What is the Maximum Loss Limit?
The Maximum Loss Limit (MLL) represents the lowest point your account balance is allowed to reach. If your balance hits that level, trading stops immediately.
The Maximum Loss Limit for each account size in the Trading Combine and Express Funded Account:
$50K account: $2,000
$100K account: $3,000
$150K account: $4,500
How is the Maximum Loss Limit calculated?
In the Trading Combine and Express Funded Account, the Maximum Loss Limit trails your highest end-of-day balance, rising as your balance grows, but never moving down. Once it reaches your starting balance, it locks in permanently.
Trading Combine
In the Trading Combine, your account starts at the full account size (e.g., $50,000 for a 50K Trading Combine).
Example: You start a $50K Trading Combine. Your starting balance is $50,000 and your MLL starts at $48,000. You make $500 on day one, so your balance rises to $50,500 and your MLL trails up to $48,500. You lose $500 the next day — your balance drops back to $50,000, but your MLL stays at $48,500.
Express Funded Account
The Express Funded Account works differently from the Trading Combine. Your XFA starts at a $0 balance. The account size (50K, 100K, 150K) refers to your buying power — not your starting balance. You build your balance from $0 by trading profitably.
For a $50K Express Funded Account, your MLL starts at -$2,000 and trails upward as your balance grows. Once your balance reaches $2,000, the MLL locks at $0 and stays there permanently.
Example: You start your $50K Express Funded Account with a $0 balance. You make $1,000 on day one — your balance is now $1,000 and your MLL moves to -$1,000. You make another $1,000 on day two — your balance is $2,000 and your MLL locks at $0. From this point on, your balance can never fall below $0.
Important: The 50K, 100K, and 150K labels refer to buying power — not your starting balance. Your XFA balance always starts at $0 and is built entirely from your trading profits. This is different from the Trading Combine, where your balance starts at the full account size.
Important: Once you take your first payout in an Express Funded Account, your MLL is set to $0. From that point on, your balance needs to stay above $0.
Example: You've built your XFA balance up to $10,000 and request a $5,000 payout (50% of your balance). After the payout, your balance is $5,000 and your MLL is $0. You can keep trading as long as your balance stays above $0. If it ever hits $0, the account closes.
Watch the video below to see how the Maximum Loss Limit works in the Trading Combine and Express Funded Account.
Live Funded Account: The MLL in a Live Funded Account is fixed at $1,000 for all account sizes. Unlike the Trading Combine and Express Funded Account, it does not trail — it stays at $1,000 permanently. Your balance must stay above $1,000 at all times. If breached, your account will be permanently closed at the end of that trading day.
When is the Maximum Loss Limit Calculated?
The MLL updates at the end of each trading day, but it is monitored in real time. Both your realized and unrealized P&L count toward it. If your Net P&L hits or exceeds the limit at any point during the day, your account will be liquidated immediately.
Can I request that my Maximum Loss Limit be adjusted in my account?
Maximum Loss Limits cannot be adjusted or changed on your account. Topstep does not make exceptions to the Maximum Loss Limit for any account.
What happens if I break the Maximum Loss Limit rule?
Trading Combine: Your account is liquidated for the rest of the trading day and becomes ineligible for funding until reset. You can still practice trade.
Express Funded Account: Your account will be permanently closed. Back2Funded may be available if you are eligible.
Live Funded Account: Your account will be permanently closed at the end of that trading day.
Please Note: When you Reactivate your Express Funded Account using Back2Funded, your account will restart completely — just like having a brand new Express Funded Account of the same size. This means your account balance returns to zero, and all previous stats—including P&L, trade history, and winning days—are set back to zero as well.
Your Maximum Loss Limit also resets to the starting value for your account size:
$50K XFA: MLL starts at -$2,000
$100K XFA: MLL starts at -$3,000
$150K XFA: MLL starts at -$4,500
The MLL trails upward as your balance grows, and once it reaches $0, it locks there permanently — meaning your balance can never fall below $0 from that point on.