Guide
Topstep Maximum Loss Limit explained (50K, 100K, 150K)
In short: Topstep's Maximum Loss Limit (MLL) is the lowest your balance may reach: $2,000 below start on a 50K account, $3,000 on 100K and $4,500 on 150K. Full answer ↓
At a glance
50K floor starts at
$48,000
$2,000 below the start
Does the floor stop rising?
Yes
locks at your starting balance
After your first XFA payout
$0
the MLL is set to $0
All figures from Topstep official pages, checked 2026-10-15. Sources and full rules below.
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Read the details
The short answer
The Maximum Loss Limit is the lowest your account balance may reach. It trails your end-of-day highs upward, never moves down, and is checked in real time, including open losses.
Key facts:
- Size: $2,000 on 50K, $3,000 on 100K, $4,500 on 150K.
- Trading Combine: starts at full account size with the MLL $2,000 / $3,000 / $4,500 below that; locks at your starting balance.
- XFA: balance starts at $0; MLL starts at -$2,000 / -$3,000 / -$4,500 and locks at $0.
- After the first XFA payout the MLL is set to $0.
Watch out:
- An open (unrealized) touch counts the same as a closed loss.
- A fill that finishes above the limit can still be a breach if the open loss touched it first.
- The MLL cannot be adjusted and Topstep makes no exceptions.
Full summary
Topstep's Maximum Loss Limit (MLL) is the lowest your balance may reach: $2,000 below start on a 50K account, $3,000 on 100K and $4,500 on 150K. It trails your end-of-day balance upward, never moves down, and is monitored in real time including unrealized P&L.
Plain-language terms
Trailing drawdown, pictured
MLL by account size
| Rule | Combine | XFA | Tag |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50K starting MLL ⓘ | $2,000 below start ($48,000) | -$2,000 | Differs |
| ⓘ Topstep's Combine example starts at $50,000 with an MLL of $48,000. | |||
| 100K starting MLL | $3,000 below start | -$3,000 | Differs |
| 150K starting MLL | $4,500 below start | -$4,500 | Differs |
| Floor locks at | your starting balance | $0 | Differs |
| ⓘ In the Combine the floor stops trailing once it reaches the starting balance. On the XFA it locks at $0 once the balance has climbed by the starting MLL amount ($2,000 on 50K). | |||
Combine vs XFA at a glance
| Rule | Combine | XFA | Tag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting balance | Full size ($50,000 on 50K) | $0 | Differs |
| ⓘ The 50K/100K/150K XFA label is buying power, not starting cash. | |||
| Floor trails end-of-day, never down | Yes | Yes | SAME |
| After first payout | No payouts in the Combine | MLL set to $0 | Differs |
| Breach | Liquidated for the day; Reset to continue | Closed at end of day; Back2Funded up to 2 times | Differs |
| ⓘ Topstep's MLL article says permanently closed; the XFA parameters page adds Back2Funded reactivation. | |||
| Can it be adjusted | No | No | SAME |
| ⓘ Topstep makes no exceptions. | |||
How it trails
The MLL rises as your end-of-day balance grows but never moves down. In the Trading Combine it locks permanently once it reaches your starting balance. Topstep's example: start a 50K Combine at $50,000 with an MLL of $48,000; make $500 and the MLL trails to $48,500; lose $500 the next day and the MLL stays at $48,500.
What this means for you: Only your end-of-day balance can raise the floor; an intraday high that fades by the close does not.
Express Funded Account (XFA)
The XFA balance starts at $0; the 50K/100K/150K label refers to buying power. The MLL starts at -$2,000 on 50K, -$3,000 on 100K and -$4,500 on 150K (figures from Topstep's Back2Funded table, which it says match a brand new XFA). On a 50K XFA the MLL locks at $0 once the balance reaches $2,000. After the first payout the MLL is set to $0.
What this means for you: You trade from $0 with a $2,000 cushion on 50K until the balance reaches $2,000; after that the floor is $0 for good.
What happens if you breach it
Trading Combine: liquidated for the day and ineligible for funding until you Reset. XFA: permanently closed (Back2Funded may be available). The XFA parameters page words it as liquidated and closed at the end of the day, with Back2Funded reactivation possible up to 2 times at the same size and payout policy. The MLL cannot be adjusted and Topstep makes no exceptions.
What this means for you: A Combine breach costs a Reset; an XFA breach closes the account, with up to 2 Back2Funded reactivations if eligible.
Why a fill above the limit can still be a breach
Limits are checked on realized and unrealized P&L. If an open trade touches the limit, liquidation fires by market order; slippage can leave the final balance above the limit, but the breach already happened.
What this means for you: The breach is judged on the open loss, not on the fill you end up with.
FAQ
How does the Topstep Maximum Loss Limit work?
Topstep's Maximum Loss Limit (MLL) is the lowest your balance may reach: $2,000 below start on a 50K account, $3,000 on 100K and $4,500 on 150K. It trails your end-of-day balance upward, never moves down, locks once it reaches your starting balance in the Trading Combine, and is monitored in real time including unrealized P&L.
What happens if you hit the Topstep Maximum Loss Limit?
In the Trading Combine you are liquidated for the day and the account is ineligible for funding until you Reset. In the Express Funded Account the account is permanently closed, though Back2Funded may be available. The MLL cannot be adjusted and Topstep makes no exceptions.
What is the Maximum Loss Limit on a Topstep 50K Express Funded Account?
The Express Funded Account balance starts at $0, so on a 50K XFA the MLL starts at -$2,000 and locks at $0 once the balance reaches $2,000. After the first payout the MLL is set to $0.
Sources: 2 official help-center pages
Not financial advice. Educational content only. Trading futures, options and crypto involves substantial risk of loss. Full disclaimer.