Futures prop firms
Futures prop firms
Futures evaluations from firms like Topstep and Apex follow different rules from forex and CFD challenges. Here's how they work, how to size contracts, and how the main firms compare.
Facts checked
The short version
- Most futures prop firm evaluations use an end-of-day trailing drawdown: the loss floor rises with your best closing balance until it reaches the starting balance, then stops. A $50K account usually has $2,000 of room.
- You size in contracts, not lots. Micros are a tenth of the size of minis, and they are the main way to control risk. Size from the drawdown, not the profit target.
- Many futures firms dropped the daily loss limit or turned it into a pause. Most have a consistency rule that caps your best day at 30 to 50% of total profit.
- Positions usually have to be flat before the daily close, around 4:10 to 5pm New York time. Holding through the break can breach the account.
End-of-day trailing drawdown
The usual rule. Your floor rises with your best closing balance until it reaches the starting balance, then stops. A $50K account usually has $2,000 of room.
Contracts, not lots
You size in contracts with a firm-set cap, often 5–6 minis on $50K. Micros are a tenth of the size and the main way to control risk.
Often no daily loss limit
Many futures firms dropped the daily limit, or made it a pause rather than a breach. The trailing floor is what ends the account.
Consistency rules
Most cap your best day at 30–50% of profit, in the evaluation, at payout, or both. One big day can raise what you need to make.
Monthly fees and activation
Many evaluations bill monthly until you pass, then charge an activation fee for the funded account. Some have moved to one-time fees.
Flat before the close
Positions usually must be closed before the daily close (around 4:10–5pm New York). Holding through the break can breach the account.
The rule that fails most futures accounts
How end-of-day trailing drawdown works
Example: a $50K account with a $2,000 drawdown. The floor follows your best closing balance, not intraday swings, until it locks at the starting balance.
| Closing balance | Intraday high | Floor (EOD trailing) | Floor (intraday trailing) | What happened | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | $50,000 | — | $48,000 | $48,000 | Floor starts $2,000 below the balance |
| Day 1 | $50,800 | $51,000 | $48,800 | $49,000 | Closed higher, so the floor rises |
| Day 2 | $51,200 | $51,900 | $49,200 | $49,900 | Intraday peak only counts for intraday trailing |
| Day 3 | $52,300 | $52,500 | $50,000 | $50,000 | Floor reaches the starting balance and locks |
| Day 4 | $54,000 | $54,200 | $50,000 | $50,000 | Locked: profits above $52,000 are now a buffer |
Even with an end-of-day floor, most firms check it in real time: an open trade that dips through today's floor ends the account. Intraday trailing is stricter, because a winning trade you don't take raises the floor anyway.
Contracts
What one point is worth
| Contract | Market | Tick size | Tick value | $ per point | Micro | Micro $ per point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ES | S&P 500 · Equity index | 0.25 | $12.50 | $50 | MES | $5 |
| NQ | Nasdaq-100 · Equity index | 0.25 | $5.00 | $20 | MNQ | $2 |
| YM | Dow Jones · Equity index | 1 | $5.00 | $5 | MYM | $0.5 |
| RTY | Russell 2000 · Equity index | 0.1 | $5.00 | $50 | M2K | $5 |
| CL | Crude oil · Energy | 0.01 | $10.00 | $1,000 | MCL | $100 |
| GC | Gold · Metals | 0.1 | $10.00 | $100 | MGC | $10 |
Contract sizing
How many contracts can you afford?
Size from your drawdown, not your target. Risking 10% of a $2,000 drawdown means $200 per trade.
Risk budget
$200
10% of $2,000
NQ contracts
0
$400 risk each
MNQ contracts
5
$40 risk each
Losses to breach
10
at this size, in a row
One NQ would risk $400, above your $200 budget. Trade 5 MNQ instead ($200 at risk).
Also check your firm's contract cap (often 5–6 minis on a $50K account). Slippage on fast markets can make the real loss bigger than the stop.
Trading hours
When futures trade, in your time
CME futures hours
| Event | New York | Your time | Why it matters |
|---|
Globex trades Sunday 6pm to Friday 5pm New York, with a one-hour break each day. Times follow US daylight saving automatically.
Firms compared
Popular futures prop firms, $50K accounts
Gathered 17 Oct 2026 from third-party reviews; these firms changed rules several times in 2026, and sources sometimes disagree. Confirm on each firm's site before you buy. We're not affiliated with any of them.
| Firm | Target | Drawdown | Daily loss | Consistency | Min days | Contracts | Cost | Split | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Topstep Trading Combine $50K | $3,000 | $2,000 EOD trailing, enforced in real time | None on TopstepX accounts (older accounts: $1,000 pause) | Best day ≤ 50% of the target | Not required to pass | 5 minis / 50 micros | $49/month + $149 activation | 90% | Payouts by Wise or wire, typically 5–7 business days. |
Apex Trader Funding Evaluation $50K (rules from 1 Mar 2026) Sources: tradingfunder.com, propfirmmap.com | $3,000 | $2,000 EOD or intraday trailing (one source says $2,500) | $1,000 on the funded account (EOD) | 50% at payout on the funded account only | 5 qualifying days per payout | 6 | $197 one-time (EOD) or $132 (intraday) + $99 / $79 activation | 100% of first $25k, then 90% | 30 days to pass. 6-payout cap per account. Metals halted since 14 Mar 2026. |
Take Profit Trader Test $50K Sources: crosstrade.io, proptradingvibes.com | $3,000 | $2,000 EOD trailing, locks at the starting balance | None | Best day < 50% of total profit | 5 | 6 | ≈ $150–175/month + $130 PRO activation | 80% | Funded (PRO) accounts switch to intraday trailing. Flat by 5pm New York; major news restricted. |
MyFundedFutures Rapid EOD $50K | $3,000 | $2,000 EOD trailing | None | Best day ≤ 30% of profit | 4 | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Several plans; the Core plan uses a $1,500 drawdown and an 80% split. |
Lucid Trading LucidFlex $50K Sources: tradecopia.com, proptradingvibes.com | $3,000 | $2,000 EOD trailing | None | 50% in the evaluation; none once funded | 2 (one source says 5) | Varies | Varies | Varies | 5 profitable days before the first payout. LucidDirect offers instant funding. |
Tradeify Growth $50K Sources: tradeify.co | $3,000 | $2,000 EOD trailing | $1,250, rising to the max drawdown once profit hits 6% | None in the evaluation; 35% once funded | None listed ("pass in 1 day") | 4 minis / 40 micros | $145 one-time, often discounted; $95 reset | Not stated on the plan card | No activation fee. Payouts every 5 days, up to 5 funded accounts. $25K version: $1,500 target, $1,000 drawdown, $600 daily limit, 1 mini. |
Trading one of these? Add it in your profile: each firm has a $50K template, and you can set the size and rules to match your account. Bulenox isn't listed yet because we couldn't verify its current rules.
Futures prop firms: common questions
How does end-of-day trailing drawdown work?
Your loss floor follows your best closing balance, not intraday swings, until it reaches the starting balance and locks. On a $50K account with a $2,000 drawdown, the floor starts at $48,000. If you close at $51,000, the floor moves to $49,000. Once the floor reaches $50,000 it stays there, and profit above that is a buffer.
How many contracts can I trade on a $50K futures account?
It depends on the firm's cap, often 5 to 6 minis on $50K, and on your drawdown. A common rule is to risk about 10% of the drawdown on a trade, which is $200 on a $2,000 drawdown. Divide that by your stop distance times the value per point to find the contract count. Micros let you scale in smaller steps.
What is a consistency rule?
A rule that caps how much of your total profit one day can make, usually 30 to 50% for your best day. It can apply in the evaluation, at payout, or both. One large day can raise the total profit you need before you qualify.
Do futures prop firms have a daily loss limit?
Many have dropped it or made it a pause rather than a breach, so the trailing drawdown is what ends the account. This varies by firm and program, so check the rules of the one you plan to buy.
When do I have to close positions?
Usually before the daily close, around 4:10 to 5pm New York time depending on the firm. CME futures trade nearly 24 hours with a short break, and holding through the break can breach the account. The guide shows the hours in your own time zone.
Are these rules current?
The firm comparison was gathered from third-party reviews and the date it was last checked is shown on the page. Futures prop firms changed their rules several times in 2026, so confirm on the firm's own site before you buy.
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