0.25 | -$0.65 (day 5) |
| 2 | $1.35 | -$0.40 | -$1.05 (day 6) |
| 1 | $0.95 | -$0.70 | -$1.75 (day 7) |
| 0 (noon) | $0.25 | -$0.70 | -$2.45 (at noon) |
| 0 (close) | $0.00 | - | $2.00 total decay |
Read this carefully:
- Days 1-3: Premium decays ~$0.04-0.12 per day (slow)
- Days 4-5: Premium decays ~$0.16-0.25 per day (faster)
- Days 6-7: Premium decays ~$0.40-0.70 per day (extreme)
- Day 0 (final hours): Premium decays ~$0.70+ per day (exponential)
The key insight: 50% of total decay happens in the final 2 days. 80% of decay happens in the final week. 99% of decay happens by Friday close.
Gamma Explosion at 0DTE
At 0DTE, gamma becomes binary: it's either 0 (far from strike) or infinity (at the strike).
Example: SPY 450 Put at 0DTE, 2 hours before close
| Stock Price | Delta | Gamma | Implication |
|---|---|---|---|
| $449 | 0.95 | Infinite | Deep ITM; virtually 100% to expire ITM |
| $450.50 | 0.50 | Infinite | Right at strike; 50/50 whether ITM or OTM |
| $452 | 0.05 | Infinite | Deep OTM; virtually 0% to expire ITM |
Notice the gamma? It's not a number—it's binary. If the stock is at $449.80, delta is 0.95. If it moves to $450.20, delta jumps to 0.80. That's a 0.15 delta move in $0.40 of stock movement—gamma of 0.375 per tick.
Your position implications:
- Profitable trade at 2 PM? Still could blow up by 3 PM if stock moves $0.50.
- Losing trade at 3:45 PM? Could recover in the final 15 minutes if stock reverses $0.50.
Hedging becomes impossible. Position sizing becomes critical.
0DTE Income Strategies: The Three Archetypes
Not all 0DTE strategies are created equal. Here are the three distinct approaches:
Strategy 1: The Harvester (Conservative 0DTE)
Goal: Capture remaining theta decay on existing positions.
Setup:
- Day 1 (Thursday): Sell 7 DTE puts at delta 20
- Day 6 (Wednesday): Close at 50% profit, OR...
- Day 7 (Thursday, 0DTE): Let expiration day theta accelerate, close at 75%+ profit
Psychology: You're not "trading 0DTE." You're letting an existing position run into expiration.
Example:
- Thursday close: Sell 450/445 put spread, collect $0.50
- Friday (0DTE, 2 PM): Spread worth $0.12
- Close at $0.12 max loss risk = $0.38 profit ($1,900 on 5-contract position)
- Your ROC: 76% over 1 week
Risk:
- If SPY drops 2% at 2 PM, your short put could jump ITM
- You must have a close plan BEFORE 2 PM
Best for: Income traders managing existing positions into expiration
Strategy 2: The Day Trader (Moderate 0DTE)
Goal: Enter fresh 0DTE spreads in morning, close by afternoon.
Setup:
- Open 9:30 AM: Sell deep OTM 0DTE spreads
- Close 2-3 PM: Take 30-50% profit
Psychology: You're trading time decay intraday. You enter at high theta, close before gamma becomes lethal (final 2 hours).
Example (SPY, Friday morning):
- 9:30 AM: Sell 460/465 call spread (SPY at $450), collect $0.25
- 2:00 PM: Spread worth $0.08
- Close for $0.17 profit ($850 on 5 contracts)
- Your ROC: 68% over 4.5 hours
Risk:
- Intraday spike: SPY gaps up 1% at 11 AM—your spreads could wipe 50% value instantly
- No overnight gap risk, but intraday gap risk is extreme
- Bid-ask spreads widen as close approaches (hard to exit at 3:59 PM)
Best for: Active traders comfortable monitoring positions intraday
Strategy 3: The Hawk (Aggressive 0DTE)
Goal: Enter fresh 0DTE spreads, hold to final hour for maximum decay.
Setup:
- 1:00 PM Friday: Sell near-ATM 0DTE spreads
- 3:50 PM Friday: Close for 80-90% profit
Psychology: You're timing maximum gamma risk (right at the strike) with maximum theta decay (final hour). It's a razor's edge.
Example (SPY, Friday afternoon):
- 1:00 PM: Sell 450/445 put spread (SPY at $450.50), collect $0.30
- 3:45 PM: Spread worth $0.02
- Close for $0.28 profit ($1,400 on 5 contracts)
- Your ROC: 93% over 2.75 hours
Risk:
- Extreme: A 0.5% down move ($2.50) on SPY could flip this from $0.02 to $1.50+ loss
- You're trading right at the strike where gamma is infinite
- One wrong move = max loss
- You must be able to close instantly (not easy in final hour)
Best for: Experienced traders with iron discipline and fast execution
The 0DTE Decision Tree: Which Strategy for You?
| Your Experience | Time Available | Risk Tolerance | Recommended Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| New to options | Flexible | Low-Medium | Don't trade 0DTE; paper trade first |
| Intermediate | Can monitor | Medium | Strategy 1: Harvester (existing positions) |
| Intermediate | Active intraday | Medium-High | Strategy 2: Day Trader (morning entries) |
| Advanced | Very active | High | Strategy 3: Hawk (afternoon entries) |
| Professional | All day | Very high | Multiple strategies simultaneously |
Most retail traders should use Strategy 1 (Harvester). You're not entering fresh 0DTE positions—you're letting existing positions mature.
The 0DTE Setup: From Entry to Exit
The Harvester Method (Recommended for Retail)
Step 1: Enter on Thursday (Day Before Expiration)
- Sell weekly put spread at delta 20
- Example: Sell 440 / buy 435 (45 min before Thursday close)
- Collect $0.50 credit
Why Thursday close?
- You capture 1 full day of theta decay (Friday = 0DTE)
- You avoid overnight gaps
- You give yourself a full Friday to adjust if needed
Step 2: Manage Friday Morning (0DTE)
Friday opens. Check your position:
| Status | Action | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Profitable 50%+ | Close at 50% | Lock gains; avoid gamma risk |
| Profitable 25-50% | Hold 1-2 hours, then close | Let Friday theta work, but exit before gamma spikes |
| Breakeven | Hold until 1 PM, reassess | 4 hours of theta decay ahead, but watch gamma |
| Loss | Close and accept loss OR adjust | Don't hope for recovery; manage risk |
Step 3: Friday Afternoon Decision (0DTE)
By 1:00 PM Friday, you have 3 hours until close. This is your final call:
If profitable 50%+: Close immediately. You've won. Don't hold into gamma zone.
If profitable 25-50%: Hold until 2 PM, then close. Let final theta spike hit, but exit before final hour chaos.
If breakeven or small loss: Close by 2 PM. Don't gamble in final hour.
If large loss (>50% of max): You're in trouble. Either:
- Close the loss and move on
- Adjust by buying back short leg (convert to long put, capped loss)
- Hold to final hour and hope for reversal (risky)
Key rule: Never hold into the final 1 hour (3:00-4:00 PM). Gamma is lethal. Bid-ask spreads widen. Execution becomes difficult.
Real Example: SPY Put Spread Friday
Thursday 3:50 PM:
- SPY: $450
- Sell 440 put / buy 435 put
- Credit: $0.50 ($250/spread, or $1,250 for 5 contracts)
- Probability of max profit: 70%
Friday 9:30 AM (0DTE opens):
- SPY: $451 (up $1 from entry)
- Spread value: $0.18 (down from $0.50)
- Your profit: $0.32 (64% of max)
- Theta added: $0.32 from close yesterday
Option A: Close at 9:35 AM
- Lock in 64% profit
- Capital returned: $1,320 profit on $1,250 at risk
- ROC: 105% in 16 hours (weekly spread + 1 Friday)
Option B: Hold for theta spike
- Friday 1:00 PM: Spread worth $0.10
- Your profit: $0.40 (80% of max!)
- Theta added: $0.08 more from morning
Option C: Get greedy, hold to 3 PM
- Friday 3:00 PM: SPY drops $1 to $450 (down $0.50 from this morning)
- Delta acceleration hits: spread value jumps to $0.45
- Your profit: Only $0.05 (10% of max!)
- Theta decay no longer covers gamma losses
Option D: The worst: Hold to final 30 min
- Friday 3:30 PM: SPY drops another $0.50 to $449.50
- Your spread now has $0.80 value
- Your loss: -$0.30 (-60% of max profit!)
- You're now fighting gamma in the final minutes with no recovery time
0DTE Risk Management: The Non-Negotiables
Rule 1: Position Sizing Is Everything
At 0DTE, gamma is extreme. A small position size mistake = catastrophic loss.
0DTE Position Sizing:
| Account Size | Max Risk Per Trade | Contracts 0DTE | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | $50-100 | 1 | Learning account; stick to $1 width spreads |
| $10,000 | $100-200 | 1-2 | Conservative; $1-2 width spreads |
| $25,000 | $250-500 | 2-5 | Standard; $2-3 width spreads |
| $50,000 | $500-1,000 | 5-10 | Experienced; $3-5 width spreads |
| $100,000+ | $1,000-2,000 | 10-20 | Professional; variable widths |
Key rule: Never risk >2% of account on single 0DTE trade.
Rule 2: Close Profitable Positions Early
The easiest mistake: holding for max profit when you've already captured 60-70%.
Close targets by time:
- 9:30 AM - 11 AM: Close at 50% profit
- 11 AM - 1 PM: Close at 60-70% profit
- 1 PM - 2 PM: Close at 70-80% profit
- 2 PM - 3 PM: Close at 80-90% profit
- 3 PM - close: Don't trade; close all existing
Rule 3: Never Average Down 0DTE
If your 0DTE trade goes against you, do not add contracts to average your entry.
Why? At 0DTE, gamma can flip the table in minutes. Averaging down is just doubling down on a losing bet with leverage.
Rule 4: Set Hard Stop Losses
Before entering 0DTE, know your exit point.
Example:
- "Sell 440/435 put spread for $0.50. If spread value reaches $0.80 (max loss approach), close. If profit reaches $0.35, close."
- Write it down before market open.
Rule 5: Monitor Bid-Ask Spreads
As 0DTE close approaches, bid-ask widens. Your exit slippage increases.
| Time | Typical Bid-Ask | Implication |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30 AM | $0.01-0.02 | Tight; liquid |
| 12:00 PM | $0.02-0.05 | Widening slightly |
| 2:00 PM | $0.05-0.10 | Noticeable slippage |
| 3:30 PM | $0.10-0.25+ | Difficult to exit |
Best exits: Before 2 PM when bid-ask is still tight.
Rule 6: Assume 1% Gap Risk Intraday
Even though overnight gaps are eliminated (it's Friday, close is final), intraday gaps are still real.
SPY average intraday move on Fridays: 0.5-1.5%
Your 0DTE spread positioned at 450/445:
- A 1% gap down intraday ($4.50) could move you from profitable to max loss instantly
- Account for this when entering
The Tools You Need for 0DTE Trading
1. Real-Time Greeks Display
You must see delta, gamma, theta in real time during Friday.
Recommended brokers:
- Interactive Brokers: Best Greeks display; Trader Workstation
- ThinkorSwim (TD): Excellent Greeks, easier interface
- Tastyworks: Purpose-built for spreads, excellent Greeks visualization
2. Profit/Loss Visualizer
You must know instantly: "If stock moves to $X, what's my P&L?"
All brokers offer this. Use it.
3. Alerts and Notifications
Set alerts for:
- Position reaches +50% profit
- Position reaches -50% of max loss
- 2:00 PM Friday reminder (time to close)
4. Paper Trading Platform
Practice 0DTE trades before risking real money.
- Trade Thursday evening (paper)
- Watch Friday play out (paper)
- Take notes on gamma behavior
- Graduate to real money
Common 0DTE Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Selling Too Wide at 0DTE
Wrong: Sell 450/445 put spread at 0DTE, thinking "5% downside is safe"
Right: At 0DTE, sell 450/448 or 450/447 (narrower)
Why? Gamma means that 5% move ($22.50) isn't a 5% probability—it's a 20%+ probability at 0DTE due to gamma acceleration.
Mistake 2: Entering New 0DTE Spreads Without Plan
Wrong: Friday 1 PM: "I'll sell a put spread and see how it goes"
Right: Friday 1 PM: "I'll sell a put spread for 30 min, close at 50%, stop at 80%+ loss"
Mistake 3: Ignoring Liquidity
Wrong: Selling 0DTE spreads on low-volume stocks
Right: Stick to SPY, QQQ, XSP (mini-SPX) where 0DTE volume is high
Low liquidity = wide bid-ask = slippage eats your profits.
Mistake 4: Mixing Strategies
Wrong: Thursday: Enter weekly put spread. Friday AM: Enter fresh 0DTE call spread. Manage both.
Right: Thursday: Enter weekly. Friday: Harvest only, no new entry.
Mixing strategies = mixing risks. Start simple.
Mistake 5: Not Having Enough Capital
Wrong: $5,000 account, selling 5 0DTE contracts
Right: $5,000 account, selling 1 0DTE contract until you're profitable
The 0DTE Advantage: Why It Works
1. Time Decay Is Your Only Enemy (Not Direction)
At 0DTE, gamma dominates. But theta decay is so fast, it overwhelms gamma if you're selling OTM.
Example:
- Sell 450 put spread at 0DTE, SPY at $450.50 (right at strike)
- Gamma is infinite; gamma loss could be large
- But theta decay is $0.70+/hour
- In 2 hours, theta gains overwhelm gamma losses if stock stays near strike
2. Probability Clustering
At 0DTE, probabilities cluster at extremes:
- 95%+ probability that deep OTM expires worthless
- 50/50 probability that near-ATM expires ITM or OTM
You're not trading mediocre probabilities; you're trading near-certainties (if positioned correctly).
3. Rapid Capital Cycles
Entry Friday 9:30 AM, close Friday 1 PM = $1,250 at risk for 4 hours = $7,500/day capital efficiency on a $25k account.
Compare to weekly spreads: Friday entry to next Friday close = $1,250 at risk for 7 days. Much slower capital cycle.
4. News Risk Minimized
With only hours, most "surprises" are visible. No earnings reports, no Fed decisions, no overnight gaps.
Your First 0DTE Trade: The Step-by-Step Plan
Week 1: Paper Trading
- Thursday evening: Sell 7 DTE put spread on SPY, paper trade
- Friday: Watch it play out Friday
- Note your feelings (greed at 75% profit? Fear at gamma jumps?)
- Analyze: Where did theta accelerate? Where did gamma bite?
Week 2: Real Money, Small Size
- Thursday 3 PM: Sell 1 contract 7 DTE put spread (delta 20)
- Friday AM: Check at 9:30 AM
- If 50% profit, close immediately
- Journal: Entry price, exit price, time held, profit %, emotions
Week 3-4: Build Consistency
- Set weekly goal: 5 harvester trades, target 50% average profit
- Track: Win rate, average profit %, time to close
- Identify your best entry times (early Thursday? Thursday close?)
Month 2: Scale Up Carefully
- Increase to 2-3 contracts per trade
- Experiment with slightly wider spreads (if ready)
- Add real-time Greeks monitoring
- Consider day trader strategy (Friday AM entry) if confident
The Reality Check: Is 0DTE for You?
0DTE trading can be profitable. But it's not for everyone.
Trader profile that thrives on 0DTE:
- ✅ Can monitor positions during market hours
- ✅ Comfortable with extreme gamma
- ✅ Disciplined on stops and exits
- ✅ Process-oriented (not emotion-driven)
- ✅ Enjoy rapid feedback loops
Trader profile that struggles with 0DTE:
- ❌ Can't watch markets live
- ❌ Tempted to hold winners "for the last 10%"
- ❌ Panic-sells at first sign of loss
- ❌ Doesn't journal or track performance
- ❌ Prefers "set it and forget it" strategies
Honest answer: If you're not already profitable with weekly or monthly spreads, 0DTE will magnify your mistakes, not improve your results. Start with harvesting existing positions (Strategy 1). Graduate to day trading (Strategy 2) only after you've proven consistency.
Related Reading
- Theta Decay in Options: DTE Curves & Time Value Optimization
- Options Greeks by DTE: Delta, Gamma, Theta Behavior Across Expiration Phases
- When to Sell Options: Timing Signals & Entry Rules by Strategy
- Credit Spread Width Selection: DTE-Based Decision Framework
The final hour of expiration day is where professionals make their money. It's also where account sizes disappear. Trade it with respect.