Calculators › Prop firm
Trailing Drawdown Calculator (Intraday vs End-of-Day)
The trailing drawdown calculator tracks your prop account's liquidation line under both intraday and end-of-day rules, and shows how a given-back unrealized gain can breach an account that an end-of-day rule would survive. Browser-only, nothing stored.
A trailing drawdown is a liquidation line that rises with each new equity high and never falls: the intraday version tracks every peak, including unrealized highs, while the end-of-day version only ratchets on closing balances, which is why an intraday give-back can breach an account that an end-of-day rule would survive.
Account & rule
Equity readings (in order)
Add each equity high in sequence. Tick close for an end-of-day balance.
Where your liquidation line sits
| Equity | Close? | Intraday line | EOD line |
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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?
Why did I blow my account while still in profit?
How is trailing drawdown calculated?
peak − trailing amount. The catch is which 'peak' counts — live unrealized equity (intraday) or only end-of-day realized balance (EOD).