How to Make Profits in Intraday Trading: Proven Strategies, Setups, and Mentorship Guidance

Intraday trading — also known as day trading — offers ambitious retail traders the opportunity to generate consistent returns by taking advantage of short-term price movements in the stock market. But profitability comes only when traders follow structured trading setups, disciplined risk management, and a repeatable routine. This guide explains how intraday traders typically make profits, what affects the average profit in intraday trading, and how expert trading mentorship accelerates progress.

If you want clarity, step-by-step trading strategies, and a realistic understanding of intraday profit potential, this is your complete starting point.

How Much Profit Can You Make in Intraday Trading? (Realistic Expectations)

Many traders ask: How much profit in intraday trading is realistic?

The answer depends on four factors:

Your trading setup and strategy
Your risk management
Your execution discipline
Market conditions

Example calculation (for clarity):

Capital: ₹10,000
Average winning trade: 0.8%
Average losing trade: 0.5%
Win rate: 55%
Trades per week: 10

Expected profit per trade:

Win: 0.008 × ₹10,000 = ₹80
Loss: 0.005 × ₹10,000 = ₹50
Expectancy = (0.55 × 80) − (0.45 × 50) = ₹21.50

Weekly expectancy = 10 trades × ₹21.50 = ₹215
Monthly expectancy ≈ ₹860 (8.6%)

This is a realistic intraday profit framework, not a guarantee. Some traders earn more, many beginners earn less while learning.

Industry-wide, the average profit in intraday trading for skilled retail traders is often in the 1–8% monthly range, depending on skill, risk, and consistency.

What Determines Your Intraday Profitability?

Your profits depend on the following drivers:

Edge: The quality of your trading strategies
Execution: Slippage, entries, exits, and discipline
Risk management: Position sizing, daily loss limits
Instrument choice: Stocks, stock options, or index options
Market conditions: Trend, volatility, liquidity
Psychology: Impulse control, patience, routine
Data: Reliable stock reports and pre-market levels

Understanding these factors helps you build a trading setup with a measurable edge.

High-Probability Intraday Trading Setups

Below are proven intraday trading setups used by disciplined traders in stocks, options, and index options.

A. Momentum Breakout Setup

Best for: Large-cap stocks and liquid index options
Timeframe: 5m–15m for context, 1m for entries

Conditions:

Strong trend on the daily chart
Above VWAP intraday
Volume 2× higher at breakout level

Entry: Break above consolidation high with rising volume
Stop-loss: Below consolidation or VWAP
Target: 1–2R, with scaling out at 1R

B. Pullback to VWAP Setup (Trend Continuation)

Best for: High-volume stocks
Timeframe: 3m–15m

Conditions:

Stock trending up
Pullback into VWAP or 8/20 EMA
Bullish rejection candle

Entry: Reversal candle at VWAP with volume confirmation
Stop-loss: Below swing low or VWAP
Target: 1.5–3R

C. Gap and Go Setup

Best for: Stocks with news or strong pre-market momentum
Conditions:

Pre-market gap ≥ 2%
Strong volume and clean technical structure

Entry: After the first pullback post-opening range
Stop-loss: Below pullback low
Target: Measured move equal to the gap

D. Index Options Intraday Setup (Momentum-Based)

Best for: Nifty, Bank Nifty, NASDAQ, SPX equivalent setups
Approach: Trade near-the-money index options only in liquid markets

Entry: Breakout on underlying index chart
Stop-loss: Option premium SL or delta-equivalent underlying level
Target: Quick 1–2R scalps

Options amplify opportunity and risk — strict risk management is essential.

Build Your Own High-Probability Trading Setup

Use this template to design your intraday trading system:

Setup name
Instruments: stocks, stock options, index options
Timeframes: 1m, 5m, 15m
Market conditions required
Entry criteria
Stop-loss rule
Profit targets and scaling
Position sizing rules
Exit conditions
Invalidation conditions (when NOT to trade)

A complete setup prevents emotional decision-making and brings consistency.

Risk Management Rules Used by Professional Traders

These rules separate profitable traders from impulsive ones:

Risk 0.25–1% of capital per trade
Stop trading when you hit your daily loss limit
Predefine position size based on stop distance
Always place a stop-loss (no exceptions)
Avoid correlated positions
Track every trade in a journal

Intraday trading is less about finding big winners and more about avoiding big losers.

Intraday Trading Routine: Your Daily Blueprint

A solid routine builds confidence and focus.

Pre-Market (30–60 minutes)

Review stock reports
Identify news, earnings, and high-volume candidates
Mark intraday levels
Plan 2–4 potential trading setups

Opening (First 30–45 minutes)

Trade only the best setups
Avoid chasing early volatility

Midday

Reduce position size
Avoid low-liquidity chop

Closing Hour

Look for momentum continuation patterns

Post-Market

Review trades
Update watchlist
Journal emotions and mistakes

A routine is free, but it dramatically increases your chances of being profitable.

How a Trading Mentor Accelerates Your Growth

A skilled trading mentor or trading coach helps you shorten the learning curve by:

Identifying the best trading setups for your style
Improving entries, exits, and risk management
Providing one-on-one coaching and accountability
Reviewing your trades in detail
Teaching live market decision-making
Providing educational stock reports
Helping build emotional discipline

Mentorship doesn’t guarantee profits — but it guarantees clarity, structure, and improvement, which lead to more consistent results over time.

How Amuktha Trading Services Helps Intraday Traders

Amuktha Trading Services offers a structured, practical approach built for real retail traders:

Personalized one-on-one coaching
Custom trading setups and improvement plans
Live market guidance
Daily and weekly stock reports
Intraday books
Review sessions with an experienced trading mentor
Step-by-step strategies for stocks, stock options, and index options

If you’re serious about becoming a consistent trader, structured mentorship is one of the fastest ways to accelerate your growth.

Example: A Complete Intraday Trade Walkthrough

Capital: ₹25,000
Risk: 0.5% = ₹125
Stop distance: ₹0.50

Position size: ₹125 ÷ 0.50 = 250 shares

Entry: ₹50.00
Stop: ₹49.50
Target: ₹50.75 (1.5R)

Profit: 250 × ₹0.75 = ₹187.50

This is how disciplined, risk-defined intraday trading produces steady growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average profit in intraday trading?
Typically 1–8% monthly for experienced traders with strong risk management.

Is intraday trading profitable for beginners?
Yes, but beginners often lose at first while learning setups, psychology, and risk rules.

Which is better—stocks or options for day trading?
Stocks are simpler; index options offer leverage but require more discipline.

Do I need a trading coach?
A trading mentor helps you avoid costly mistakes and accelerates skill development through structured guidance.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’re looking to move from inconsistent results to structured, confident, professional-level trading, consider taking the next step with Amuktha Trading Services: