A Tradovate stop loss is a protective order that triggers an exit when price reaches your stop level. Updated: ****.

Tradovate offers 3 practical ways to set one:

  • Already in a trade: Place a stop order from the Chart or DOM.
  • Before entering a trade: Use an ATM bracket order so Tradovate submits the stop after your entry fills.
  • Trading on mobile: Configure the bracket through More Trade Preferences or the Brackets button.

Tradovate Stop-Loss Methods at a Glance

Situation Tradovate feature What to use
You already have a long position Chart or DOM Sell stop below the market
You already have a short position Chart or DOM Buy stop above the market
You want protection attached to a new entry ATM bracket Set the stop distance in ticks, price or currency
You want a stop and profit target on an existing position OCO-one time Add linked stop-loss and take-profit orders
You want to trade from your phone Brackets settings Configure and enable brackets

How to Set a Stop Loss on a Tradovate Chart

Turn on Trade Mode in the chart settings before placing or managing orders from the chart.

For a Long Position

  1. Open the chart for the contract you are trading.
  2. Turn on Trade Mode.
  3. Click the price level where you want the stop.
  4. Select the appropriate stop order.
  5. Confirm the order.

A long position normally uses a sell stop below the current market price.

For a Short Position

  1. Click a price level above the current market.
  2. Select the appropriate stop order.
  3. Confirm the order.

A short position normally uses a buy stop above the current market price.

After submission, Tradovate displays the working order on the chart. You can drag it to a new price and confirm the change.

How to Set a Stop Loss in the Tradovate DOM

In the DOM, right-click the bid or ask column at the price where you want to place the stop.

Stop Loss for a Long Position

A long position needs a sell stop below the market:

  1. Find the price below the current market.
  2. Right-click in the Ask column at that price.
  3. Confirm the sell stop.

Stop Loss for a Short Position

A short position needs a buy stop above the market:

  1. Find the price above the current market.
  2. Right-click in the Bid column at that price.
  3. Confirm the buy stop.

The exact click behavior depends on your DOM order-entry settings. Tradovate lets you choose whether left-click or right-click places limit and stop orders. Check the order type shown before confirming it.

How to Attach a Stop Loss Before Entering a Trade

Use an ATM bracket order when you want Tradovate to submit a stop automatically after your entry fills.

  1. Open the DOM.
  2. Find the ATM control and click the gear icon beside it.
  3. Set the bracket's stop-loss parameters.
  4. Choose whether the stop distance is measured in ticks, price or currency.
  5. Set separate stop values for buy and sell orders if needed.
  6. Turn on the ATM function.
  7. Click Save.
  8. Place the entry order.

Tradovate shows the bracket settings before you submit the entry. Once the entry fills, the stop becomes a working order.

Example

If you buy one futures contract and set the ATM stop to 20 ticks, Tradovate places the protective sell stop at the configured distance from the filled entry price. The dollar risk depends on the contract's tick size and tick value.

How to Add a Stop Loss and Take Profit to an Existing Position

Use OCO-one time to add a linked stop loss and take-profit order to an open position. OCO means "one cancels the other." When one order executes, Tradovate cancels the other.

  1. Open the Tradovate DOM.
  2. Select OCO-one time from the ATM drop-down menu.
  3. Place the take-profit order first.
  4. Place the stop-loss order second.
  5. Confirm that both orders are working and linked.

For a long position:

  • Place the take profit as a sell limit above the market.
  • Place the stop loss as a sell stop below the market.

For a short position:

  • Place the take profit as a buy limit below the market.
  • Place the stop loss as a buy stop above the market.

The two orders must be placed in sequence. Select OCO-one time, place the first order, then place the second. Clicking elsewhere in Tradovate may cancel the setup and require you to start again.

Which Stop-Loss Order Type Should You Use?

For most traders, a regular Stop order is the simplest choice for a protective stop.

Stop type How it works Main consideration
Stop Triggers a market-style order after price reaches the stop level The fill price may differ from the stop price in a fast market
Stop Limit Triggers a limit order instead of a market-style stop The limit order may remain unfilled, leaving the position open without an active stop
Trail.Stop Moves the stop as the position moves into profit It follows favorable price movement but does not move backward
AutoBreakeven Moves the stop to breakeven after a profit trigger Requires a profit trigger and offset
AutoTrail Starts trailing after a profit trigger Requires stop, trigger and frequency settings

Tradovate warns that a stop-limit or trailing stop-limit order can trigger and leave a working limit order while the position remains open without a working stop loss. Use these order types only when you understand that execution risk.

How to Change the Stop Type

  1. Click the gear icon in the DOM.
  2. Select Stop Type.
  3. Choose the stop order type.
  4. Save the configuration.

Tradovate uses that type when you place a stop from the DOM.

How to Set a Stop Loss on Tradovate Mobile

Open the chart or DOM, then use More Trade Preferences to configure brackets, order flags and stop types. Turn on the Brackets toggle when you want a stop loss and other bracket orders attached to a new trade.

In Tradovate Trader, you can also tap the brackets control and configure the settings for the selected symbol.

Check These Items Before Submitting the Trade

  • A long position uses a sell stop.
  • A short position uses a buy stop.
  • The stop distance is measured in ticks, price or currency.
  • The order quantity matches your position size.
  • The stop appears as a working order after the entry fills.
  • A stop-limit order may trigger without filling.
  • A stop order does not guarantee a maximum loss during rapid price movement.

Best default: Use a regular stop-loss order or an ATM bracket, then confirm that the protective order is working immediately after the entry fills.