Key takeaways
- Topstep's hard boundary is the end-of-day trailing Maximum Loss Limit.
- The best day must stay below 55% of total profits to meet the consistency target.
- The $50K, $100K, and $150K Combines can qualify in two trading days.
- Rules checked against Topstep's help center on October 24, 2026.
To pass the Topstep challenge, size from the Maximum Loss Limit—not the account label. The displayed balance is not spendable risk. The live operating budget is $2,000 on the $50K Combine, $3,000 on the $100K Combine, and $4,500 on the $150K Combine.
Read the full evaluation-planning method first, then use this page as the Topstep rule sheet.
Current Topstep Trading Combine lineup
| Combine | Profit target | Maximum Loss Limit | Consistency | Maximum position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50K | $3,000 | $2,000 | Best day below 55% | 5 minis / 50 micros |
| $100K | $6,000 | $3,000 | Best day below 55% | 10 minis / 100 micros |
| $150K | $9,000 | $4,500 | Best day below 55% | 15 minis / 150 micros |
Topstep describes the Combine as one rule—do not hit the Maximum Loss Limit—and two objectives: reach the profit target and satisfy consistency. The Maximum Loss Limit trails the account balance at the end of a trading day and stops moving once it reaches the starting balance.
Topstep currently offers a Standard path and a No Activation Fee path. Standard uses the lower Combine subscription price and charges an activation fee after passing. The No Activation Fee path shifts more of the cost to the Combine. Pricing can change, so confirm the current checkout total rather than relying on a cached article.
Daily loss limit: optional pause, not the Maximum Loss Limit
The optional Daily Loss Limit is $1,000 for $50K, $2,000 for $100K, and $3,000 for $150K. Hitting it forces a break for the session. It does not fail the Combine. Reaching the Maximum Loss Limit does.
That distinction matters. Set a personal daily stop inside both limits and include commissions and slippage. A forced platform pause should be an emergency backstop, not the regular exit plan.
Topstep consistency math
Use:
Maximum best day = original profit target × 55%
| Combine | Target | Maximum best day at original target | Even two-day pace |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50K | $3,000 | $1,650 | $1,500/day |
| $100K | $6,000 | $3,300 | $3,000/day |
| $150K | $9,000 | $4,950 | $4,500/day |
If a $50K trader makes $1,800 on the best day, $3,000 is no longer enough. Total profit must reach more than $1,800 ÷ 0.55 = $3,272.73. The consistency objective extends the finish line; it does not automatically fail the account.
What happens after the Combine
Passing leads to a simulated Express Funded Account before any possible move to Live. Topstep’s Standard Express path currently uses five winning days of at least $150 for payout eligibility. Its Consistency Express path uses three trading days and a 40% consistency objective. These are funded-stage payout mechanics, not Trading Combine objectives.
The Maximum Loss Limit still matters after passing. Treat the Express account as a new risk plan rather than permission to expand size.
Use Eden as ETF context, not a futures quote
Plan from the futures chart first, then open the related ETF in Eden: ES/MES with SPY, NQ/MNQ with QQQ, RTY/M2K with IWM, and GC/MGC with GLD. Review structure, momentum, P-Trans, N-Trans, and expected-move targets. Return to the futures chart to set the actual entry, stop, target, and contract count.
Eden publishes options-derived levels for 6,000+ US optionable stocks and ETFs. SPY levels are context for ES; they are not ES prices. Confirm and execute on the futures chart.
Common Topstep failure modes
- Treating the headline balance as the risk budget instead of the Maximum Loss Limit.
- Producing one day above 55% of total profit, then forcing trades to repair consistency.
- Confusing the optional Daily Loss Limit pause with the hard Maximum Loss Limit.
- Using the full contract cap when the chart-based stop supports fewer contracts.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is it to pass the Topstep challenge?
The challenge is reaching the target without touching the Maximum Loss Limit and while keeping the best day below 55% of total profit. The account can qualify in two trading days, but trading faster does not make the drawdown larger.
How fast can you pass Topstep?
Topstep says a Trading Combine can be completed in as few as two trading days. You still must satisfy the profit target, Maximum Loss Limit, and consistency target.
What happens if you break Topstep’s drawdown rule?
Reaching the Maximum Loss Limit ends the Trading Combine. An optional Daily Loss Limit is different: when selected, it pauses trading for the session rather than failing the Combine.
What tools help with a Topstep challenge?
Use Topstep’s dashboard for the official thresholds and a planning tool for entries, stops, and targets. Eden can add options-derived context from related ETFs, but it does not guarantee a pass or publish futures-contract levels.
Check Topstep’s current Trading Combine parameters before trading. For sizing formulas, daily-stop math, and the copyable planning prompt, use the full prop firm evaluation guide.