Position Limit Adjustments
Markets get wild sometimes. Expanding price limits. Velocity Logic halts. Historic ranges in minutes. When that happens, even experienced Traders can get caught on the wrong side fast — and fast losses can end a trading career before it really starts.
During extreme volatility, we may temporarily tighten position limits on affected products. We're talking about conditions like:
Expanding price limits
Velocity Logic halts
Historic price ranges
Rapid, sustained price movement
This isn't punishment. It's protection — guardrails to keep you in the game when the market is doing something it's never done before. Our job is to help you trade another day.
How Position Limits Are Adjusted
When a product is deemed high-risk due to volatility, we may implement one or both of the following adjustments:
Micro Contract Limits
Mini Contract Restrictions
Trading on mini-sized contracts or larger may be temporarily halted for affected products
Current Restrictions
👉 Restrictions below are organized by account size. The numbers shown use a 3-tier format: $50K / $100K / $150K. For example, "GC = 3/6/9" means 3 minis for $50K accounts, 6 minis for $100K accounts, and 9 minis for $150K accounts.
| Trading Combine, Express Funded Account, Pro Account | Live Funded Account |
Energies Restriction | RBOB Gasoline (RB) = 3/6/9 Heating Oil (HO) = 3/6/9 Crude Oil (CL) = 3/6/9 Micro Crude Oil (MCL) = 30/60/90 E-Mini Crude Oil (QM) = 3/6/9 | RBOB Gasoline (RB) = 3/6/9 Heating Oil (HO) = 3/6/9 Crude Oil (CL) = 3/6/9 Micro Crude Oil (MCL) = 3/6/9 E-Mini Crude Oil (QM) = 3/6/9 |
Metals Restriction | Gold (GC) = 3/6/9 Micro Gold (MGC) = 30/60/90 Silver (SI) = 0 Micro Silver (SIL) = 2/5/7 Copper (HG) = 0 Micro Copper (MHG) = 2/5/7 Platinum (PL) = 0 | Gold (GC) = 3/6/9 Micro Gold (MGC) = 5/10/15 Silver (SI) = 0 Micro Silver (SIL) = 2/4/6 Copper (HG) = 0 Micro Copper (MHG) = 2/4/6 Platinum (PL) = 0 |
🧪 Labs: Restricted Products (Expand to learn more)
🧪 Labs: Restricted Products (Expand to learn more)
In the $25K Static Trading Combine, restricted products are set to a max contract size of 1 mini/12 micros.
In the $250K Trading Combine, restricted energies are set to a max contract size of 15 minis/156 micros. For SIL/MHG, 12 micros. SI, HG, and PL are still 0.
In the $3K Challenge, you cannot trade MHG, MET, MBT, or SIL. Trading during Tier 1 News Events is also restricted to 0. Additionally, MGC and MCL is limited to 6 micros.
In the $1.5K Challenge, you cannot trade MHG, MET, MBT, or SIL. MGC/MCL are limited to 1. Trading during Tier 1 News Events is also restricted to 0.
In the $6K Challenge, you cannot trade MHG, SIL, HG, SI, CL, GC, HO, QM, PL, or RB. Trading during Tier 1 News Events is also restricted to 0. Additionally, MGC and MCL is limited to 6 micros.
In the $50K Static Trading Combine, MCL and MGC are set to a max of 25 lots, and CL, GC, HO, QM, RB, MHG, and SIL are set to a max of 2 lots.
In the $1.5K Challenge - Powered Up, Traders can trade up to 12 contracts of MCL/MGC, 1 contract of CL, GC, HO, QM, RB, MHG, SIL, and 0 of HG, PL, SI.
In the Return of the $3K Undead Challenge, MCL and MGC are limited to 31 lots. CL, GC, HO, QM, and RB are limited to 3 lots. MHG and SIL are limited to 2 lots. HG, PL, and SI are 0. During Tier 1 News Events, MES, MNQ, MYM, M2K, M6A, M6B, M6E, MNG, MCL, MGC, MBT, MET, MHG, and SIL are limited to 3 lots.
In the Revenge of the $3K Slasher Challenge, MCL and MGC are limited to 12 lots. CL, GC, HO, QM, RB, MHG, and SIL are limited to 1 lot. HG, PL, and SI are 0. During Tier 1 News Events, MES, MNQ, MYM, M2K, M6A, M6B, M6E, MNG, MCL, MGC, MBT, MET, MHG, and SIL are limited to 1 lot.
⚠️ Please note: For Express Funded Accounts, position limits for restricted products have a ceiling of the contracts listed above (CL = 3/6/9, for example).
However, a trader's actual limit may be lower depending on their current account balance, as the Scaling Plan applies independently. Learn more below. 👇
Example of the Scaling Plan for restricted symbols on the 3/6/9 plan
Example of the Scaling Plan for restricted symbols on the 3/6/9 plan
Symbols this applies to:
Crude Oil (CL)
E-Mini Crude Oil (QM)
Micro Crude Oil (MCL)
Heating Oil (HO)
RBOB Gasoline (RB)
Gold (GC)
Micro Gold (MGC)
50K Express Funded Account
Below $1500 balance = 1 mini / 12 micros
$1,500 balance = 1 mini / 18 micros
$2,000 balance = 3 mini / 31 micros
100K Express Funded Account
Below $1500 balance = 1 mini / 18 micros
$1,500 balance = 2 mini / 25 micros
$2,000 balance = 3 minis / 31 micros
$3,000 balance = 6 minis / 62 micros
150K Express Funded Account
Below $1500 balance = 1 mini / 18 micros
$1,500 balance = 2 minis / 25 micros
$2,000 balance = 3 minis / 31 micros
$3,000 balance = 6 minis / 62 micros
$4,500 balance = 9 minis / 93 micros
250K Express Funded Account
Below $1500 balance = 1 mini / 18 micros
$1,500 balance = 2 minis / 25 micros
$2,000 balance = 3 minis / 31 micros
$3,000 balance = 6 minis / 62 micros
$4,500 balance = 9 minis / 93 micros
$6,000 balance = 12 minis / 125 micros
$8,000+ balance = 15 minis / 156 micros
Example of the Scaling Plan for restricted symbols on the 2/5/7 plan
Example of the Scaling Plan for restricted symbols on the 2/5/7 plan
Symbols this applies to:
Micro Silver (SIL)
Micro Copper (MHG)
50K Express Funded Account
Below $1,500 balance = 1 micro
$1,500 balance = 1 micro
$2,000 balance = 2 micros
100K Express Funded Account
Below $1,500 balance = 1 micro
$1,500 balance = 2 micros
$2,000 balance = 2 micros
$3,000 balance = 5 micros
150K Express Funded Account
Below $1,500 balance = 1 micro contract
$1,500 balance = 2 micros
$2,000 balance = 2 micros
$3,000 balance = 5 micros
$4,500 balance = 7 micros
250K Express Funded Account
Below $1,500 balance = 1 micro contract
$1,500 balance = 2 micros
$2,000 balance = 2 micros
$3,000 balance = 5 micros
$4,500 balance = 7 micros
$6,000 balance = 10 micros
$8,000+ balance = 12 micros
When Do These Restrictions Apply?
Position limit adjustments are:
Temporary: Restrictions remain in place only while volatility levels are elevated
Product-specific: Only products experiencing extreme volatility are affected
Actively monitored: Our Risk Team continuously evaluates market conditions to determine when normal limits can be reinstated
What You Can Still Do
Continue trading with adjusted position sizes in affected products
Trade other products with standard position limits
Focus on risk management and strategic opportunities
Use this time to refine your trading plan and review your strategy
Understanding Market Volatility
Historic volatility means historic losses can happen faster than normal. When markets move unpredictably:
Slippage increases
Risk management becomes more challenging
Even well-planned trades can move against you quickly
These temporary adjustments give you the opportunity to participate in volatile markets while managing your risk appropriately.
How You'll Be Notified
When position limits are adjusted, you'll receive notification through:
Email communication
Dashboard banners
Social media updates (@Topstep on X)
We'll also notify you when restrictions are lifted and normal position limits are reinstated.
Tier 1 News Events Restrictions
Ahead of Tier 1 News Events (for example, CPI, FOMC, NFP, PPI), Topstep temporarily restricts new opening positions on equity index products and metals in SIM to protect Traders from extreme volatility.
Minis (ES, RTY, YM, NQ, NKD, GC, SI, HG, PL): No new opening transactions permitted during the 10-minute window surrounding the release (5 minutes before, 5 minutes after).
Micros (MES, M2K, MYM, MNQ, MGC): Opening transactions limited to 1, 3, 6, 9, and 15 contracts for the $25K, $50K, $100K, $150K, and $250K account sizes, respectively, during the window (see table below)
MHG and SIL: Opening transactions limited to 1, 2, 5, 7, 12 contracts for the $25K, $50K, $100K, $150K, and $250K account sizes, respectively, during the window (see table below)
Other products (energies, rates, FX, etc.) are unaffected.
Existing Positions: Traders holding existing positions in equity index products and metals prior to 5 minutes before the news event may keep them open and manage them through the Tier 1 News Events window. TopstepX™ automatically enforces these limits, so no manual adjustment is required for existing trades.
Live Account Restrictions: Live traders with a balance below $3,000 will be limited to 1 contract during Tier 1 News Events to reduce the potential for a catastrophic loss should markets shift rapidly.
Pending orders: Pending orders are not open positions. They will not fill during the 10-minute window, and new pending orders intended to execute during this timeframe cannot be placed. TP/SL brackets that are reducing/closing positions will be accepted during the window.
How you'll be alerted: we'll email you and you'll see a banner at the top of the platform, so you're always prepared.
Tier 1 News Events
Event | Announcement (CT) | Window (CT) |
Consumer Price Index (CPI) | 7:30 AM | 7:25 to 7:35 AM |
FOMC rate decision | 1:00 PM | 12:55 to 1:05 PM |
FOMC press conference | 1:30 PM | 1:25 to 1:35 PM |
Non Farm Payroll (NFP/Unemployment Rate) | 7:30 AM | 7:25 to 7:35 AM |
Producer Price Index (PPI) | 7:30 AM | 7:25 to 7:35 AM |
Trading Combines & Challenges
Account | Margin | Max micros | Equity Minis | Effect during window |
$1.5K, $3K, and $6K Challenges | $3,000 | 0 | Blocked | No Trading available |
$3K Challenge Undead | $50,000 | 3 | Blocked | Capped at 3 micros |
$3K Challenge Slasher | $20,000 | 1 | Blocked | Capped at 1 micro |
25K | $20,000 | 1 | Blocked | Capped at 1 micro |
50K | $50,000 | 3 | Blocked | Capped at 3 micros |
100K | $100,000 | 6 | Blocked | Capped at 6 micros |
150K | $150,000 | 9 | Blocked | Capped at 9 micros |
250K | $250,000 | 15 | Blocked | Capped at 15 micros |
$50K Static | $40,000 | 2 | Blocked | Capped at 2 micros |
Express Funded Accounts
Express Funded Accounts (XFAs) have margin that scales with balance. This is called the Scaling Plan. See details on your Maximum Position Size when accounting for both Tier 1 News Event restrictions, and the Scaling Plan.
Account | Balance | Margin | Minis/Micros | SIL & MHG |
$50K XFA | Below $1500 | $20,000 | 0/1 | 0/1 |
$50K XFA | $1500-$2000 | $30,000 | 0/1 | 0/1 |
$50K XFA | Above $2000 | $50,000 | 0/3 | 0/2 |
$100K XFA | Below $1500 | $30,000 | 0/1 | 0/1 |
$100K XFA | $1500-$2000 | $40,000 | 0/2 | 0/2 |
$100K XFA | $2,000-3,000 | $50,000 | 0/3 | 0/2 |
$100K XFA | Above $3,000 | $100,000 | 0/6 | 0/5 |
$150K XFA | Below $1500 | $30,000 | 0/1 | 0/1 |
$150K XFA | $1500-$2000 | $40,000 | 0/2 | 0/2 |
$150K XFA | $2,000-3,000 | $50,000 | 0/3 | 0/2 |
$150K XFA | $3,000-$4,500 | $100,000 | 0/6 | 0/5 |
$150K XFA | Above $4,500 | $150,000 | 0/9 | 0/7 |
Have Questions?
Our Trader Support Team is here to help. If you have questions about current position limits or how these adjustments affect your trading, please contact support.
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