FTMO Rules and Payouts 2026: Complete Guide

FTMO Rules at a Glance

FTMO rules for 2026 focus on clear profit targets, drawdown limits, and minimum trading requirements that traders must follow to qualify for funded accounts. The firm applies these standards across its 1-Step Challenge programs. Key limits stay consistent regardless of account size, though dollar amounts scale with the balance chosen.

These thresholds help traders understand payout timing and compliance needs before starting an evaluation.^[2] Traders comparing multiple firms can review current data on the prop firm directory for side-by-side details.

Evaluation Rules in 2026

FTMO structures its 1-Step evaluations around clear profit targets, drawdown limits, and payout gating mechanisms. These rules apply across account sizes from $10,000 to $200,000. The firm reports over 4.5 million customers and more than $650 million paid in rewards as of late 2026.

Profit Targets by Account Size

Every 1-Step challenge requires traders to reach a fixed profit target without breaching loss limits. The target equals 10 percent of the account balance in all cases.

Traders receive a 90 percent profit split once funded. The prop firm directory lets users filter these exact parameters across 47 firms to compare costs and targets side by side.

Drawdown Rules

FTMO uses an end-of-day trailing drawdown on all 1-Step accounts. The limit starts at the initial balance and trails upward only when the account hits a new equity high at the close of each trading day. A breach occurs if equity falls below this level at any point.

Exceeding the Best Day Rule does not terminate the account. It simply holds payout requests until additional profitable days bring the ratio back under the 50 percent threshold.

Minimum Trading Days

The 1-Step program lists zero minimum trading days. Traders can complete the challenge in a single session if the profit target is reached without breaching drawdown. However, the Best Day Rule still applies and can delay progression or payouts.

The comparison page updates these rules automatically so traders avoid outdated information when selecting an evaluation.

Trading Rules & Restrictions

FTMO enforces a focused set of rules that shape how traders approach their evaluations and funded accounts. These restrictions emphasize risk control while allowing flexibility in some areas. Understanding each rule helps you match your style to the program before you start.

Allowed Instruments

FTMO focuses on forex pairs as its primary asset class. The platform does not permit direct trading in futures, stocks, or cryptocurrencies under standard CFD evaluations. Algo bots, copy trading, and martingale approaches are also disallowed.

Practical Impact: Scalpers lose their preferred high-frequency setups. Swing traders face limits on holding across sessions. News traders must avoid the restricted events entirely. Position traders who rely on automation will need to switch to manual execution to stay compliant.

News Trading Policy

News trading is not allowed. Traders cannot open or hold positions during high-impact economic releases. This rule applies across both evaluation and funded stages.

Practical Impact: News traders must close positions hours before major releases or skip those days. Scalpers who thrive on volatility will see fewer opportunities. Swing traders benefit from forced discipline but lose some short-term setups that rely on event reactions.

Weekend & Overnight Holding

Both weekend holding and overnight holding are prohibited. All positions must close before the weekend and cannot remain open past the daily session end.

Practical Impact: Swing traders who hold multi-day positions must adjust to intraday-only strategies. Scalpers already aligned with this rule experience little change. Overnight traders lose the ability to capture gaps or multi-session moves.

Position Limits

FTMO applies a consistency rule on its 1-Step programs. The best single profitable day cannot exceed 50 percent of total Positive Days' Profit. Exceeding the threshold does not breach the account but delays payouts until more profitable days dilute the ratio. The 2-Step program carries no such consistency requirement.

Practical Impact: Traders with concentrated win days must spread profits across at least two sessions to unlock payouts. A $10,000 best day on $16,000 total positive profit violates the 50 percent threshold and requires $20,000 in positive days for compliance. Lumpy strategies become harder to execute without planning extra winning sessions.

Payout Rules & Schedule

FTMO structures payouts around a 90 percent profit split across all 1-Step challenges. This split applies once you reach funded status and request withdrawals. The structure rewards consistent performance while tying access to the firm's Best Day Rule on 1-Step accounts.

Profit Split Structure

Every listed FTMO 1-Step challenge uses a 90/10 split. You keep 90 percent of profits. FTMO retains 10 percent. This rate stays fixed from the $10,000 account through the $200,000 account. The split activates only after you complete the evaluation and enter the funded phase.

Payout Frequency

FTMO does not publish a fixed payout schedule in the challenge data. Requests become available once you meet all trading objectives and any applicable consistency thresholds. The Best Day Rule on 1-Step accounts can delay approval until additional profitable days bring your best day below 50 percent of total Positive Days' Profit.

Minimum & Maximum Payouts

Challenge data shows no stated minimum or maximum payout amount. Payout size depends on your realized profits after fees and any rule compliance checks. Larger accounts such as the $200,000 plan allow proportionally larger withdrawals once eligible.

First Payout Eligibility

First payout timing hinges on rule compliance rather than a set calendar. On 1-Step accounts, the Best Day Rule must be satisfied before requests are approved. The 2-Step program has no consistency requirement during evaluation, which can speed first access for traders who meet the four minimum trading days and loss limits.

Traders comparing rules across firms can review full details on the prop firm directory. The platform tracks 47 firms with real challenge data and updates when payout policies change.

Account Scaling & Progression

FTMO structures progression around clear evaluation phases that lead to funded accounts. Traders begin with a challenge that tests profit targets, loss limits, and minimum trading days. Meeting those goals unlocks a funded FTMO Account with an 80-90% profit split.

The path differs by program type. The 2-Step Challenge has no consistency rule, so traders can reach funding even with profit concentrated in one day. The 1-Step Challenge adds the Best Day Rule, where your single best profitable day must stay at or below 50% of total Positive Days Profit.

Key Milestones

1. Complete the evaluation by hitting the profit target while staying under daily and max loss limits.
2. Pass any required minimum trading days (typically four on standard programs).
3. Receive a funded account once verification clears, with profit splits starting at 80% and rising to 90% on consistent performance.
4. Maintain the Best Day Rule on 1-Step accounts to keep payout requests moving; violations pause payouts until additional profitable days dilute the ratio.
5. Scale by opening multiple accounts, though FTMO does not publish an official maximum or automatic scaling plan.

Practical example: a $10,000 best day against $16,000 in Positive Days Profit equals 62.5% and fails the 50% threshold. You need at least $20,000 in Positive Days Profit to comply. Futures programs use separate 40-50% consistency thresholds that also gate passage rather than cause breaches.

FTMO's 2-Step remains the cleaner option for scalpers and news traders because it removes the consistency gate during evaluation.

The prop firm comparison tool tracks these exact rules across 47 firms so you can match your style to the right program without guesswork. Always review the latest Trading Objectives page before starting any challenge.

Tips to Stay Within the Rules

Traders often run into trouble with FTMO's Best Day Rule on the 1-Step Challenge. The rule limits your single best profitable day to no more than 50 percent of your total Positive Days' Profit. Exceeding it does not end the account, but it blocks payouts and evaluation progress until more winning days bring the ratio back in line.

Common Mistakes Traders Make

One frequent error is putting too much size on a single day. A $10,000 profit day against only $16,000 in total positive days equals 62.5 percent. That fails the 50 percent test and requires at least another $4,000 in additional winning days before the ratio drops to compliance.

Another pattern shows up with news or scalping styles. Traders land one outsized winner, then pause. The account sits in a holding pattern because the best day now dominates the entire profit sum. Minimum profitable days effectively rises to two or more on 1-Step accounts.

Many also confuse the informational Consistency Score with the enforceable Best Day Rule. The score does not block progress on its own, but the actual profit ratio does.