TopStep Rules Explained (2026)
TopStep runs three fixed-size futures Combines — 50K, 100K and 150K — all sharing the same mechanic: an end-of-day trailing drawdown that locks at your starting balance once you've earned enough cushion, and no hard daily loss limit at all.
TopStep's plans at a glance
| Plan | Profit target | Daily loss | Max drawdown | Min. trading days | Time limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50K Combine | 6% ($3,000) | None | EOD trailing, 4% ($2,000), locks at starting balance | 0 | None |
| 100K Combine | 6% ($6,000) | None | EOD trailing, 3% ($3,000), locks at starting balance | 0 | None |
| 150K Combine | 6% ($9,000) | None | EOD trailing, 3% ($4,500), locks at starting balance | 0 | None |
How TopStep's drawdown works
TopStep's drawdown trails the highest end-of-day closed balance you've reached — intraday spikes don't move it, only where you close each day. Once that trailing floor rises to reach (or pass) your starting balance, it locks there permanently: it stops trailing further even if your balance keeps climbing, and it never moves back down. That lock is the key protection TopStep offers over a floor that trails forever — once you've banked enough of a cushion, you can never be knocked back below your original starting balance.
Notes & unconfirmed details
- Payout eligibility (5 winning days of at least $150 each) is a separate requirement from evaluation pass/fail and isn't reflected in the table above.
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Get the free app →Frequently asked questions
Does TopStep have a daily loss limit?
Not a hard, account-failing one, on any of the three Combine sizes in our verified data. TopStep's own materials reference a per-size Daily Loss Limit as a soft guideline, but it isn't modeled here as a rule that fails the account.
What happens to TopStep's drawdown floor once I'm profitable?
It locks. TopStep's trailing floor rises with each new end-of-day balance high, but once that floor would reach or pass your starting balance, it freezes there permanently — it never rises further and never falls back. Once locked, the worst case is ending back near your starting balance, not losing the account outright.
Is there a time limit on a TopStep Combine?
No — none of the 50K, 100K or 150K Combines carry a time limit in our verified data.