How Should You Size Trades on a 50K Prop Firm Account?
A step-by-step plan for sizing a 50K futures evaluation with micros, building a cushion, and scaling up only when the math allows.
Start with your drawdown, not your profit target
Every 50K plan has a maximum drawdown and many have a daily loss limit. Those numbers decide your size. Check the exact figures on your firm's card before your first trade — they differ by firm and plan.
Day 1: risk a small slice per trade
A common starting point is risking a small fraction of your drawdown on any one trade. Example: if a 20-point stop on MNQ costs $40 per contract, 2–3 MNQ keeps a loss to $80–$120. That leaves many attempts before you get close to the limit.
Build a cushion before adding size
Only add contracts after you've banked profit above your starting balance. Adding size from the cushion — not from your original drawdown — means a bad day takes back profit instead of ending the account.
Don't use the max contract limit just because it's there
Firms list a maximum number of contracts, but that's a ceiling, not a target. Traders who start at max size usually breach on their first big losing trade.
Plan the last stretch
When you're close to the profit target, size down. There's no prize for finishing today, and one forced trade near the finish line is how many evaluations are lost.
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