TopStep has three layers of rules: Combine evaluation rules, funded account rules, and payout policy. Get any of them wrong and your eval ends, your funded account terminates, or your withdrawal request gets rejected. The official TopStep help center documents each layer separately, but most traders only learn the full picture by violating something they didn't know existed.
This is the complete TopStep rules reference. Every rule, what it means in practice, and the math behind why it exists. Combine through funded through payout. Use it as a checklist before paying for your subscription.
The 4 rules that matter most: daily loss limit ($1K on 50K), maximum drawdown ($2K on 50K), 5 winning days minimum, profit target ($3K on 50K = 6%). Master these four and you'll pass the Combine. Add the consistency rule (no day > 50% of total profit) for the funded phase.
Layer 1: Combine Evaluation Rules
| Rule | 50K Combine | 100K Combine | 150K Combine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profit target | $3,000 (6%) | $6,000 (6%) | $9,000 (6%) |
| Daily loss limit | $1,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 |
| Maximum drawdown | $2,000 | $3,000 | $4,500 |
| Minimum winning days | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Maximum contracts (mini) | 3 | 6 | 9 |
| Maximum contracts (Micro) | 30 | 60 | 90 |
| Subscription cost | $165/mo | $325/mo | $375/mo |
Daily Loss Limit (DLL)
Static dollar floor measured from start-of-day balance. Hit it during the session, Combine ends. The DLL doesn't reset based on intraday equity peaks — it only updates at the next session's start-of-day balance.
Maximum Drawdown
Lifetime account floor. Once the account exceeds starting balance, the maximum drawdown locks at the starting balance, giving a cushion. Until that point, the floor sits 2-4.5K below starting depending on account size.
Profit Target
6% across all account sizes. Realistic in 5-12 trading days with disciplined sizing.
Minimum Winning Days
5 separate days where the account closed in profit. A trading day = at least one round-trip trade. The 5-day requirement prevents single-day flukes from passing the Combine.
Maximum Contracts
3 ES (or 30 MES Micros) on the 50K Combine. Trading more contracts than allowed for one second terminates the account.
Allowed Markets
Major futures: ES, NQ, YM, RTY plus Micro versions. Currencies (6E, 6B, 6C). Energy (CL, NG). Metals (GC, SI). Treasuries (ZB, ZN). All major CME-listed products.
Time Limits
No maximum time limit. Take as many days as needed. Subscription must stay active throughout — cancelling pauses Combine progress.
Layer 2: Funded Account Rules
After passing the Combine, you pay an activation fee to convert to a PA (Performance Account) or Express Funded Account. The rules continue with additions:
Daily Loss Limit (continued)
Same as Combine — $1,000 on 50K, $2,000 on 100K, etc. Hitting the DLL on a funded account triggers a "soft termination" where the account is reset; you typically can re-trade after addressing the violation, depending on account product.
Maximum Drawdown (continued)
Same mechanic — locked at starting balance once exceeded. Lifetime floor.
Consistency Rule
The most-misunderstood funded-account rule. No single day's profit can exceed 50% of total account profit at the time of payout request.
Example: account profits over 10 days total $4,000. Day 4 alone made $2,500 (62.5% of total). Withdrawal blocked until other days dilute Day 4's relative share to 50% or less.
Minimum Trading Days for Payout
5 trading days on the funded account before the first payout request can be submitted. Each subsequent payout typically requires 5+ days from the previous one.
Position Closing Rule
All positions must be closed before market close on the day of a payout request. Open positions block payout eligibility until they're closed.
Account Restoration
Some funded accounts include rules about restoration after rule violations — others terminate permanently. Check your specific account product's terms; PA and Express Funded handle this differently.
Layer 3: Payout Policy Rules
The 100% / 90% Split
- First $10,000 of profits: 100% to the trader.
- Profits above $10,000: 90% to the trader, 10% to TopStep.
- The threshold is per-account — each funded account has its own $10K first-tier ceiling.
Monthly Cap on Early Payouts
The first 3-5 payouts have caps applied (typically $5,000 maximum each). Caps loosen significantly after consistency is demonstrated. The TopStep dashboard shows the current cap before each withdrawal request.
Withdrawal Methods
- ACH (US, 1-3 business days, no fee)
- Domestic wire (same-day, small fee)
- International wire (3-5 business days, fees vary)
- Check (slowest, by request)
Banking Verification
Required before first payout. ID + proof of address + bank account. Submit early — the verification can extend the first-payout timeline if not pre-completed.
Rules That Often Surprise New Traders
News-trading restrictions
Some account types restrict trading during high-impact economic releases (FOMC, CPI, NFP) or impose tighter contract limits during those windows. Check per-account; the standard 50K Combine has fewer restrictions than newer Express Funded variants.
Overnight holds
Standard 50K Combine allows certain overnight positions. Extended overnight holds (multi-day) are restricted on most accounts. Verify each account's overnight policy before relying on multi-session setups.
Copy-trading prohibition
You cannot copy trades from one TopStep account to another, or from external accounts to TopStep. Trades must be independently executed. Violation can terminate the account and ban the trader.
Hedging restrictions
Hedging across products to reduce risk is generally allowed; hedging to circumvent rules (e.g., taking opposing positions to flatten margin requirements) is not.
Rules That Cause Most Account Terminations
- Daily loss limit violations — by far the most common, accounting for ~60% of Combine failures.
- Maximum drawdown violations — usually after a series of losing days that compound.
- Contract limit violations — accidentally placing 4 contracts when 3 is the limit.
- Subscription lapse — not paying for the next month's Combine subscription before evaluation completes.
- Trade copy detection — usually caught when traders run identical setups across multiple firms simultaneously.
The rule that ends most funded accounts: The consistency rule on the FIRST payout request. Traders pass the Combine, get funded, have one big day in the first week, and find out the consistency rule blocks their first withdrawal until other days dilute the big day's share. Plan for consistent daily wins, not heroics.
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What are the TopStep Combine rules?
Hit 6% profit target. Don't violate $1K daily loss (50K). Don't exceed $2K max drawdown. Trade at least 5 winning days. Stay within contract limits.
What is TopStep's daily loss limit?
$1,000 on 50K, $2,000 on 100K, $3,000 on 150K. Static, measured from start-of-day balance.
What is TopStep's consistency rule?
On funded accounts, no single day's profit can exceed 50% of total profit at payout request. Forces consistent daily wins.
What contracts can I trade?
Major futures (ES, NQ, YM, RTY + Micros), currencies, energy, metals, treasuries — most CME-listed products. Maximum contract count varies by account size.
Are there time limits?
No maximum on standard Combine. Minimum 5 winning days. Subscription must stay active.
What is the maximum drawdown rule?
$2,000 below starting balance on 50K, $3,000 on 100K, $4,500 on 150K. Floor locks at starting balance once exceeded.
Bottom Line
TopStep's rule system is logical when you see all three layers (Combine, funded, payout) together. The static drawdown floor is generous compared to trailing alternatives. The 5-winning-day requirement enforces discipline. The consistency rule prevents lucky-day cash-outs. Each rule has a purpose; none are arbitrary.
Memorize the 4 Combine rules and the consistency rule. Trade with daily caps below the firm's hard limits. Plan profits to be evenly distributed across days. Do that and TopStep's rules become a framework, not an obstacle.
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