Pick the smallest account where the daily loss covers your normal worst trading day plus one extra bad trade. The $100K is the most popular because the capital-per-euro ratio is best. The $10K is the smartest first challenge because the fee is low enough to fail without tilting. Do not size by ego. Do not size by what you can "afford to lose." Size by how the daily loss and drawdown match your actual trading variance.
Key Takeaways
- The right account size is determined by your daily loss tolerance, not your budget or your ego. Pick the smallest size where your worst realistic trading day fits inside the daily loss limit with 25% room to spare.
- The $100K is the best value ratio at €499/$4.99 per $1K of capital (1-Step). The $10K is the smartest first challenge at €79 because failing it costs less than a decent dinner.
- At 3% monthly return with a 90% split, the $100K pays $2,700/month. At 5%, it pays $4,500/month. These are projections, not guarantees. Most funded traders earn 2-3% monthly.
- The $200K is the ego trap. It makes sense only if your strategy needs $6,000-$10,000 of daily loss room and you can afford to lose the €999 fee three times. Most first-time buyers of the $200K fail because they sized up without sizing their risk.
- Start small, prove the process, scale after payout. The Scaling Plan can grow a $100K account to $2,000,000 over time. You do not need to start at $200K to reach six-figure funded capital.
On This Page
The Account Size Ladder Framework
This is a 5-step process. Work through it honestly, and the right account size will be obvious by step 3.
Step 1: Start with Your Maximum Acceptable Fee Loss
Ask yourself: what can you afford to lose three times in a row without it affecting your living expenses or your emotional state?
If the answer is "about €100," the $10K is your only option (€79-€89 per attempt). If the answer is "about €250," the $25K fits (€199-€250). If the answer is "about €500," the $50K or $100K fits.
The reason for three times: the average FTMO candidate fails 2-3 times before passing. If you cannot afford to lose the fee three times, you are on the wrong size. The emotional cost of failing a €999 challenge is very different from the emotional cost of failing a €79 challenge. The former can put you on tilt. The latter is a lesson.
Step 2: Match the Daily Loss to Your Normal Losing Day
Open your trading journal (or your broker statement if you do not keep a journal). Find your worst losing day in the last 30 trading days. Add one extra bad trade to that number. The result should fit inside the daily loss limit of the account you are considering, with at least 25% room to spare.
Example: your worst day in the last 30 sessions was -$1,200. One extra bad trade at your average loss size (-$400) makes your worst-case day -$1,600. On the 1-Step, you need a daily loss limit of at least $2,133 ($1,600 / 0.75). That eliminates the $10K ($300 daily loss) and the $25K ($750 daily loss). The $50K ($1,500) is close but tight. The $100K ($3,000) gives you comfortable room.
On the 2-Step with its 5% daily loss, the math is easier. The $50K gives you $2,500 of daily room. The $100K gives you $5,000.
Step 3: Match the Account Size to Your Strategy Volatility
Not all strategies need the same room. A scalper who takes 20 trades per day with tight stops needs less daily room per trade but more total room for variance. A swing trader who takes 1-2 trades per week with wide stops needs enough room for one trade to go fully against them without breaching the daily loss.
The rule of thumb: if your strategy has high per-trade variance (big stop losses, wide targets), you need a larger account or the 2-Step with its 5% daily loss. If your strategy has low per-trade variance (tight stops, frequent trades), you can work with a smaller account or the 1-Step.
Step 4: Prefer the Smallest Account That Proves the Process
If you have never passed an FTMO challenge, start with the $10K or $25K. Prove you can pass. Then scale up.
The reason: the $10K and $25K have the same rules as the $100K and $200K. The daily loss percentage is the same. The max drawdown percentage is the same. The profit target percentage is the same. The only difference is the dollar amounts. If you cannot pass the $10K, you will not pass the $100K. The rules are identical.
The exception: if you are an experienced prop trader with a documented track record of passing challenges at other firms, you can start at the $100K. You already know the rules. You are buying capital, not experience.
Step 5: Scale Only After Payout, Not After Ego
Do not buy a larger account after one failed attempt at a smaller size. The failure tells you something needs to change. If you buy a $200K account because the $25K "was not enough room," you are about to lose €999 learning the same lesson.
Scale up only after you have received at least one funded payout at your current size. That payout proves your process works within the rules. Then, and only then, does it make sense to buy a larger account with more capital at stake.
Start with the $10K or $25K to prove you can pass, then scale up. The $10K 1-Step costs €79. The $25K 2-Step costs €250. Both fees are 100% refunded on your first funded payout, so the net cost of proving your process is zero if you pass.
If you want to see the current pricing across all sizes, check the link below.
FTMO Account Sizes Compared
Here is the full comparison across all five account sizes, both challenge types, with the key numbers that actually matter for your decision.
| Account Size | 1-Step Fee | 2-Step Fee | Daily Loss (1-Step) | Daily Loss (2-Step) | Max DD | Profit Target (1-Step) | Profit Target (2-Step) | 90% Split Income at 3%/mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | €79 | €89 | $300 | $500 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $500 + $2,500 | $270 |
| $25,000 | €199 | €250 | $750 | $1,250 | $2,500 | $2,500 | $1,250 + $1,250 | $675 |
| $50,000 | €319 | €345 | $1,500 | $2,500 | $5,000 | $5,000 | $2,500 + $2,500 | $1,350 |
| $100,000 | €499 | €439 | $3,000 | $5,000 | $10,000 | $10,000 | $5,000 + $5,000 | $2,700 |
| $200,000 | €999 | €1,080 | $6,000 | $10,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | $10,000 + $10,000 | $5,400 |
The capital-per-euro ratio is the number most traders ignore. On the 1-Step, $100K of capital costs €499, which is €5 per $1K. The $10K costs €79, which is €7.90 per $1K. The $100K is 37% better value per unit of capital.
But value per unit of capital only matters if you can actually pass. The $10K you pass is worth infinitely more than the $100K you fail.
The $10K: Test the Waters
Who it is for: First-time FTMO traders, traders coming from other firms who want to learn FTMO's specific rules, and anyone who wants to prove their process before spending €400+.
Why it works: The fee is €79 (1-Step) or €89 (2-Step). That is less than most traders spend on a month of trading education. If you fail, the financial pain is minimal. If you pass, you prove your strategy works within FTMO's rules, the fee is refunded on your first payout, and you have a funded account generating real income.
The catch: The daily loss on the 1-Step is $300. That is very tight. A single 20-pip move on a standard mini lot ($10/pip) eats two-thirds of your daily room. You need to trade micro lots or very small position sizes. The account is not suitable for strategies that need wide stops or that take multiple positions simultaneously.
Recommendation: Use the $10K 2-Step for the $500 daily loss room instead of $300. The fee difference is €10. The extra $200 of daily room is worth significantly more than €10.
Reading about rules is useful. Trading inside them for 14 days is better. The FTMO free trial gives you the actual platform, actual drawdown counters, and actual execution — no credit card, no limit on retries.
The $25K-$50K: The Middle Ground
Who it is for: Traders who have passed a challenge before (at any firm), traders who need more daily loss room than the $10K provides, and traders who want a meaningful income but cannot justify the €400+ fee of the $100K.
The $25K: 1-Step fee €199, 2-Step fee €250. Daily loss is $750 (1-Step) or $1,250 (2-Step). At 3% monthly return with a 90% split, that is $675/month. Enough to matter, not enough to quit a job. Good for traders who want to test their strategy at a slightly larger scale without the financial commitment of the $100K.
The $50K: 1-Step fee €319, 2-Step fee €345. Daily loss is $1,500 (1-Step) or $2,500 (2-Step). At 3% monthly return, that is $1,350/month. This is the first account size where the income starts to feel meaningful. The 2-Step at €345 is also the best value in the FTMO lineup on a fee-per-dollar basis: €345 for $50K of capital is €6.90 per $1K.
The catch: Neither the $25K nor the $50K is the best value ratio. The $100K offers better capital per euro. But if you are not ready for the $100K, the $25K and $50K are where you prove you are.
The $100K: The Sweet Spot
Who it is for: Experienced traders who can stay inside the daily loss and drawdown, traders who have passed at least one challenge before, and anyone who wants the best capital-per-euro ratio in FTMO's lineup.
Why it is the most popular: The 1-Step costs €499 and the 2-Step costs €439. The 2-Step is actually cheaper at this size (the only tier where the 2-Step is less expensive). For €439 on the 2-Step, you get $100K of capital with a $5,000 daily loss limit, a static $10,000 max drawdown, and no Best Day Rule.
At 3% monthly return with 80% split (2-Step base), the income is $2,400/month. At 90% split (1-Step or Scaling Plan), it is $2,700/month. That is real money for most traders, and it scales to $4,500/month at 5% return.
Capital-per-euro: The 1-Step at €499 gives you $100K for €5 per $1K. The 2-Step at €439 is €4.39 per $1K. Both are the best value ratios in the FTMO lineup.
The catch: €439-€499 is real money to lose. If you fail three times, that is €1,300-€1,500. Make sure you can afford the tuition before you start. And make sure you have done the daily loss math from step 2 of the framework above.
The $200K: The Ego Trap
Who it is for: Experienced funded traders who are scaling capital and need $6,000-$10,000 of daily loss room. Traders who have already passed the $100K and want to double their allocation. Traders with a documented, consistent strategy and the financial cushion to absorb multiple failures at the €999-€1,080 price point.
When it makes sense: You are an experienced FTMO funded trader on the Scaling Plan. You want to accelerate capital growth. You trade a strategy that genuinely needs the larger daily loss room (high-volatility instruments, wide stops, or multi-position strategies). You can afford to lose €999 three times without it affecting your decision-making.
When it does not make sense: You have never passed an FTMO challenge and you are buying the $200K because it feels more impressive than the $100K. You are sizing by ego, not by strategy fit. The $200K has the same rules as the $10K. If you cannot pass the $100K, you will fail the $200K the same way, but it will cost you €999 instead of €499.
The math: At 3% monthly return with a 90% split, the $200K pays $5,400/month. At 5%, it pays $9,000/month. Those are attractive numbers. They are also irrelevant if you cannot pass the challenge, and the pass rate at $200K is no different from the pass rate at $100K because the rules are the same.
Recommendation: If you are considering the $200K, ask yourself whether you have already passed and been paid out on a smaller FTMO account. If the answer is no, buy the $100K first. If you pass, the fee is refunded, you have a funded account, and you can decide whether to scale up based on actual performance rather than ambition.
Income Projections by Account Size
Here is what the math looks like at different monthly return rates. The 90% split applies to the 1-Step and the Scaling Plan on the 2-Step. The 80% split applies to the 2-Step base.
| Account Size | 2%/mo (90%) | 3%/mo (90%) | 5%/mo (90%) | 8%/mo (90%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $180 | $270 | $450 | $720 |
| $25,000 | $450 | $675 | $1,125 | $1,800 |
| $50,000 | $900 | $1,350 | $2,250 | $3,600 |
| $100,000 | $1,800 | $2,700 | $4,500 | $7,200 |
| $200,000 | $3,600 | $5,400 | $9,000 | $14,400 |
A few notes on these numbers:
2% per month is realistic for most funded traders. It is conservative, but it is the number you should plan around. At 2% on a $100K account, you earn $1,800/month. Not life-changing money, but consistent income that validates your process.
3% per month is a strong, sustainable target. At $2,700/month on the $100K, this is meaningful income for most traders. It is also achievable without pushing the daily loss limits hard.
5% per month is aggressive but possible. This requires consistent performance and a well-fitted strategy. At $4,500/month, you are approaching full-time income territory in many countries.
8% per month is not sustainable for most traders. It is included for reference, but plan for 2-3%, not 8%. Traders who target 8% monthly returns tend to breach the daily loss limit more often because they push position sizes too hard. If you are consistently hitting 8% on a personal account, that is great. But on a funded account with daily loss limits, the ceiling is lower than your personal account ceiling.
The Scaling Plan matters for income growth. FTMO's Scaling Plan increases your capital allocation by 25% every 4 months for consistent traders. Starting at $100K, the scaling path is $100K → $125K → $156K → $195K → $244K. At $244K with 3% monthly return and a 90% split, you are earning $6,588/month. The scaling path is the real income story, not the starting account size.
Common Wrong Choices
Here are the three mistakes I see most often when traders pick their account size.
1. Sizing by Ego
The $200K feels impressive. The $10K does not. But the rules are the same. If you buy the $200K because "I deserve to trade bigger," you are making an emotional decision, not a strategic one. The $200K daily loss is $6,000 (1-Step). If your worst trading day on a personal $10K account was $500, the $200K gives you 12x the room you need. That is not "more room." That is "too much rope." You will size up your positions because the daily loss allows it, and you will fail on variance that would have been harmless at smaller sizes.
2. Sizing by "What I Can Afford to Lose" Without Checking the Rules
"I can afford to lose €999, so I'll buy the $200K." That is not how the decision works. You can afford the fee, but can you afford the daily loss? On the 1-Step $200K, the daily loss is $6,000. If your normal position size is 1% of capital ($2,000 risk per trade), you can have 3 losing trades in a day before you hit the limit. That is fine. But if you size up to 2% ($4,000 risk per trade) because "the daily loss is bigger," one bad trade eats two-thirds of your daily room. The daily loss limit is not permission to trade bigger. It is a constraint, not a target.
3. Sizing Up After One Failed Attempt
You fail the $25K. You tell yourself the account was too small and the daily loss was too tight. You buy the $100K. You fail again, the same way. The problem was not the account size. It was the position sizing. A larger account gives you more room in dollars, but if you scale your positions proportionally, the percentage room is identical. The $25K has a 3% daily loss. The $100K has a 3% daily loss. If you were risking 2% per trade on the $25K and you risk 2% per trade on the $100K, you have the exact same number of losing trades available before you breach. The size is irrelevant. The percentage matters.
The fix: run the failure post-mortem before sizing up. If the diagnosis is position sizing, fix the sizing before spending more on a larger account.
Work through the 5-step framework above. Match your worst trading day to the daily loss limit. Pick the smallest account that fits. Then check the current pricing to confirm your choice.
