Position Math

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Trailing Drawdown Calculator (Intraday vs End-of-Day)

Track your prop account's liquidation line under both intraday and end-of-day trailing drawdown, and see how close each one puts you to blowing up.

Account & rule

Equity readings (in order)

Add each equity high in sequence. Tick close for an end-of-day balance.

intraday line = peak(any equity) − trail · EOD line = peak(close equity) − trail

Where your liquidation line sits

EquityClose?Intraday lineEOD line
Add a few readings to compare the two drawdown styles.

How it works

What this calculator does

Trailing drawdown is the biggest account-killer in futures prop accounts, and the rule comes in two flavors that behave very differently. This tool tracks both: it takes your starting balance, the trailing drawdown amount and a series of equity peaks, then shows where the liquidation line sits under each method and how close you are to blowing the account.

Intraday vs end-of-day

Under intraday (trailing), the liquidation line follows your highest unrealized equity in real time and never drops back: liq line = peak equity − trailing amount, where peak includes open-trade profit. Under end-of-day (EOD), the line only moves up when a day closes at a new realized high, so intraday pullbacks don't count.

Worked example

Start at $50,000 with a $2,000 trailing drawdown. You're up $3,000 unrealized (equity $53,000) then give back $2,500 and close the day at $50,500. Intraday, the line trailed up to 53,000 − 2,000 = $51,000, so dropping to $50,500 blows the account. Under EOD, the line only updates on a closed high, so you finish the day +$500 and survive.

What it deliberately does not do

It models the common trailing formulas; some firms stop trailing once you clear the initial balance, and exact tick-by-tick behavior varies by platform. It uses the equity figures you enter, not a live feed. This is a planning estimate for education, not investment advice.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between intraday and end-of-day trailing drawdown?
Intraday trailing follows your highest unrealized equity tick by tick and never falls back, so a pullback on a winning trade can blow the account. End-of-day only updates the line when a day closes at a new realized high, letting you ride out intraday dips.
Why did I blow my account while still in profit?
Under intraday trailing, the liquidation line rose with your peak unrealized profit and stayed there. Giving back that floating profit dropped your equity below the trailed line — even though your closed balance was still up. EOD wouldn't have counted that dip.
How is trailing drawdown calculated?
The line sits a fixed distance below your highest equity: peak − trailing amount. The catch is which 'peak' counts — live unrealized equity (intraday) or only end-of-day realized balance (EOD).
Does the trailing drawdown stop moving once I'm profitable?
At some firms, yes — the trail freezes once the account reaches its starting balance plus the drawdown, turning it into a fixed floor. Others trail indefinitely. Check the specific firm's rule before relying on it.
How do I avoid hitting the trailing drawdown?
Bank profits by closing trades (so EOD locks them in), avoid letting large unrealized gains evaporate under intraday rules, and keep a buffer above the line. This tool is a planning estimate, not investment advice.

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Information tool only. Every result is deterministic arithmetic (for the simulator, a probability estimate) from the numbers you enter. No live data, no account connection, nothing stored. This is not investment, trading, tax, or financial advice — verify against your own broker or prop firm before acting.
Disclosure. Some outbound links may be affiliate or partner links; they never change how a tool computes.
Position Math · updated 2026-06-27 · all calculators
Information tool only — not investment, trading, tax, or financial advice. All computation runs in your browser.