You can set a stop loss on Tradovate by right-clicking at your desired price level in the SuperDOM (Depth of Market) module, or by configuring one through the Trading menu or an ATM Strategy. The exact steps depend on which part of the platform you’re working in and whether you want a simple stop or a trailing stop that follows the market.
Setting a Stop Loss in the SuperDOM
The SuperDOM is the fastest way to place a stop loss while you’re watching price action. To place one, right-click in the bid or ask column at the price where you want the stop to trigger. Tradovate will create the order at that level.
By default, the SuperDOM uses a Stop Market order, which means once price reaches your level, the platform sends a market order that fills immediately at the best available price. You can change this default by clicking the gear icon in the top-right corner of the SuperDOM module and selecting “Stop Type” from the dropdown. Your options are:
- Stop (Market): Triggers a market order when your price is hit. You’re guaranteed a fill, but the exact price you get may differ slightly from your stop level, especially in fast-moving markets.
- Stop Limit: Triggers a limit order instead. You control the worst price you’re willing to accept, but if the market moves past your limit before the order fills, it won’t execute at all.
- Trailing Stop: A stop that follows the market in your favor and locks in gains as price moves. More on this below.
- Trailing Stop Limit: Same trailing behavior, but triggers a limit order instead of a market order when hit.
For most traders using stop losses as protection against a bad move, Stop Market is the safer default. It guarantees you get out of the trade. A Stop Limit gives you better price control but carries the risk of no fill if price gaps through your level.
Setting a Stop Loss From the Trading Menu
If you’re not using the SuperDOM, you can place a stop loss through the Trading menu. Click the up-down arrow icon at the top of the screen to open the order entry panel. From there, select your order type (Stop Market, Stop Limit, Trailing Stop Market, or Trailing Stop Limit), enter your stop price, set the quantity, and submit the order.
This method works well when you already know the exact price level you want and don’t need to visually pick it off a ladder or chart.
Using an ATM Strategy for Automatic Stops
An ATM (Advanced Trade Management) Strategy lets you attach a stop loss automatically to every new position. Instead of placing a stop manually after you enter a trade, you configure the exit rules ahead of time, and Tradovate applies them the moment your entry fills.
You can set up ATM Strategies from the Chart, SuperDOM, or Advanced section of the Trading module. Within the ATM configuration menu, you choose your stop type (including trailing stop options), set the offset in ticks from your entry, and optionally pair it with a profit target. Once saved, that strategy fires every time you open a position using it. This is especially useful if you trade the same setup repeatedly and want consistent risk management without manually placing orders each time.
Setting Up a Trailing Stop
A trailing stop follows the market price as it moves in your favor, then holds firm when price reverses. If you’re long and the market rises 20 ticks, a trailing stop with a 10-tick offset moves up 20 ticks as well, always staying 10 ticks behind the high. When the market finally pulls back 10 ticks, the stop triggers and closes your position.
There are two ways to use trailing stops on Tradovate. The first is as a standalone order submitted through the Trading menu. These standalone trailing stops trail the market tick for tick, and you cannot adjust the trailing frequency in the web app. The second option is to use a trailing stop as part of an ATM Strategy, which you configure from the Chart, SuperDOM, or Advanced section. The ATM approach gives you more control since the trailing behavior is tied to your overall exit plan.
Both trailing stop types come in Market and Limit versions. Trailing Stop Market guarantees a fill when the trail triggers. Trailing Stop Limit lets you set a maximum slippage you’ll accept, with the tradeoff that the order might not fill in a fast move.
Stop Market vs. Stop Limit: Which to Choose
The core tradeoff is execution certainty versus price certainty. A stop market order will always get you out of the trade, but in a volatile moment the fill price could be a few ticks worse than your stop level. A stop limit order won’t fill at a worse price than you specify, but if the market moves too fast, the order sits unfilled and your position stays open, which can mean larger losses than you planned for.
For protective stop losses where your main goal is limiting downside, stop market orders are the more common choice among futures traders. The risk of a slightly worse fill is usually smaller than the risk of not getting filled at all during a sharp move. Stop limit orders make more sense when you’re trading in liquid conditions and the stop level is near the current price, where the chance of a gap-through is low.
Tips for Managing Your Stop Orders
Once your stop is placed, it appears on the SuperDOM as a visible marker at your price level. You can drag it to a new level if you want to adjust, or cancel it entirely. If you placed it through an ATM Strategy, modifying the stop may require editing the strategy settings rather than dragging the order directly.
Keep in mind that stop orders on futures rest on the exchange, not just in Tradovate’s software. This means they stay active even if your internet connection drops or you close the platform. Your stop will still trigger at the exchange level, which is a meaningful safety net compared to platforms where stops only exist locally on your machine.