Guides/How to Pass TopStep $100,000

How to Pass the TopStep $100,000 Challenge

Math-backed position sizing, drawdown math, and a week-by-week plan. Updated 2026-03-21.

To pass the TopStep $100,000 challenge, risk 1% per trade ($1,000) and target 2:1 reward-to-risk setups. You need 3 winning trades of $2,000 each to hit the $6,000 profit target. Your max drawdown is $3,000 (trailing eod (floor moves up at end of day)), giving you 3 consecutive losers of room. Daily loss limit: $2,000. No minimum trading days.

Who This Plan Fits Best
This guide is best for traders who understand that trailing eod (floor moves up at end of day) punishes sloppy giveback and who are willing to stay disciplined with intraday risk.
Where This Guide Can Fail
This plan will not save you if you ignore the live rulebook, oversize after early wins, or treat the math as permission to take every setup. The guide assumes disciplined execution, not forced trading.
The Numbers at a Glance

Account Size

$100,000

Profit Target

$6,000

Max Drawdown

$3,000

Daily Loss Limit

$2,000

1% Risk Per Trade

$1,000

Breach Level

$97,000

How Many Losing Trades Before You Blow
Risk Per Trade$ AmountConsecutive Losers (Drawdown)Losers/Day (Daily Limit)
0.5%$5006 trades4 trades
1% (recommended)$1,0003 trades2 trades
1.5%$1,5002 trades1 trades
2%$2,0001 trades1 trades

At 1% risk, you have 3 trades of room. At 2% risk, that drops to 1 trades. The difference between passing and failing is often just position sizing.

How TopStep's Trailing EOD Drawdown Works
Trailing EOD (floor moves up at end of day)

Your drawdown floor starts at $97,000 but moves up at the end of each trading day. If you close the day at $102,000, your new floor becomes $99,000. The floor never moves down. This means early profits do not give you extra room -- the safety net stays the same size but follows you up.

Example scenario:

Day 1: You open at $100,000. Floor = $97,000.

Day 3: You close at $102,000. Floor moves to $99,000.

Day 4: You close at $101,500 (gave back $500). Floor stays at $99,000 -- it only moves up.

Your remaining room is $2,500 -- tighter than when you started.

Daily Loss Limit: $2,000

TopStep measures the daily loss limit based on balance. This means only closed trade P&L counts, though some firms also factor in floating losses.

At 1% risk per trade ($1,000), you can take 2 losing trades per day before hitting the $2,000 daily cap.

Pro tip: Set your own daily limit at $1,500 (75% of the actual limit). This gives you a buffer for spread costs and slippage.

Position Sizing for TopStep $100,000

The recommended risk per trade is 1% of account size = $1,000.

How to calculate lot size (forex example):

  1. Determine your stop loss distance in pips (e.g., 20 pips)
  2. Calculate pip value: $1,000 / 20 pips = $50/pip
  3. On EUR/USD (standard lot = $10/pip): $50 / $10 = 5.00 lots
  4. On EUR/USD (mini lot = $1/pip): $50 / $1 = 50.0 mini lots

Never calculate lot size first and stop loss second. Always start with the chart, find the logical stop loss, then calculate how many lots fit within your $1,000 budget.

Common Mistakes on TopStep
  • 1.Not understanding that the drawdown floor moves up at end of day -- early profits shrink your total room, not grow it
  • 2.Violating the consistency rule: No single day > 50% of total profit. One big win can invalidate an otherwise passing account
  • 3.Forgetting to close positions before market close -- overnight holding is not allowed and results in automatic violation
  • 4.Revenge trading after a loss -- taking a second or third trade to "make it back" without a valid setup
  • 5.Risking more than 1% per trade ($1,000) -- over-sizing is the #1 reason traders fail prop challenges
  • 6.Trading without a stop loss -- hoping a trade will come back is how accounts get blown in a single session
  • 7.Ignoring the daily loss limit ($2,000) -- many traders track drawdown but forget the daily cap
Timeline Expectations

No minimum trading days. You could theoretically pass in one session, but this usually means over-leveraging. Take your time.

This is a 1-step evaluation. Pass the evaluation and go straight to funded. Budget 2-4 weeks.

94% of prop firm traders fail. Most fail because they rush, over-leverage, or trade emotionally after a loss. The traders who pass treat it like a business, not a sprint.

Step-by-Step Plan: Weeks 1-2

Week 1: Build the Foundation

  • Risk $500 per trade (0.5%) -- half your normal risk
  • Trade only your best A+ setups. 1-2 trades per day maximum
  • Goal: establish consistency and prove your edge, not hit the target
  • Target P&L for the week: $1,200 (20% of profit target)
  • If you lose 2 trades in a row, stop trading for the day

Week 2: Scale Up Carefully

  • If Week 1 was profitable, increase to $1,000 per trade (1%)
  • If Week 1 was negative, stay at 0.5% and focus on execution quality
  • Target P&L for the week: $2,400 (40% of profit target)
  • Review every trade -- are you following your plan or improvising?
  • Set a daily loss limit for yourself at $2,000 (2 losers = done for the day)

Weeks 3-4: Close It Out

  • Stay at 1% risk. Do not increase to "finish faster"
  • Remaining target: $2,400 (40%). At $2,000 per winning trade (2R), that is 2 winning trades
  • If you are close to the target, do not force trades. Let them come to you
  • Monitor your drawdown buffer: always know how far you are from $97,000
Related Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

How hard is it to pass TopStep $100,000?

Most traders find the TopStep $100,000 challenge moderately difficult. The profit target is $6,000 with $3,000 max drawdown, giving a target-to-drawdown ratio of 2.0:1. At 1% risk per trade with 2:1 reward-to-risk, you need about 3 winning trades to pass. Industry-wide, roughly 5-10% of traders pass prop firm challenges.

What is the pass rate for TopStep?

TopStep does not publish official pass rates. Industry estimates suggest 5-10% of traders pass prop firm evaluations. The main reasons for failure are over-leveraging, hitting the daily loss limit, and revenge trading after losses. Using 1% risk per trade and following a structured plan significantly improves your odds.

How long does it take to pass TopStep $100,000?

TopStep has no minimum trading day requirement, so you could technically pass in one day. However, most successful traders take 2-4 weeks to avoid over-leveraging and emotional trading.

What is the best strategy to pass TopStep?

Risk 1% per trade ($1,000) and target 2:1 reward-to-risk setups. Trade only A+ setups, limit yourself to 1-2 trades per day, and stop trading after 2 consecutive losses. Since TopStep uses trailing eod (floor moves up at end of day), be especially careful not to let winning trades reverse -- your floor moves up with profits.

Is the TopStep $100,000 challenge worth it?

The TopStep $100,000 challenge costs $99. If you pass, you get a $100,000 funded account with 90%-90% profit split. At 5% monthly returns, that is $4,500-$4,500 per month. The fee is typically refunded with your first payout.

Can I use a bot or EA to pass TopStep?

Yes, TopStep allows expert advisors and automated trading bots. Many traders use EAs for consistent execution. Copy trading is not allowed.

Want AI to audit your trades against TopStep's rules?

Vigil checks every trade against your firm's drawdown, daily loss, and position sizing rules. Know if you're on track to pass -- or about to blow.

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