Is there historical data for options?

Discussion in 'Options' started by trader3030, Sep 30, 2021.

  1. Hi guys,

    sorry in advanced if a dumb question, I'm a newb to options.

    Is there anywhere I can find the historical data or time and sales for an option on IBKR or anywhere else that shows historical data or time and sales?
     
  2. ZBZB

    ZBZB

    In IB TWS option trader, right click on a strike and choose chart. You can program via API to get the data.
     
  3. Matt_ORATS

    Matt_ORATS Sponsor

    We have historical quotes information back to 2007 14-minutes before the close snapshot of all optionable stocks.
    We have 1-minute quotes information back a year and 2-minute raw quotes back to 2015.
    https://www.orats.com/historical-quotes/
     
  4. IB does indeed provide historical price data for options. However, this is limited to options which have not yet expired. IB does not provide data for expired options. The OP does not specify whether (s)he is looking for data on expired options or not.
     
    trader3030 likes this.
    • I see no value in historical data for options.
    • What would someone do with it?
     
  5. jharmon

    jharmon

    You must be fun at parties too.
    • I see no value in parties
    • Why would anybody even go to a party?
     
    morganpbrown and Raheel Shaikh like this.
  6. Pekelo

    Pekelo

    You never heard of backtesting?

    TD Ameritrade has the feature.

    " The thinkBack™ tool in thinkorswim® can help backtest options strategies. Compare strategies, run entry and exit scenarios,

    fire up your thinkorswim® platform and select OnDemand in the upper right of any tab of the trading platform. The OnDemand tool lets you replay all the data, tick by tick, for any day from December 7, 2009, up to the present (future days are prohibited by time)"
     
    trader3030 likes this.
  7. Tds thinkback is about as good as you'll get for something free, however it's just a snapshot of closing historical prices that could be wrong or not accurate to what the options were actually trading. Take a look you will sometimes see huge bid ask spreads even on liquid tickers.
     
    Matt_ORATS and trader3030 like this.
  8. Matt_ORATS

    Matt_ORATS Sponsor

    Backtesting is very difficult to do well.
    We have been providing the service to some of the biggest institutions for 8 years and are now offering it to retail through our online tool.
    [​IMG]
     
    morganpbrown likes this.