FTMO 1-Step rules explained: daily loss limit, max loss and reset time
- Daily loss: 3% of the initial balance, counted from the day's starting balance ($3,000 on a $100,000 account).
- Max loss: 10% of the initial balance below the highest balance at a daily reset (trailing).
- Day resets: midnight Prague time (CE(S)T).
- Profit target: phase 1: 10%.
Your limits in dollars
| Account | Daily loss | Equity floor on day one | Max loss | Max-loss floor (start) | TradeWarden closes at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $300 | $9,700 | $1,000 | $9,000 | −$270 |
| $25,000 | $750 | $24,250 | $2,500 | $22,500 | −$675 |
| $50,000 | $1,500 | $48,500 | $5,000 | $45,000 | −$1,350 |
| $100,000 | $3,000 | $97,000 | $10,000 | $90,000 | −$2,700 |
| $200,000 | $6,000 | $194,000 | $20,000 | $180,000 | −$5,400 |
Day one: the account starts the day at its initial balance. "TradeWarden closes at" is the day's loss at which it closes every trade, 10% before the daily limit (the buffer is a setting).
How the daily loss is measured
Your $100,000 account starts the day with $102,000 of balance and equity (no open trades). The daily limit is $3,000 (3% of the initial balance), so your equity must stay above $99,000 until the reset at midnight Prague time (CE(S)T), open trades included. TradeWarden closes everything at $99,300, 10% before the floor.
- The max loss trails: it sits 10% of the initial balance below the highest balance recorded at a daily reset, and it never comes back down.
- The Best Day Rule: your best day may hold at most 50% of the total of your profitable days.
- Several open trades add up: three trades that each risk 2% put 6% at risk if every stop is hit, more than a 3% daily limit. TradeWarden adds up every open stop before a new trade and shrinks or refuses the one that would cross the limit.
Check your own numbers
Type your account size, today's starting balance and your equity now: the calculator shows what is left today and overall.
Open the calculator for FTMO 1-Step Set these rules in MT5 in 10 secondsQuestions
How much can I lose in a day on a $100,000 FTMO 1-Step account?
$3,000: 3% of the initial balance, counted from the day's starting balance. The day resets at midnight Prague time (CE(S)T).
What is the maximum loss on FTMO 1-Step?
10% of the initial balance ($10,000 on $100,000). It trails: the floor rises with the highest balance at a daily reset and never comes back down.
When does the FTMO 1-Step trading day reset?
At midnight Prague time (CE(S)T). In MetaTrader that can be a different hour on your broker's server clock; TradeWarden converts it and shows the hour it uses.
Can software stop me before I break the FTMO 1-Step daily limit?
TradeWarden, an Expert Advisor for MetaTrader 5, checks your equity on every price tick and closes every trade 10% before the limit (at -$2,700 on a $100,000 account). It cannot act between two ticks or while MetaTrader is closed.
Source: ftmo.com/en/trading-objectives, read 6–7 October 2026. Firms change their rules: check your firm's page before you rely on a number. TradeWarden and Kairotick are not affiliated with FTMO.