---
title: "Definition of Days to Cover"
url: https://signalscreener.fr/definition/short-ratio/
markdown_url: https://signalscreener.fr/definition/short-ratio.md
description: "The number of days it would take short sellers to cover their positions based on average daily volume."
type: glossary-definition
site: Signal Screener
language: en
keywords:
  - "Days to Cover"
  - "Short Ratio"
translations:
  de: https://signalscreener.fr/de/definition/short-ratio.md
  es: https://signalscreener.fr/es/definition/short-ratio.md
  fr: https://signalscreener.fr/fr/definition/short-ratio.md
  it: https://signalscreener.fr/it/definition/short-ratio.md
---

# Short Ratio

## What is Days to Cover?

The number of days it would take short sellers to cover their positions based on average daily volume.

## Think of it like this

Like measuring how many days it would take to empty a pool using a garden hose - more days means more shorts stuck.

## Formula

```
Short Ratio = Shares Short ÷ Average Daily Volume
```

- **Shares Short**: Total shares currently sold short
- **Average Daily Volume**: Typical daily trading volume

## Why it matters

- Shows potential for short squeeze
- Higher ratio = more squeeze potential
- Indicates strength of bearish bets
- Affects stock volatility

## What's a good value?

| Range | Rating | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| < 2 days | Low | Easy for shorts to cover |
| 2-5 days | Moderate | Normal short interest |
| 5-10 days | High | Significant covering time needed |
| > 10 days | Very High | Strong squeeze potential |

## Real-world example

GameStop had a short ratio over 10 days before the famous 2021 short squeeze.

---

This is educational content, not financial advice.

Source: [Definition of Days to Cover](https://signalscreener.fr/definition/short-ratio/) on Signal Screener. Free to quote and cite with attribution and a link to that URL, which is the canonical one.

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