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Topstep rules explained

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

What this means for you

You pay a monthly fee (from $49 on the 50K Standard plan) while you take the test. Reach the profit target (for example $3,000 on 50K) over at least 2 days, without falling below a loss limit that rises with your end-of-day balance. No single day can be more than 55% of your total profit.

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.

$3,000 / $6,000 / $9,000 ✓ Verified

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.

Optional Daily Loss Limit $1,000 / $2,000 / $3,000 (chosen at checkout) ✓ Verified

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.

$2,000 / $3,000 / $4,500 Maximum Loss Limit, trailing end-of-day balance, locks at starting balance ✓ 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.

Best day must be ≤55% of total profit or the profit target rises ✓ 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.

At least 2 days (cannot pass in one day) ✓ Verified Standard

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.

Not verified

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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