FloorGuardSame "5% daily loss", different math
Last checked 2026-10-04. Comparison of the standard 2-step programs; other programs at the same firms can differ.
Two firms can both advertise a 5% daily loss limit and still put your floor in different places. Two questions decide it: 5% of what? and subtracted from what?
Side by side
| Firm / program | Daily % | % of… | Subtracted from… | Reset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTMO 2-Step | 5% | initial capital | balance at midnight | 00:00 CE(S)T1 |
| FundedNext Stellar 2-Step | 5% | initial balance | day's starting balance | 00:00 server (GMT+2/+3)2 |
| The5ers High Stakes | 5% | higher of day-start balance or equity | that same higher value | 00:00 server (GMT+2/+3)3 |
| FundingPips 2 Step Standard | 5% (or 3%) | higher of opening balance or equity | that same higher value | 00:00 UTC+34 |
| Alpha Capital Alpha Pro 10% | 5% | day's starting balance | day's starting balance | 00:00 GMT+35 |
| Blue Guardian 2 Step Standard | 4% | initial balance | higher of balance or equity at rollover | 5:00 pm EST6 |
One scenario, six floors
$100,000 account. At the daily reset your balance is $105,000 and an open trade puts equity at $107,000.
| Firm | Calculation | Equity must stay above |
|---|---|---|
| FTMO 2-Step | $105,000 − 5% × $100,000 | $100,000 |
| FundedNext Stellar 2-Step | $105,000 − 5% × $100,000 | $100,000 |
| The5ers High Stakes | $107,000 − 5% × $107,000 | $101,650 |
| FundingPips (5%) | $107,000 − 5% × $107,000 | $101,650 |
| Alpha Pro 10% | $105,000 − 5% × $105,000 | $99,750 |
| Blue Guardian (4%) | $107,000 − 4% × $100,000 | $103,000 |
The arithmetic applies each firm's published method. FundingPips' own example uses exactly these opening values and gets $101,650.4 Alpha Capital says floating P/L carried in from the previous day is not added to its balance-based reference.5 Blue Guardian takes the higher of balance and equity and subtracts a fixed 4% of initial balance.6 FTMO and FundedNext subtract a fixed amount based on initial balance from the day-start balance.1,2
Why it matters
- Firms that use the higher of balance and equity (The5ers, FundingPips, Blue Guardian) lock in open profit at the reset. If that open profit evaporates the next morning, it eats your daily allowance.
- Firms that use the % of initial balance (FTMO, FundedNext, Blue Guardian) give you the same dollar allowance every day, no matter how far up you are.
- Firms that use the % of the day-start value (The5ers, FundingPips, Alpha Pro) give you a slightly bigger dollar allowance as the account grows, and a smaller one after losses.
- Reset times range from 5 pm New York to midnight in Prague or UTC+3. Know yours in local time.
Compare your own numbers across firms
Sources
- FTMO, "Trading Objectives": ftmo.com/en/trading-objectives/
- FundedNext Help Center, "How can I calculate the daily loss limit?": help.fundednext.com/en/articles/8019811
- The5ers Help Center, High Stakes maximum loss and daily loss: help.the5ers.com/…high-stakes-program/ and general rules
- FundingPips Help Center, "2 Step Standard": help.fundingpips.com/…/34501809112081-2-Step-Standard
- Alpha Capital Help Center, "What are the Daily Risk Limits and how do they work?": help.alphacapitalgroup.uk/en/articles/6934210
- Blue Guardian Help Center, "2 Step Standard Rules": help.blueguardian.com/en/articles/14062291
Related: Full table: 13 programs compared · E8 daily drawdown