Topstep: rules card
Every Topstep rule that decides whether a strategy fits, on one page with sources and a verification date. This is the reference; the how-to-pass guide is the walkthrough.
Topstep rules at a glance
| Rule | Current terms |
|---|---|
| Drawdown (evaluation) | Maximum Loss Limit, EOD trailing on the Combine ($2,000 on 50K) |
| Drawdown (funded) | EOD trailing on Express Funded and Live |
| Daily loss limit | No universal DLL on the standard Combine; optional on some configurations |
| Consistency | 50% Consistency Target on the Combine: best day may not exceed half of the profit target, or the target increases |
| Minimum days | None on the Combine (can pass in 2 sessions); 5 winning days of $150+ per Express payout; daily payouts unlock after 30 winning days ($150+) in the Live account |
| Contract cap | 5 / 10 / 15 minis (50 / 100 / 150 micros) on 50K / 100K / 150K |
| Automation | Bots and EAs allowed in Combine and funded; no setup support; HFT and algorithmic scalping excluded |
| Copy trading | Native copier in TopstepX; must run on the device you are logged in from, no VPS; around 5 accounts |
| News | No-news window applies |
| Payout | Express: per-request caps $2,000–$6,000 by size; Live: uncapped; 1–3 days ACH/Wise; 90/10 from first dollar on accounts opened after 12 January 2026 (100% of first $10,000 only on earlier accounts) |
| Path to Live | Combine → Express Funded → Live; 0.71% of accounts reached Live in 2025 |
What this means for a systematic strategy
Topstep's rule set is the most complete filter on strategy shape in the group: a 50% consistency target, winning-day counts at the payout stage, and a 90/10 split from the first dollar on new accounts. A strategy that produces steady small days passes it; one that makes its month in three sessions triggers the consistency target, which raises the bar rather than ending the account. The 30-winning-days gate to daily payouts is a two-stage journey most accounts never complete.
Guides for this firm
- How to pass the Topstep Combine
- Best strategy: Topstep 50K
- Best strategy: Topstep 100K
- Best strategy: Topstep 150K
- Topstep vs MyFundedFutures
- Topstep vs Tradeify
- Topstep vs TradeDay
Every rule in the table is defined in the glossary and explained by mechanism in the rules hub.
FAQ
Does Topstep still pay 100% of the first $10,000?
Only on accounts opened before 12 January 2026. Newer accounts run 90/10 from the first dollar.
When do Topstep daily payouts unlock?
After 30 non-consecutive winning days of $150 or more in the Live account. Express days do not count toward the 30.
Does the Topstep Combine have minimum trading days?
No — the day-count minimum was dropped and the Combine can be passed in as few as two sessions, provided the best day stays under half of the profit target.
Sources: firm documentation and current rule trackers (Prop Firm Pine Scripts rules database June 2026, DamnPropFirms July 2026, proptradingvibes and tradetanto June–August 2026, Finance Magnates), cross-checked September 2026. Rules change quarterly; the firm's help center is the binding source.