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FTMO rules explained

The rules that most often end evaluations, verified at the source.

What this means for you

You pay a one-time fee (from €89 for the 2-Step test) to take a test. On the 2-Step, make 10% and then 5%, trading at least 4 days in each phase, without losing more than 5% in a day or 10% in total. There's no deadline, and if you pass you can keep up to 90% of profits.

Built only from rules we verified at the source. Most people who buy a test don't pass (see why).

Profit target

Profit you need to pass.

10% Phase 1 + 5% Verification (1-Step: 10%) ✓ Verified Standard on some plans

What's this?

How much profit you must make to pass a test phase. On a $100k account a 10% target means reaching $110,000. Glossary →

Daily loss limit

Lose more than this in one day and you fail.

5% max daily loss (1-Step: 3%) ✓ Verified Strict on some plans

What's this?

The most you may lose in one trading day. With a 5% limit on $100k, dropping $5,000 in a single day fails the test, even if you're up overall. Glossary →

Max drawdown

Total loss floor. Break it once and the account ends.

10% max loss; trailing on balance, end of day (per comparison table) ✓ Verified Standard

What's this?

The total loss floor. Break it once and the account is gone. On $100k: STATIC 10% → floor stays $90,000 forever. END-OF-DAY trailing $3k → floor $97k; close a day at $102k → floor moves to $99k (intraday swings ignored). INTRADAY trailing $3k → an open trade up $2k lifts the floor to $99k immediately; if it falls back to break-even you're $1k from failing. Glossary →

Consistency rule

Caps how much profit can come from one day.

1-Step: Best Day Rule 50% ✓ Verified Standard

What's this?

Limits how much of your total profit can come from one day. With 40%: if you've made $5,000, your best day can be at most $2,000. Stops 'one lucky day' passes. Glossary →

Minimum trading days

Fewest trading days before you can pass/get paid.

4 trading days per phase (2-Step); none on 1-Step ✓ Verified Strict on some plans

What's this?

The fewest days you must place trades before you can pass or get paid, even if you hit the target on day one. Glossary →

Time limit

How long you have to pass.

Unlimited ✓ Verified Easy

What's this?

How long you have to hit the target. 'Unlimited' means no deadline (some firms still require a trade every 30 to 60 days). Glossary →

News trading

Can you trade big news events?

Not verified

What's this?

Whether you can trade around big scheduled announcements (e.g. US jobs data, Fed decisions). Some firms ban trades a few minutes before/after. Glossary →

EAs / bots

Are trading bots allowed?

Not verified

What's this?

Expert Advisors: automated trading programs. Some firms allow them, some ban them or certain types (e.g. copy-trading, HFT). Glossary →

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