Topstep payout rules across XFA Standard, XFA Consistency and Live Funded Accounts
Across Topstep's Express Funded Accounts (XFA) and Live Funded Accounts (LFA), every payout request shares a $125 minimum and a 90/10 profit split (traders who joined the new dashboard before January 12, 2026 keep 100% of their first $10,000 in lifetime profits). On an XFA, you can request up to 50% of your account balance per payout, up to a cap set by size and path ($2,000 / $3,000 / $5,000 Standard and $3,000 / $4,000 / $6,000 Consistency on 50K / 100K / 150K), once your path's day rule is satisfied: 5 winning days of $150+ net P&L on the Standard path, or 3 trading days with at least 1 trade each and no single day above 40% of net profit on the Consistency path. The caps double if you added a Daily Loss Limit at checkout of a new Trading Combine, which Topstep runs as a limited-time offer. Crucially, taking your first XFA payout permanently sets your Maximum Loss Limit (MLL) to $0, so whatever balance remains in the account becomes your entire loss buffer. A Live Funded Account works differently: it starts with 20% of the XFA balance that transfers (at least $10,000, with the transfer capped at the LFA size), the other 80% is held in Reserve and unlocks in four 25% steps as you hit the LFA's profit target, payouts come only from the unlocked balance, and an LFA that drops below $1,000 may be liquidated and closed at the end of the day.
| Account & size | Day & consistency gate | Standard cap (with checkout DLL, limited-time) | Consistency cap (with checkout DLL, limited-time) | Initial MLL & post-payout lock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 XFA | 5 days ≥ $150 (Standard) or 3 trading days, best ≤ 40% (Consistency) | $2,000 ($4,000 with DLL at checkout) | $3,000 ($6,000 with DLL at checkout) | -$2,000; sets to $0 permanently after payout 1 |
| $100,000 XFA | 5 days ≥ $150 (Standard) or 3 trading days, best ≤ 40% (Consistency) | $3,000 ($6,000 with DLL at checkout) | $4,000 ($8,000 with DLL at checkout) | -$3,000; sets to $0 permanently after payout 1 |
| $150,000 XFA | 5 days ≥ $150 (Standard) or 3 trading days, best ≤ 40% (Consistency) | $5,000 ($10,000 with DLL at checkout) | $6,000 ($12,000 with DLL at checkout) | -$4,500; sets to $0 permanently after payout 1 |
| Live Funded (LFA) | 5 days ≥ $150 per cycle; daily after 30 LFA winning days | 50% of the unlocked balance, no dollar cap (any amount daily after 30 LFA winning days) | No consistency cap on LFA | Starts at 20% of the transfer (min $10,000); may be liquidated below $1,000; a 100% withdrawal closes the LFA |
Why Topstep recommends reaching a $2,000–$4,500 balance before Payout 1
Before your first withdrawal on a 50K Express Funded Account, your Maximum Loss Limit starts at -$2,000 and trails your end-of-day balance until it locks at $0 once the balance reaches $2,000 ($3,000 on 100K, $4,500 on 150K). If you request a payout early—for example taking $870 from a $1,740 balance—the MLL jumps from -$260 straight to $0, cutting your breathing room from $2,000 down to the $870 left in the account. Waiting until your balance clears the initial MLL amount means your floor is already at $0, so you forfeit zero negative MLL headroom.
Compare Topstep's XFA rules with Topstep's 55% Combine and 40% XFA consistency calculator, Tradeify's Select, Growth and Lightning payout calculator, Alpha Futures' 50% profit request cap and Take Profit Trader's PRO buffer zone. See your daily loss and MLL buffers in dollars on TradingView, worked out from the balance you type, with the Prop Firm Challenge Toolkit.