Topstep drawdown rules explained (2026)
Short answer
Topstep uses end-of-day trailing drawdown. The floor trails your highest end-of-day balance, so it only moves when a session closes at a new high. Intraday swings — including open profit that you give back — do not move it. Closing a session at a fresh high locks the floor higher overnight, so a big green day followed by a normal pullback can leave far less room than traders expect.
Drawdown type
End-of-day trailing
Evaluation steps
1-step
Max allocation
$150k
Trust score
91/100
How the Topstep drawdown floor moves
The floor trails your highest end-of-day balance, so it only moves when a session closes at a new high. Intraday swings — including open profit that you give back — do not move it.
This is the rule that decides whether a Topstep account survives, more than the profit target. Read it as a moving line on your balance chart: you are only ever trading the distance between current equity and that line.
What breaches Topstep accounts most often
Closing a session at a fresh high locks the floor higher overnight, so a big green day followed by a normal pullback can leave far less room than traders expect.
Combine that with the payout rules: the consistency requirement is in force — A single day cannot exceed 50% of total profit at payout time. Generous by futures standards but still a rule to plan around.
A sizing tactic that fits end-of-day trailing drawdown
Avoid closing sessions at euphoric highs on an oversized position; take partials so the end-of-day high reflects a balance you are comfortable defending.
Rule of thumb used by traders who stay funded: risk no more than 10–15% of your remaining drawdown distance on any single trade, and recalculate after every session.
- Calculate remaining distance to the floor before each session
- Risk 10–15% of that distance per trade, not a fixed dollar amount
- Bank partial profits so peak equity stays close to realized balance
Has Topstep changed its drawdown rules?
Our rule-change log and firm-health score track this. Topstep currently scores 91/100 on trust. Check the rule-change log before buying — drawdown changes are usually applied to new accounts only.
FAQ
Is Topstep drawdown trailing or static?
End-of-day trailing. The floor trails your highest end-of-day balance, so it only moves when a session closes at a new high. Intraday swings — including open profit that you give back — do not move it.
Does open profit count toward the Topstep drawdown?
Only at the session close. Intraday open profit does not move the floor.
How do I avoid breaching Topstep drawdown?
Avoid closing sessions at euphoric highs on an oversized position; take partials so the end-of-day high reflects a balance you are comfortable defending.
How Topstep's rules compare
Topstep against the five highest-trust futures firms we track, on the rules that decide whether you actually get paid.
| Firm | Trust | Split | Entry | Drawdown | First payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topstep | 91/100 | 90% | $49 | End-of-day trailing | 7 days |
| Apex Trader Funding | 85/100 | 100% | $37 | Intraday trailing | 8 days |
| My Funded Futures | 84/100 | 90% | $77 | End-of-day trailing | 5 days |
| Alpha Futures | 84/100 | 90% | $79 | End-of-day trailing | 7 days |
| Take Profit Trader | 83/100 | 90% | $150 | End-of-day trailing | 5 days |
| Earn2Trade | 79/100 | 80% | $150 | Intraday trailing | 14 days |
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