What if you only needed 20 minutes every hour to catch the best trading setups? That’s the idea behind ICT Macro Times. These short but powerful windows show you when the market is most active—when the big players (smart money) step in, and when prices often make sharp, meaningful moves. Instead of watching the charts all day and hoping something happens, you focus on these key moments to trade with purpose.
ICT Macro Times aren’t random. They are part of a repeating pattern that follows the clock. Institutions and algorithms follow a schedule, and these 20-minute windows reflect their actions. In this guide, you’ll learn exactly what ICT Macro Time is, why it matters, and how you can use it to improve your trading results.
What Is an ICT Macro Time?
An ICT Macro Time is a 20-minute trading window that happens twice every hour, during the first 10 minutes and the last 10 minutes. These are the times when price often makes its biggest or most meaningful moves.
These windows are common during the most active trading sessions, especially the London and New York sessions. They are based on the idea that price doesn’t move all the time, but only at specific moments when volume and liquidity increase. Institutions follow this timing, and that’s what makes it useful to follow as a trader.
Why Are These 20 Minutes So Powerful for Trading?
These short periods are powerful because:
- They match with session opens and closes, when big moves often happen.
- Price usually makes liquidity grabs or strong pushes during these times.
- It helps traders avoid slow and choppy markets.
- They give you a simple structure to plan entries and exits.
Instead of sitting at your screen all day, you focus only on the key times when the market is most likely to move. This saves time and improves focus.
What Are the ICT Macro Times for Forex, Futures, and Indices?
ICT Macro Times refers to specific trading sessions (like London AM or New York PM) when institutional activity is highest. These times help traders spot high-probability moves across Forex, Futures, and Indices.
| Session | Time (EST) | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| London AM Macro | 2:00 AM – 5:00 AM | Forex, Indices, Futures,Crypto |
| New York AM Macro | 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM | Forex, Indices, Futures, Crypto |
| New York PM Macro | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Forex, Indices, Futures, Crypto |
What Are the ICT London Session Macro Times?
- Macro 1: 02:33 AM – 03:00 AM
- Macro 2: 04:03 AM – 04:30 AM
These times often set the early tone for the day. They can show the first signs of price direction or act as fakeouts before New York opens.
What Are the ICT New York AM Macro Times?
- Macro 1: 08:50 AM – 09:10 AM
- Macro 2: 09:50 AM – 10:10 AM
- Macro 3: 10:50 AM – 11:10 AM
These are the most important times of the day. Smart money is very active, and you often see breakouts, reversals, or big volume during these macros.
What Are the ICT New York(PM) Afternoon Macro Times?
- Lunch Macro: 11:50 AM – 12:10 PM (often slow or sideways)
- PM Macro: 01:10 PM – 01:40 PM
- Last Hour Macro: 03:15 PM – 03:45 PM
Afternoon macros are useful for final entries, trade exits, or preparing for the next day.
How Does Price Behave During ICT Macro Times?
Price doesn’t move randomly. It usually follows phases, especially during macro times:
- Expansion – Price moves quickly in one direction.
- Consolidation – Price slows down or stays in a small range.
- Retracement or Reversal – Price moves back or changes direction after taking liquidity.
Knowing which phase you’re in helps you avoid bad trades and focus on the best setups.
Price Action and Macro Time Relationship
When analyzing a chart, it becomes evident that every pip movement has a purpose. Behind each shift in price, there is a clear objective. Price does not move in a single direction—it fluctuates, rising and falling. At times, it moves aggressively; other times, it retraces back to its point of origin. Occasionally, it consolidates and moves within a range. These behaviors reflect the underlying intentions driving the market.
What Is an Expansion Macro?
In this phase, price breaks out fast and continues to move. This is a good time for trend trades or breakout setups.
The chart above illustrates a macro price expansion in a single direction.
After sweeping liquidity at 2548.45, price on the ETHUSDT pair moved upward during the New York PM session.
What Is a Consolidation Macro?
Price moves sideways with no clear direction, which is often a trap. It’s better to wait and avoid trading during this time.
What Is a Retracement or Reversal Macro?
Price first moves one way, then quickly switches direction. These times are great for catching reversals or entering after a liquidity grab.
ICT Macro Time Trading Strategy
Here’s a simple step-by-step plan to trade macro times:
- Know the macro time you want to trade (use the list above).
- Watch what phase price is in—expanding, consolidating, or reversing.
- Mark key levels on your chart like equal highs/lows and FVGs.
- Wait for the price to enter the macro window.
- Look for confirmation, like structure breaks, SMT divergence, or fair value gap entries.
- Enter with a tight stop loss.
- Exit near liquidity or opposite structure.
Bullish Trade Setup During Machor Times
The ETHUSDT pair displays a bullish setup during the New York AM macro session.
Price action shows the formation of an Inverted Fair Value Gap (IFVG), indicating a potential market structure shift. Price revisited this imbalance to fill the gap, with the next target being the buy-side liquidity at 255.98.
Bearish Setup During Macro Time
The above chart of the cryptocurrency pair ETHUSDT shows a bearish setup formed during the New York PM session.
After sweeping liquidity, price delivered a market structure shift (MSS), leaving behind an Inverted Fair Value Gap (IFVG). Price then revisited the gap to fill the imbalance, with the next downside target being the sell-side liquidity at 2,554.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Final Thoughts: Why You Should Pay Attention to ICT Macro Time
ICT Macro Times gives structure to your trading. They tell you when to watch, not just where to look. That’s powerful because time is often the missing piece for new traders.
By focusing on just a few key windows per day, you avoid chasing price and start trading with intention. You become more focused, more consistent, and more aligned with how the market really works.
So the next time you look at a chart, ask yourself: “What time is it?” Because if it’s a macro time, it might be your best chance to trade like smart money.