FTMO US Account Sizes, Costs & How to Choose the Right Challenge (Risk math, commissions & ROI framing)

Pick the right FTMO US Challenge size (and set risk perfectly)

See account sizes, risk limits, commissions & an ROI framework. Start smart, scale calmly.

Updated: August 27, 2025 · US-focused

Snapshot: FTMO US offers MT5-only, netting/FIFO accounts with five challenge sizes ($10k–$200k). Core rules: 10% Profit Target (Phase 1), 5% daily loss & 10% max loss; fee is refunded with the first Reward. You can later scale (+25% per 4-month cycle) and earn up to 90% of simulated profits. How it works · MT5 only · Fee refund policy · Scaling plan

FTMO US account sizes & risk limits (at a glance)

Choose from five simulated sizes: $10k, $25k, $50k, $100k, $200k. The account risk limits are proportional: Maximum Daily Loss = 5% of initial balance; Maximum Loss = 10%. Profit Target in the Challenge is 10% (Verification target is 5%). Source · Examples

Challenge size	Profit Target (Phase 1)	Max Daily Loss (5%)	Max Loss (10%)	Typical per-trade risk (0.5%)
$10,000	$1,000	$500	$1,000	$50
$25,000	$2,500	$1,250	$2,500	$125
$50,000	$5,000	$2,500	$5,000	$250
$100,000	$10,000	$5,000	$10,000	$500
$200,000	$20,000	$10,000	$20,000	$1,000

Rules/details: How it Works and How to Pass the FTMO Challenge.

Platform, execution model & leverage

MT5-only, netting/FIFO

FTMO US uses MetaTrader 5 in netting mode (one net position per symbol), which automatically enforces FIFO and disallows hedging — very similar to common US region rules. MT5 only · Netting/FIFO explained

Leverage & specs

The maximum leverage is 1:33 (≈3% margin) on selected instruments; check contract specs inside MT5 and the Simulated Assets page for hours. Account specifications · Simulated assets

Want the fee refunded with your first Reward? Pass the Evaluation, claim your first payout, and FTMO US returns 100% of the initial fee (subject to KYC/W-9 & T&Cs). Begin your FTMO US Challenge.

Commissions, costs & spreads (US configuration)

FTMO US outlines transparent commission guidelines in its US-platform primer:

Spot FX: approximately $5 per standard lot (100k) round-trip.
Indices, commodities, precious metals: around 0.0025% per side of notional (≈ $5 per $100,000 notional round-trip), with instrument-specific specs visible in MT5. Source (US setup primer)

Cost awareness checklist

Use contract specifications in MT5 to verify tick value, min lot and trading hours per symbol. Specs FAQ
FTMO US allows news trading and weekend holding on the US account type. News policy (US)
Platform time: MT5 server is GMT+2 (+DST). Specs FAQ

ROI framework: refund, Rewards & Points

Fee refund: After you pass the Evaluation and process your first Reward from the FTMO Rewards Account, 100% of the initial fee is refunded (assuming successful KYC/KYB, submitted W-9, and T&Cs compliance). How it Works · Fee refund policy

Rewards share: You can earn up to 90% of simulated profits (after scaling) from the FTMO Rewards Account. Source · Scaling

FTMO Points: Points can be used to discount future Challenges; 1 FTMO Point = $1.15 in purchasing power within FTMO’s ecosystem. Points value

Fast math you can use

Scenario	What to check	Why it matters
First Reward	Plan for a clean, flat equity day between day 15–60 to withdraw	Triggers fee refund + logs 1 of the ≥2 Rewards you’ll later need for scaling
Profit split	Base 80% → 90% after scaling	Higher split improves net Reward on the same strategy output
Points strategy	Elect Points on a Reward or as alternative to fee refund (full)	1 Point = $1.15 toward future Challenges within FTMO’s system

How to choose your Challenge size (decision tree)

1) Start from your per-trade risk comfort

Pick a size where your standard per-trade risk (e.g., 0.25–0.50%) sits far below the 5% Max Daily Loss, even if you stack two trades in a day. Example: if you like risking ~$100/trade, a $25k account at 0.4% risk ≈ $100/trade and still leaves headroom against the $1,250 daily limit. Risk examples

2) Map position size to costs

At ~$5 per 100k notional round-trip on FX, spreads + commission shouldn’t exceed a small fraction of your stop value. If you trade 10-pip stops on EURUSD with $10/pip (0.10 lot), your risk is ~$100; keeping all-in cost (spread+commission) under ~$3–$5 per ticket maintains healthy expectancy. Commissions guide

3) Respect leverage

With maximum leverage of 1:33, notional scales quickly. Make sure your typical stop distance and lot size won’t require excessive margin during volatile releases (news trading is permitted on the US account type). Leverage · News policy (US)

4) Plan for scaling eligibility

If you’re aiming for bigger allocation, design cycles to meet scaling: 4 months, ≥10% total net profit, ≥2 processed Rewards, and a positive balance. Benefits: +25% top-up and 90% split up to a $2M cap on total initial balance across accounts. Scaling plan

Example setups (by trader profile)

Profile	Account size	Per-trade risk	Daily structure	Notes
New to FTMO rules	$10k–$25k	0.25–0.40%	1–2 tickets/day, 1 symbol	Practice netting/FIFO flow on Free Trial first; pass once, then claim/refund
Intermediate day trader	$50k–$100k	0.30–0.50%	One A+ setup/day	Use tight cost control: commission + spread ≪ stop value
Experienced, low frequency	$100k–$200k	0.25–0.40%	2–6 trades/week	Plan Reward requests to hit ≥2 within 4-month scaling cycle

US-specific nuances you should know

Entity & residency: FTMO US serves US residents/entities. Transfers between entities (US ↔ Global/AU) have conditions and require KYC; products aren’t transferred. Eligibility · Switching entities
Reward workflow: First Reward is typically withdrawable from day 15; processing often completes within 1–2 business days after invoice confirmation (via bank wires incl. Revolut). W-9 and US bank account proof required. Reward timing & methods
App Suite: MT5 toolpack (by FX Blue) includes calculators, journal helpers & dashboards — useful for risk calibration. App Suite

Ready to pick your size and get that fee refund?

Select a Challenge that fits your per-trade risk and workflow. Pass cleanly, claim your first Reward (fee refund), and plan your 4-month route to scaling.

Start FTMO US (affiliate)

FAQs

Which account sizes are available in FTMO US?

$10k, $25k, $50k, $100k, and $200k simulated accounts. Source

Is the Challenge fee recurring? What happens to it?

The sole cost is the Challenge fee; after passing and processing your first Reward, FTMO US refunds the full initial fee (subject to identity/tax verification and T&Cs). Fee refund policy

Can I trade during news or hold over the weekend?

For the FTMO account type US, yes — no news/overnight restrictions (Evaluation & Rewards stages). US news policy

How are commissions calculated?

Guidance: FX ≈ $5 per 100k notional round-trip; indices/commodities/metals ≈ 0.0025% per side (≈ $5 per $100k notional round-trip). Check each symbol’s contract in MT5. US setup primer

What if I want to scale beyond $200k?

Use the Scaling Plan (+25% per 4-month cycle with ≥10% net profit, ≥2 Rewards, positive balance) toward the $2M total initial balance cap; premium tiers can increase allocation further under separate criteria. Scaling plan

Disclosure: FTMO US provides a simulated, educational environment. Performance in simulation does not guarantee results in live markets. This article includes a partner affiliate link.