Protect the 10% equity floor (Maximum Loss) — before it’s too late
FTMO US rule: your equity must never drop below 90% of the initial balance. Use the live buffer calculator and playbook below.
Start the FTMO US ChallengeUpdated: August 27, 2025 · U.S. rules
Maximum Loss (ML) — the rule in one formula
Equity floor = initial balance × (1 − ML%)
Current equity = initial balance + today’s closed P/L + current open P/L + commissions + swaps
Stay safe condition: current equity > equity floor
ML Buffer Calculator (client-side, no APIs)
Equity floor (90% of initial by default)
$90,000
Usage of ML so far: 0%
Current equity
$100,000
Status: OK
Room to ML breach — now
$10,000
This is how much adverse move you can still take right now.
Room to ML breach — if flat
$10,000
Close all positions → this becomes your remaining buffer.
Worked examples (to make ML unambiguous)
| Initial | ML (10%) | Closed | Open | Costs | Equity | Floor | Breach? | Room now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100,000 | $10,000 | $−3,000 | $−6,000 | $−200 | $90,800 | $90,000 | No | $800 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 | $−4,500 | $−5,600 | $−100 | $89,800 | $90,000 | Yes | $0 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 | $+1,500 | $−15,000 | $−300 | $186,200 | $180,000 | No | $6,200 |
ML vs MDL — how they interact
| Rule | Level | Counts | Resets | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Loss (ML) | 10% of initial | All closed/open + costs (equity) | Never (during the period) | Run a “hard stop” policy when ML buffer < 20% |
| Maximum Daily Loss (MDL) | 5% of initial | Today’s closed + current open + costs | Daily at midnight CE(S)T | Set a “soft stop” before MDL (e.g., 70–80% usage) |
Notes & best practices (U.S. rules)
- Plan from the floor. Calculate the equity floor before the session; avoid stacking correlated risk that could gap through the buffer.
- Flatten when buffer is tiny. If Room now < 2× your typical trade risk, skip new entries until you rebuild.
- Costs count. Commissions/swaps reduce equity; don’t let overnight financing silently eat your buffer.
- Use partials. Bank partial profits to lift equity and expand your ML room mid-sequence.
- Log it. Add columns to your journal: ML floor, Room now, Room if flat. This improves decision discipline.
Scenario planner — how much room do you have?
Use the calculator to test “what-ifs.” Example for $100k initial (floor $90k): if you’re at $92k equity, you have $2k room. A 40-pip stop at $10/pip consumes $400; five consecutive losses would breach — unless you down-shift size or rebuild with partial wins.
Never guess your ML buffer again
Check it before every sequence. Keep equity above the floor, then scale calmly into Prime/Supreme territory.
Start the FTMO US ChallengeFAQs — Maximum Loss (U.S.)
Does ML reset daily?
No. Maximum Loss is an all-time equity floor across the period; it does not reset at midnight.
Do commissions and swaps count toward ML?
Yes. Equity includes closed P/L, open P/L, and costs (commissions & swaps). They reduce your room to the floor.
How is ML different from MDL?
ML is 10% of initial balance measured on equity and never resets. MDL is 5% of initial measured on today’s closed+open+costs and resets at midnight CE(S)T.
Official resources
- How it Works (examples of 5% MDL / 10% ML)
- FTMO Academy — Maximum Loss (equity floor)
- FTMO Academy — Maximum Daily Loss (daily reset)
- Trading & Drawdowns — US rules primer
Disclosure: FTMO US provides a simulated, educational environment. Performance in simulation does not guarantee live-market results. This article includes a partner affiliate link.
