Trailing drawdown, explained
A trailing drawdown is a max loss limit that follows your account up. It is the rule that ends the most prop accounts, and the details (intraday or end of day, when it locks) change how much room you really have.
The basic mechanic
Take a $50,000 account with a $2,000 trailing drawdown. The liquidation level starts at $48,000. If the account reaches $51,200, the level moves to $49,200; it always sits $2,000 below the high-water mark and never moves back down. Make $2,000 and lose it again, and you're out at $50,000, where you started.
End of day vs intraday
Intraday trailing uses your highest equity at any moment, open trades included. Suppose on day two the account touches $51,800 during the session but closes at $51,000. The intraday level jumps to $49,800, even though you kept none of that spike.
End-of-day trailing only looks at the closing balance. In the same day two, the level stays at $49,200, set by day one's $51,200 close. You get $600 more room for the same trading.
Trailing on closed balance sits in between: it updates during the day, but only from closed trades, not from open profit.
When it stops trailing
Most firms lock the level once it reaches the starting balance, or start plus a small amount such as $100. From then on it behaves like a static limit: further profit is pure buffer. Until then, every new high costs you room.
Static drawdown
A static limit is fixed at start minus the drawdown and never moves. Profit only adds buffer, which is why many forex firms pair it with a daily loss limit instead.
Every firm's max loss rule today
| Firm | Account | Stage | Max loss | Type | Stops trailing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha Futures | Advanced Evaluation + Qualified | evaluation | $1,750 on $50,000 (3.5%) | End-of-day trailing | at start balance |
| Alpha Futures | Advanced Evaluation + Qualified | funded | $1,750 on $50,000 (3.5%) | End-of-day trailing | at start balance |
| Alpha Futures | Direct (instant Qualified) | funded | $1,000 on $25,000 (4%) | End-of-day trailing | at start balance |
| Alpha Futures | Standard Evaluation + Qualified | evaluation | $2,000 on $50,000 (4%) | End-of-day trailing | at start balance |
| Alpha Futures | Standard Evaluation + Qualified | funded | $2,000 on $50,000 (4%) | End-of-day trailing | at start balance |
| Alpha Futures | Zero Evaluation + Qualified | evaluation | $1,000 on $25,000 (4%) | End-of-day trailing | at start balance |
| Alpha Futures | Zero Evaluation + Qualified | funded | $1,000 on $25,000 (4%) | End-of-day trailing | at start balance |
| Apex Trader Funding | EOD Evaluation + PA | evaluation | $1,000 on $25,000 (4%) | End-of-day trailing | never, see note |
| Apex Trader Funding | EOD Evaluation + PA | funded | $1,000 on $25,000 (4%) | End-of-day trailing | start + $100 |
| Apex Trader Funding | Intraday Evaluation + PA | evaluation | $1,000 on $25,000 (4%) | Intraday trailing | never |
| Apex Trader Funding | Intraday Evaluation + PA | funded | $1,000 on $25,000 (4%) | Intraday trailing | start + $100 |
| Blue Guardian | 1 Step Standard | evaluation | $300 on $5,000 (6%) | Trailing on closed balance | at start balance |
| Blue Guardian | 1 Step Standard | funded | $300 on $5,000 (6%) | Trailing on closed balance | at start balance |
| Blue Guardian | 2 Step Standard | evaluation | $400 on $5,000 (8%) | Static | — |
| Blue Guardian | 2 Step Standard | evaluation | $400 on $5,000 (8%) | Static | — |
| Blue Guardian | 2 Step Standard | funded | $400 on $5,000 (8%) | Static | — |
| Blue Guardian | Instant | funded | $300 on $5,000 (6%) | Trailing on closed balance | at start balance |
| Blue Guardian | Instant Starter | funded | $250 on $5,000 (5%) | Trailing on closed balance | at start balance |
| FTMO | FTMO Challenge 1-Step | evaluation | $1,000 on $10,000 (10%) | End-of-day trailing | never |
| FTMO | FTMO Challenge 1-Step | funded | $1,000 on $10,000 (10%) | End-of-day trailing | never |
| FTMO | FTMO Challenge 2-Step | evaluation | $1,000 on $10,000 (10%) | Static | — |
| FTMO | FTMO Challenge 2-Step | evaluation | $1,000 on $10,000 (10%) | Static | — |
| FTMO | FTMO Challenge 2-Step | funded | $1,000 on $10,000 (10%) | Static | — |
| FundedNext | Stellar 1-Step | evaluation | $360 on $6,000 (6%) | Static | — |
| FundedNext | Stellar 1-Step | funded | $360 on $6,000 (6%) | Static | — |
| FundedNext | Stellar 2-Step | evaluation | $600 on $6,000 (10%) | Static | — |
| FundedNext | Stellar 2-Step | evaluation | $600 on $6,000 (10%) | Static | — |
| FundedNext | Stellar 2-Step | funded | $600 on $6,000 (10%) | Static | — |
| FundedNext | Stellar Instant | funded | $120 on $2,000 (6%) | Trailing on closed balance | at start balance |
| FundedNext | Stellar Lite | evaluation | $400 on $5,000 (8%) | Static | — |
| FundedNext | Stellar Lite | evaluation | $400 on $5,000 (8%) | Static | — |
| FundedNext | Stellar Lite | funded | $400 on $5,000 (8%) | Static | — |
| FundingPips | 1 Step Flex | evaluation | $600 on $5,000 (12%) | Static | — |
| FundingPips | 1 Step Flex | funded | $600 on $5,000 (12%) | Static | — |
| FundingPips | 2 Step Flex (80% split) | evaluation | $600 on $5,000 (12%) | Static | — |
| FundingPips | 2 Step Flex (80% split) | evaluation | $600 on $5,000 (12%) | Static | — |
| FundingPips | 2 Step Flex (80% split) | funded | $600 on $5,000 (12%) | Static | — |
| FundingPips | 2 Step Flex (95% split) | evaluation | $600 on $5,000 (12%) | Static | — |
| FundingPips | 2 Step Flex (95% split) | evaluation | $600 on $5,000 (12%) | Static | — |
| FundingPips | 2 Step Flex (95% split) | funded | $600 on $5,000 (12%) | Static | — |
| FundingPips | 2 Step Pro | evaluation | $300 on $5,000 (6%) | Static | — |
| FundingPips | 2 Step Pro | evaluation | $300 on $5,000 (6%) | Static | — |
| FundingPips | 2 Step Pro | funded | $300 on $5,000 (6%) | Static | — |
| FundingPips | 2 Step Standard | evaluation | $500 on $5,000 (10%) | Static | — |
| FundingPips | 2 Step Standard | evaluation | $500 on $5,000 (10%) | Static | — |
| FundingPips | 2 Step Standard | funded | $500 on $5,000 (10%) | Static | — |
| FundingPips | FundingPips Zero | funded | $250 on $5,000 (5%) | Intraday trailing | at start balance |
| Goat Funded Trader | 1 Step | evaluation | $300 on $5,000 (6%) | Static | — |
| Goat Funded Trader | 1 Step | funded | $300 on $5,000 (6%) | Static | — |
| Goat Funded Trader | 2 Step GOAT | evaluation | $500 on $5,000 (10%) | Static | — |
| Goat Funded Trader | 2 Step GOAT | evaluation | $500 on $5,000 (10%) | Static | — |
| Goat Funded Trader | 2 Step GOAT | funded | $500 on $5,000 (10%) | Static | — |
| Goat Funded Trader | 2 Step Standard | evaluation | $500 on $5,000 (10%) | Static | — |
| Goat Funded Trader | 2 Step Standard | evaluation | $500 on $5,000 (10%) | Static | — |
| Goat Funded Trader | 2 Step Standard | funded | $500 on $5,000 (10%) | Static | — |
| Lucid Trading | LucidDaily (end-of-day evaluation) | evaluation | $1,000 on $25,000 (4%) | End-of-day trailing | start + $100 |
| Lucid Trading | LucidDaily (end-of-day evaluation) | funded | $1,000 on $25,000 (4%) | Intraday trailing | start + $100 |
| Lucid Trading | LucidDaily (intraday evaluation) | evaluation | $1,000 on $25,000 (4%) | Intraday trailing | start + $100 |
| Lucid Trading | LucidDaily (intraday evaluation) | funded | $1,000 on $25,000 (4%) | Intraday trailing | start + $100 |
| Lucid Trading | LucidDirect | funded | $1,000 on $25,000 (4%) | End-of-day trailing | start + $100 |
| Lucid Trading | LucidFlex | evaluation | $1,000 on $25,000 (4%) | End-of-day trailing | start + $100 |
| Lucid Trading | LucidFlex | funded | $1,000 on $25,000 (4%) | End-of-day trailing | start + $100 |
| Lucid Trading | LucidPro | evaluation | $1,000 on $25,000 (4%) | End-of-day trailing | start + $100 |
| Lucid Trading | LucidPro | funded | $1,000 on $25,000 (4%) | End-of-day trailing | start + $100 |
| My Funded Futures | Builder | evaluation | $1,000 on $25,000 (4%) | End-of-day trailing | start + $100 |
| My Funded Futures | Builder | funded | $1,000 on $25,000 (4%) | End-of-day trailing | start + $100 |
| My Funded Futures | Builder ($1,500 MLL option) | evaluation | $1,500 on $50,000 (3%) | End-of-day trailing | start + $100 |
| My Funded Futures | Builder ($1,500 MLL option) | funded | $1,500 on $50,000 (3%) | End-of-day trailing | start + $100 |
| My Funded Futures | Pro | evaluation | $2,000 on $50,000 (4%) | End-of-day trailing | start + $100 |
| My Funded Futures | Pro | funded | $2,000 on $50,000 (4%) | End-of-day trailing | start + $100 |
| My Funded Futures | Pro (1 Day add-on) | evaluation | $2,000 on $50,000 (4%) | End-of-day trailing | start + $100 |
| My Funded Futures | Pro (1 Day add-on) | funded | $2,000 on $50,000 (4%) | End-of-day trailing | start + $100 |
| My Funded Futures | Rapid (intraday sim funded) | evaluation | $1,000 on $25,000 (4%) | End-of-day trailing | start + $100 |
| My Funded Futures | Rapid (intraday sim funded) | funded | $1,000 on $25,000 (4%) | Intraday trailing | start + $100 |
| My Funded Futures | Rapid EOD | evaluation | $1,000 on $25,000 (4%) | End-of-day trailing | start + $100 |
| My Funded Futures | Rapid EOD | funded | $1,000 on $25,000 (4%) | End-of-day trailing | start + $100 |
| My Funded Futures | Studio | evaluation | $500 on $10,000 (5%) | Static | — |
| My Funded Futures | Studio | funded | $500 on $10,000 (5%) | Static | — |
| Take Profit Trader | PRO+ | funded | $1,500 on $25,000 (6%) | End-of-day trailing | at start balance |
| Take Profit Trader | PRO+ Development | funded | $750 on $25,000 (3%) | End-of-day trailing | at start balance |
| Take Profit Trader | Test + PRO | evaluation | $1,500 on $25,000 (6%) | End-of-day trailing | at start balance |
| Take Profit Trader | Test + PRO | funded | $1,500 on $25,000 (6%) | Intraday trailing | at start balance |
| Topstep | Trading Combine + Express Funded (Consistency) | evaluation | $2,000 on $50,000 (4%) | End-of-day trailing | at start balance |
| Topstep | Trading Combine + Express Funded (Consistency) | funded | $2,000 on $50,000 (4%) | End-of-day trailing | at start balance |
| Topstep | Trading Combine + Express Funded (Standard) | evaluation | $2,000 on $50,000 (4%) | End-of-day trailing | at start balance |
| Topstep | Trading Combine + Express Funded (Standard) | funded | $2,000 on $50,000 (4%) | End-of-day trailing | at start balance |
| Tradeify | Growth Evaluation + Funded | evaluation | $1,000 on $25,000 (4%) | End-of-day trailing | never |
| Tradeify | Growth Evaluation + Funded | funded | $1,000 on $25,000 (4%) | End-of-day trailing | start + $100 |
| Tradeify | Lightning Funded | funded | $1,000 on $25,000 (4%) | End-of-day trailing | start + $100 |
Smallest size of each account shown; firm pages list every size. From each firm's official pages, verified Oct 2026.
Where is your liquidation level?
Choose your firm and account, then paste your daily results or import a statement. The calculator tracks the level day by day and shows how much room you have left and whether it has locked.