Free tool
Static vs Trailing Drawdown Calculator
Static drawdown keeps your limit at a fixed level set from your starting balance, while trailing drawdown moves that limit up every time your account makes a new high. Enter your numbers below to see where your limit sits right now and how much room you have left.
Static stays at $90,000 however high you climb, while trailing has followed your $106,000 peak up to $96,000, so the same account has $6,000 less room under trailing.
| Same account under | Limit level | Room left |
|---|---|---|
| Static | $90,000 | $7,000 |
| Trailing | $96,000 | $1,000 |
| Trailing until breakeven | $96,000 | $1,000 |
Pre-filled with an example, so replace the figures with your own. Assumes the limit is a fixed dollar amount set from your starting balance, and leaves out daily loss limits. Firms measure this differently, so check your own rules. For education only, not financial advice.
How each limit is worked out
The limit amount is your starting balance multiplied by your max drawdown percentage. The three types only differ in what they subtract it from. This example uses a $100,000 account, a 10% limit and a $106,000 peak.
| Type | Limit level | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Static | Starting balance − limit amount | $90,000 |
| Trailing | Peak − limit amount | $96,000 |
| Trailing until breakeven | Peak − limit amount, up to your starting balance | $96,000 |
For the full mechanics, including end-of-day and intraday trailing, read the static vs trailing drawdown guide. Drawdown is one rule among several, and how prop firm challenges work covers the rest. BiasForge is macro research for prop firm and funded traders.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between static and trailing drawdown?
Static drawdown fixes your limit at one level, set from your starting balance, and it never moves. Trailing drawdown raises that limit every time your account makes a new high, so your room shrinks as your peak climbs. On a $100,000 account with a 10% limit, static stays at $90,000, while a $106,000 peak puts trailing at $96,000.
How do I calculate my trailing drawdown limit?
Take your peak and subtract your limit amount, which is your starting balance multiplied by your max drawdown percentage. A $100,000 account with a 10% limit has a $10,000 limit amount, so a $106,000 peak gives a limit level of $96,000. Your room left is your current balance minus that level.
What does trailing until breakeven mean?
The limit trails your peak until it reaches your starting balance, then locks there and stops moving. On a $100,000 account with a 10% limit, it trails until the peak reaches $110,000 and then stays at $100,000. Not every firm does this, and some lock at a different level, so check your own rules.
Should I enter my balance or my equity as the peak?
Enter whichever your rules count. End-of-day trailing usually follows your highest closing balance, while intraday trailing follows your highest equity, including floating profit. The calculator uses the figure you give it, so the result is only as accurate as that number.
Does this calculator include daily loss limits?
No. It covers your maximum drawdown only. A daily loss limit is a separate rule with its own level and its own reset, so work it out separately.
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