FTMO Rules Explained (2026)
FTMO runs a forex/CFD evaluation with two paths: the long-standing 2-Step Evaluation, and a 1-Step Evaluation launched in February 2026. The two paths use genuinely different drawdown mechanics — see below before you pick one.
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The most established prop firm in the industry. On the 2-Step, your fee is refunded when you pass.
Start with FTMO → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.FTMO's plans at a glance
| Plan | Phase | Profit target | Daily loss | Max drawdown | Min. trading days | Consistency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Step Evaluation | Phase 1 | 10% | 5% fixed (of starting balance) | Static, 10% | 4 | None |
| Phase 2 | 5% | 5% fixed | Static, 10% | 4 | None | |
| 1-Step Evaluation | Single phase | 10% | 3% fixed | End-of-day trailing, 10%* | 0 | Best day ≤ 50% of positive-days profit |
* See "Notes & unconfirmed details" below — the 1-Step's drawdown type isn't officially confirmed by FTMO.
Account sizes on both plans: $10,000 / $25,000 / $50,000 / $100,000 / $200,000.
How FTMO's drawdown works
2-Step Evaluation: the max drawdown is static — FTMO calculates 10% of your starting balance once, and that dollar floor never moves for the rest of the evaluation, no matter how much you're up. This is the simplest drawdown mechanic to plan around: your floor on a $100,000 account is $90,000, full stop.
1-Step Evaluation: our data models this as end-of-day trailing — the floor rises with each new end-of-day closing-balance high, tracking 10% below your peak balance rather than your starting balance. Unlike TopStep or Breakout's 2-Step, we have no confirmation that this floor locks once you're sufficiently profitable — so plan around a floor that can keep rising indefinitely as your balance grows.
Notes & unconfirmed details
- The 1-Step Evaluation's drawdown type (static vs. trailing) is not confirmed on FTMO's official rules table — it's encoded here as end-of-day trailing based on secondary sources. Confirm directly at ftmo.com before relying on it.
- The 1-Step Evaluation's fee is non-refundable, unlike the 2-Step's (which is refunded on a pass).
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Is FTMO's max drawdown static or trailing?
On the 2-Step Evaluation it's static — a fixed 10% of your starting balance that never moves, on both Phase 1 and Phase 2. On the 1-Step Evaluation, our data encodes it as end-of-day trailing based on secondary sources, since FTMO's official rules table doesn't explicitly confirm this detail — treat the floor conservatively until you've confirmed it directly at ftmo.com.
Does FTMO have a consistency rule?
Not on the 2-Step Evaluation. The 1-Step Evaluation has a Best Day Rule: your single best day of profit can't exceed 50% of the total profit from your positive days.
Is the FTMO evaluation fee refundable?
On the 2-Step Evaluation, yes — it's refunded once you pass. On the 1-Step Evaluation, the fee is non-refundable, per our verified notes.
Start your FTMO evaluation
The most established prop firm in the industry. On the 2-Step, your fee is refunded when you pass.
Start with FTMO → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.