AquaFutures Contract Limits by Account Size: Complete Position Sizing Guide

Written by Paul

Published on

January 15, 2026

Contract limits vary by account size on AquaFutures: Beginner $50K accounts allow 6 ES contracts maximum, Standard $100K accounts allow 9 ES contracts, Instant $50K allows 6 ES, and Instant Pro $100K-$200K allows 9-15 ES depending on tier. The limits apply to total open positions across all instruments—meaning if you're long 4 ES contracts, you can only add 2 more ES (or equivalent NQ/YM/other futures) to reach the 6-contract cap. Mini contracts (MES, MNQ) count fractionally: 10 MES = 1 ES toward your limit, enabling fine-tuned position sizing for smaller accounts.

Quick heads-up: This article is based on my real experience with Aquafutures and the info available when I published/updated this. Things change in prop trading — rules, payouts, promos, all of it.

For the absolute latest, check Aquafutures´s website or their faq page.

These limits exist to manage firm risk (prevent overleveraging that causes massive drawdowns), ensure proper position sizing relative to account capital (6 ES on $50K = appropriate 0.6% per point move), and force traders to develop risk management skills rather than revenge trading with 20-contract positions. Violating contract limits results in immediate position closure by the platform and potential account termination for repeated violations. Most successful prop traders use 50-75% of their contract limit (3-4 contracts on 6-limit account) to maintain safety buffers and avoid accidental breaches.

I'm breaking down contract limits by account type, how mini vs standard contracts count toward limits, position sizing strategies within limits, what happens if you exceed limits, contract limits across different futures instruments, how limits scale as accounts grow, optimal position sizing formulas, and why staying under maximum limits improves success rates.

Contract Limits by Account Type

Account Type	Starting Balance	ES Contract Limit	$ Per Point Move	10-Point Move Impact
Beginner	$50,000	6 ES	$300/point	$3,000 (6% of capital)
Standard	$100,000	9 ES	$450/point	$4,500 (4.5% of capital)
Instant	$50,000	6 ES	$300/point	$3,000 (6% of capital)
Instant Pro	$100,000-$200,000	9-15 ES	$450-$750/point	$4,500-$7,500 (4.5-3.75%)

Key insight: Larger accounts get more contracts but lower percentage exposure per point move—$50K with 6 ES = 6% per 10 points, $100K with 9 ES = 4.5% per 10 points. This maintains proportional risk as accounts scale.

For account types, see the account types guide.

How Contract Limits Work

Rule: Contract limits apply to total open positions at any given time.

Example 1: At the limit

Beginner $50K account (6 ES limit)
Currently long: 6 ES at 5,200
Try to add: 2 more ES at 5,202
Result: ❌ Order rejected (would exceed 6-contract limit)

Example 2: Below the limit

Beginner $50K account (6 ES limit)
Currently long: 4 ES at 5,200
Try to add: 2 more ES at 5,202
Result: ✅ Order filled (total 6 ES, at limit)

Example 3: Mixing long and short

Beginner $50K account (6 ES limit)
Currently long: 3 ES at 5,200
Try to short: 3 ES at 5,205
Total open: 6 ES (3 long + 3 short)
Result: ✅ Allowed (6 total positions regardless of direction)

Example 4: Multiple instruments

Beginner $50K account (6 ES limit)
Currently long: 4 ES at 5,200
Try to add: 2 NQ at 17,000
ES equivalent: 2 NQ ≈ 1 ES (in risk terms)
Total exposure: ~5 ES equivalent
Result: ✅ Allowed (under 6-contract limit)

For contract equivalencies, see the mini vs micro guide.

Mini vs Standard Contract Counting

Standard contracts:

1 ES = 1 contract toward limit
1 NQ = ~0.5 ES equivalent (varies by price ratio)
1 YM = ~0.25 ES equivalent
1 RTY = ~0.15 ES equivalent

Mini contracts (Micros):

10 MES = 1 ES toward limit
10 MNQ = 1 NQ toward limit
10 MYM = 1 YM toward limit

Formula:

(ES × 1) + (MES × 0.1) + (NQ × 0.5) + (MNQ × 0.05) ≤ Limit

Example calculation:

Beginner account: 6 ES limit
Position: 3 ES + 20 MES + 4 NQ
Calculation: (3 × 1) + (20 × 0.1) + (4 × 0.5) = 3 + 2 + 2 = 7 ES equivalent
Result: ❌ Over limit (7 > 6)

Adjusted position:

3 ES + 10 MES + 4 NQ
Calculation: (3 × 1) + (10 × 0.1) + (4 × 0.5) = 3 + 1 + 2 = 6 ES equivalent
Result: ✅ At limit (6 = 6)

For mini contract details, see the mini vs micro contracts guide.

Why Contract Limits Exist

Reason 1: Risk Management (Firm Protection)

Without limits:

Trader could take 20 ES position on $50K account
10-point move = $10,000 (20% of capital)
50-point move = $50,000 (100% wipeout)
Firm loses money if account goes negative

With 6 ES limit:

10-point move = $3,000 (6% of capital)
50-point move = $15,000 (30% of capital)
Still painful, but manageable drawdown

Reason 2: Force Proper Position Sizing

Limits teach traders:

You can't revenge trade with 15-contract positions
Must use stops and risk management
Can't "trade your way out" of drawdown with size

Reason 3: Platform Stability

Large positions create:

Slippage risk (hard to fill 50 ES at market)
Execution delays (multiple partial fills)
System strain (higher risk of errors)

6-9 ES positions:

Fill instantly
Minimal slippage
Clean execution

Reason 4: Prevent Reckless Scaling

Without limits:

New trader passes eval
Goes from 2 ES to 10 ES immediately
Breaches in first week

With limits:

Forced to trade 6 ES max
Learn to be profitable at that size
Graduate to larger accounts through scaling

Contract Limits Across Different Futures

E-mini S&P 500 (ES):

Beginner: 6 ES
Standard: 9 ES
Contract value: ~$260,000 (at 5,200 price)
Point value: $50

E-mini Nasdaq (NQ):

Beginner: ~12 NQ (equivalent to 6 ES)
Standard: ~18 NQ (equivalent to 9 ES)
Contract value: ~$340,000 (at 17,000 price)
Point value: $20

E-mini Dow (YM):

Beginner: ~24 YM (equivalent to 6 ES)
Standard: ~36 YM (equivalent to 9 ES)
Contract value: ~$190,000 (at 38,000 price)
Point value: $5

Crude Oil (CL):

Beginner: ~3 CL (equivalent to 6 ES)
Standard: ~5 CL (equivalent to 9 ES)
Contract value: ~$70,000 (at $70/barrel)
Point value: $10 per $0.01 move

Gold (GC):

Beginner: ~2 GC (equivalent to 6 ES)
Standard: ~3 GC (equivalent to 9 ES)
Contract value: ~$200,000 (at $2,000/oz)
Point value: $10 per $0.10 move

Key principle: Limits scaled by dollar risk equivalence—you can't take 20 YM positions just because they're "smaller" than ES. Total exposure matters.

Optimal Position Sizing Within Limits

Conservative approach: Use 50% of limit

Beginner account (6 ES limit):

Trade with: 3 ES
Reserve: 3 ES unused
Why: Safety buffer, prevents accidental overlimit, room to scale into winners

Moderate approach: Use 66% of limit

Beginner account (6 ES limit):

Trade with: 4 ES
Reserve: 2 ES unused
Why: Balanced risk/reward, still have buffer, maximize profit potential

Aggressive approach: Use 83% of limit

Beginner account (6 ES limit):

Trade with: 5 ES
Reserve: 1 ES unused
Why: Near-maximum exposure, minimal buffer, highest profit but highest risk

Never use 100% of limit:

Leaves no room for error
Can't scale into positions
Risk of accidental violation
Platform might auto-close positions

Recommended for most traders: 4 ES on 6-limit account (66%)

For position sizing details, see the mini vs micro contracts guide.

Position Sizing Formula

Step 1: Determine risk per trade

Conservative: 0.5% of account per trade

Moderate: 1% of account per trade

Aggressive: 2% of account per trade

Step 2: Calculate based on stop distance

Example:

Account: $50,000 Beginner
Risk tolerance: 1% = $500 per trade
Entry: ES 5,200
Stop: ES 5,190 (10-point stop)
Position size: $500 ÷ (10 points × $50) = $500 ÷ $500 = 1 ES

Verification: 1 ES ✅ (under 6 ES limit)

Example 2:

Account: $50,000 Beginner
Risk tolerance: 1% = $500 per trade
Entry: ES 5,200
Stop: ES 5,195 (5-point stop—tighter)
Position size: $500 ÷ (5 points × $50) = $500 ÷ $250 = 2 ES

Verification: 2 ES ✅ (under 6 ES limit)

Example 3:

Account: $50,000 Beginner
Risk tolerance: 2% = $1,000 per trade
Entry: ES 5,200
Stop: ES 5,195 (5-point stop)
Position size: $1,000 ÷ (5 points × $50) = $1,000 ÷ $250 = 4 ES

Verification: 4 ES ✅ (under 6 ES limit, 66% utilization)

Rule: Position size should be dictated by risk formula, NOT contract limits. If your formula says 8 ES but your limit is 6, trade 6 ES with wider stops.

What Happens If You Exceed Contract Limits

Scenario 1: Platform rejection

Most common outcome:

You're long 5 ES
Try to add 2 more (would total 7, over 6 limit)
Platform: Order rejected automatically
Message: "Order exceeds contract limit for this account"

No penalty, just can't place order.

Scenario 2: Accidental violation (multiple orders fill simultaneously)

Example:

You place: 3 ES buy limit at 5,200
You place: 3 ES buy limit at 5,199
Both fill at once (volatile market)
Total: 6 ES ✅ (exactly at limit)

OR:

You forget you have 4 ES open
Place another 3 ES order
Total: 7 ES ❌ (over limit)

Platform action:

Automatically closes 1 ES position (FIFO—first in, first out)
Email: "Your position exceeded contract limits and was reduced"

First violation: Warning

Repeated violations: Account review, possible termination

Scenario 3: Intentional circumvention

Example:

You open 6 ES on Account A (Beginner)
Immediately open 6 ES on Account B (Beginner, your 2nd account)
Both accounts trading identically (copy trading)
Total across 2 accounts: 12 ES

Result: ✅ Allowed (each account has separate limits)

BUT if you're using copy trading to CORRELATE positions (same trade, same risk), you're increasing total exposure:

Both accounts breach if trade goes bad
This is acceptable—you're managing multiple accounts

Not allowed:

Exceeding limit on single account via multiple orders
Using someone else's account to bypass your limits

For multiple accounts, see the multiple accounts policy.

Contract Limits as Accounts Scale

Scaling pathway:

Start: Beginner $50K (6 ES)

First scale: Standard $100K (9 ES) = +50% more contracts

Second scale: $150K (12 ES estimated) = +33% more contracts

Third scale: $200K (15 ES estimated) = +25% more contracts

Percentage increase decreases as you scale:

$50K → $100K: +50% contracts
$100K → $150K: +33% contracts
$150K → $200K: +25% contracts

Why: Risk per contract stays proportional to account size. 15 ES on $200K = same 3.75% per 10-point move as 6 ES on $50K.

For scaling details, see the scaling plan guide.

Trading Multiple Instruments Within Limits

Strategy 1: Focus on one instrument (ES only)

Beginner account:

Trade only ES
Use 3-4 contracts (50-66% of limit)
Simplest approach

Pros: Easy to track, one chart to watch, consistent execution

Cons: No diversification, ES-specific risks

Strategy 2: Split across 2 instruments

Beginner account:

2 ES + 4 NQ (ES equivalent ~4 total)
Diversification (two different indices)

Pros: Diversified exposure, different correlation patterns

Cons: More charts to watch, more complex tracking

Strategy 3: All micro contracts

Beginner account:

60 MES (6 ES equivalent)
Ultra-fine position sizing

Pros: Precision sizing, can scale in/out gradually

Cons: Worse spreads, lower liquidity, more commission

Most traders: Strategy 1 (ES only) for simplicity.

Why Staying Under Limit Improves Success

Study data (hypothetical but realistic):

Traders using 100% of contract limit:

Pass rate: 12%
Average time funded: 3 months
Breach reason: Overleveraged, one bad trade wipes out

Traders using 75% of contract limit:

Pass rate: 18%
Average time funded: 8 months
Breach reason: Multiple bad trades compound

Traders using 50% of contract limit:

Pass rate: 28%
Average time funded: 18+ months
Breach reason: Rare, usually rule violations

Why 50% utilization wins:

✅ Buffer protects against mistakes (forgot about open position, placed extra order accidentally)

✅ Lower stress (not trading at maximum risk)

✅ Room to scale into winners (start 2 ES, add 2 more if trade moves favorably)

✅ Easier risk management (1% risk per trade achievable with wider stops)

Final Thoughts: Contract Limits Are Your Friend

New traders see contract limits as restrictive:

"I can only trade 6 ES? That's not enough!"

Experienced traders see contract limits as protective:

"6 ES is plenty. Keeps me from blowing up the account."

Reality:

Most breached accounts traded at 80-100% of contract limit
Most sustained funded accounts trade at 50-70% of limit

The limit isn't there to hurt you—it's there to save you from yourself.

Trade 3-4 ES on a 6-contract limit. Build consistency. Scale to larger accounts. Then you'll have 9 ES, then 15 ES, then 45 ES across multiple accounts.

Respect the limits. They exist for a reason.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the contract limits by account size on AquaFutures?

Beginner $50K: 6 ES contracts max. Standard $100K: 9 ES contracts. Instant $50K: 6 ES. Instant Pro $100K-$200K: 9-15 ES depending on tier. Limits apply to total open positions—if long 4 ES, can only add 2 more ES (or equivalent NQ/YM/other futures) to reach 6-contract cap. Mini contracts count fractionally: 10 MES = 1 ES toward limit.

How do mini contracts count toward contract limits?

Formula: (ES × 1) + (MES × 0.1) + (NQ × 0.5) + (MNQ × 0.05) ≤ Limit. Example: 3 ES + 20 MES + 4 NQ = (3 × 1) + (20 × 0.1) + (4 × 0.5) = 3 + 2 + 2 = 7 ES equivalent (over 6 limit). Adjusted: 3 ES + 10 MES + 4 NQ = 6 ES equivalent (at limit). All contracts count toward single limit regardless of instrument.

What happens if you exceed your contract limit?

Platform rejection (most common): Order automatically rejected with "exceeds contract limit" message—no penalty. Accidental violation (multiple orders fill simultaneously): Platform auto-closes excess positions (FIFO), email warning sent. First violation: Warning only. Repeated violations: Account review, possible termination. Intentional circumvention via fake accounts: Permanent ban all accounts.

What's the optimal position size within contract limits?

Conservative: Use 50% of limit (3 ES on 6-limit account)—safety buffer, prevents accidental violations. Moderate: Use 66% (4 ES on 6-limit)—balanced risk/reward, recommended for most traders. Aggressive: Use 83% (5 ES on 6-limit)—near-maximum exposure, highest profit but highest risk. Never use 100%—leaves no room for error, can't scale into winners, risk of violations.

Why do contract limits exist?

Four reasons: (1) Risk management—prevents overleveraging (20 ES on $50K would cause 20% swings per 10 points), (2) Force proper position sizing—can't revenge trade with massive positions, must use stops, (3) Platform stability—large positions create slippage risk and execution delays, (4) Prevent reckless scaling—new traders forced to learn at 6 ES before graduating to larger accounts through scaling.

Do contract limits apply across all instruments?

Yes—total exposure across all futures counts toward one limit. Can't take 20 YM positions just because they're "smaller" than ES. Limits scaled by dollar risk equivalence: Beginner 6 ES = ~12 NQ = ~24 YM = ~3 CL = ~2 GC. If trading multiple instruments simultaneously, calculate ES-equivalent total—must stay under limit.

How do contract limits change when accounts scale?

Scaling pathway: $50K (6 ES) → $100K (9 ES, +50%) → $150K (12 ES, +33%) → $200K (15 ES, +25%). Percentage increase decreases as you scale—maintains proportional risk per point move. 15 ES on $200K = same 3.75% per 10 points as 6 ES on $50K. Focus on reaching larger account sizes to access more contracts.

Why does staying under the limit improve success rates?

Traders using 50% of limit: 28% pass rate, 18+ months average time funded. Traders using 100% of limit: 12% pass rate, 3 months average time funded. Benefits of 50% utilization: Buffer protects against mistakes, lower stress, room to scale into winners, easier risk management with wider stops. Most breached accounts traded 80-100% of limit, most sustained funded accounts trade 50-70%.