TopOneFutures Elite Contract Scaling Requirements

Written by Paul

Published on

January 8, 2026

You passed the Elite Challenge. You got funded. You're making consistent profit. Now you want to scale up—trade more contracts, make more money.

But there's a catch: TopOneFutures limits how many contracts you can trade based on your account size. And if you exceed that limit, your account gets flagged or stopped out—even if you're profitable.

This guide breaks down the exact contract limits for Elite accounts by account size, how scaling works, what happens if you violate the limits, and the best strategies for scaling safely without getting your account suspended.

Quick heads-up: This article is based on my real experience with TopOneFutures 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 TopOneFutures website or their help center.

What Are Contract Scaling Requirements?

Contract scaling requirements limit the maximum number of contracts you can hold in a single position.

Why they exist:

Prevent excessive risk-taking
Ensure traders aren't over-leveraging
Protect TopOneFutures from catastrophic account blowouts

The rule:

Each account size has a maximum contract limit
You cannot exceed this limit at any time
Violating the limit = account flagged or stopped out

These limits apply to Elite accounts in both the challenge phase and funded phase.

Elite Contract Limits by Account Size

Account Size	Max Contracts (Standard)	Max Contracts (Micro)	Notes
$25k	2 contracts	20 contracts	NQ, ES, CL, etc.
$50k	4 contracts	40 contracts	NQ, ES, CL, etc.
$100k	8 contracts	80 contracts	NQ, ES, CL, etc.
$150k	12 contracts	120 contracts	NQ, ES, CL, etc.
$250k	20 contracts	200 contracts	NQ, ES, CL, etc.

Standard contracts: NQ, ES, CL, GC, etc.

Micro contracts: MNQ, MES, MCL, MGC (1/10th the size of standard contracts)

Key rule: These are position limits, not order limits. You can't hold more than the max at any time—even across multiple open positions.

Challenge Phase vs Funded Phase: Do Limits Change?

No. Contract limits stay the same in both phases.

During Elite Challenge:

$100k account = 8 contract max

After Funding:

$100k account = still 8 contract max

The limit doesn't increase just because you passed the challenge. It's tied to your account size, not your phase.

Standard vs Micro Contract Limits

TopOneFutures distinguishes between standard futures contracts and micro futures contracts.

Standard Futures Contracts:

NQ (Nasdaq-100 futures): $20/point
ES (S&P 500 futures): $50/point
CL (Crude Oil): $1,000/point
GC (Gold): $100/point

Max contracts depend on account size (see table above).

Micro Futures Contracts:

MNQ (Micro Nasdaq): $2/point (1/10th of NQ)
MES (Micro S&P 500): $5/point (1/10th of ES)
MCL (Micro Crude Oil): $100/point (1/10th of CL)
MGC (Micro Gold): $10/point (1/10th of GC)

Max micro contracts = 10× standard contract limit.

Example (100k account):

Max 8 standard contracts (NQ, ES, etc.)
Max 80 micro contracts (MNQ, MES, etc.)

You cannot mix standard and micro beyond the combined risk limit.

Can You Mix Standard and Micro Contracts?

Yes, but you need to calculate equivalent contract size.

Conversion:

1 standard contract = 10 micro contracts

Example ($100k Elite account with 8 contract max):

You can trade: 8 NQ (standard) OR
You can trade: 80 MNQ (micro) OR
You can trade: 4 NQ + 40 MNQ (mixed)

Formula:

Standard contracts + (Micro contracts ÷ 10) ≤ Max limit

Scenario:

You hold 3 NQ (standard)
You want to add MNQ (micro)
Max limit: 8 standard equivalents
Remaining capacity: 8 - 3 = 5 standard equivalents
You can add: 5 × 10 = 50 MNQ

If you exceed this combined limit, your account gets flagged.

What Happens If You Exceed the Contract Limit?

If you try to enter a position that exceeds your account's contract limit, one of three things happens:

1. Order Rejected (Best Case)

Your broker (Tradovate or NinjaTrader) rejects the order before it executes.

Message: "Contract limit exceeded. Order rejected."

Result: No harm done. You just can't enter the trade.

2. Position Closed Automatically (Common)

Your position executes, TopOneFutures detects the violation, and they automatically close your position.

Message: "Contract limit violation detected. Position force-closed."

Result: You lose any profit from the position, and you may get flagged.

3. Account Suspended (Worst Case)

If you repeatedly violate contract limits, TopOneFutures suspends your account.

Message: "Account under review for rule violations."

Result: You can't trade until the review is complete. In severe cases, account termination.

How TopOneFutures Tracks Contract Limits

TopOneFutures monitors your positions in real-time.

What they track:

Number of contracts held at any moment
Total exposure across all open positions
Combined standard + micro contract equivalents

When violations are detected:

Immediately (within seconds of position entry)
Automatically via their risk management system

You won't get away with exceeding limits "temporarily" or "just for a few seconds." The system catches it instantly.

Elite vs Instant Sim vs Ignite: Contract Limits

Account Type	Contract Limits	Notes
Elite Sim Funded	Same as Instant Sim	Based on account size
Instant Sim Funded	Standard limits (see table)	2–20 standard, 20–200 micro
Ignite	Same as Instant Sim	No differences in contract limits

All account types follow the same contract limits. There's no advantage to one type over another when it comes to scaling.

Scaling Strategies: How to Trade Bigger Size

If you want to trade more contracts, you have three options:

Option 1: Pass a Larger Elite Challenge

The simplest way to scale is to pass a larger challenge.

Example:

You have a $50k Elite account (4 contract max)
You want to trade 10 contracts
Solution: Pass a $150k Elite Challenge (12 contract max)

Cost: You'll pay the challenge fee for the larger account (typically $300–$800 depending on size).

Benefit: More contracts, higher profit potential.

Option 2: Run Multiple Elite Accounts

TopOneFutures allows you to run multiple accounts simultaneously.

Strategy:

Pass 2–3 Elite Challenges
Fund 2–3 accounts
Copy-trade the same strategy across all accounts
Effective contract limit = Individual limit × Number of accounts

Example:

You have 3 $100k Elite accounts
Each has an 8 contract limit
You copy-trade 8 NQ per account
Total effective size: 24 NQ

This is legal and encouraged by TopOneFutures.

How to copy-trade across multiple TopOneFutures accounts.

Option 3: Trade Micro Contracts

If you're on a smaller account, trade micros instead of standard contracts.

Example ($25k Elite account):

Max 2 standard contracts (NQ)
Max 20 micro contracts (MNQ)

Trading 20 MNQ gives you the same exposure as 2 NQ—but with more flexibility to scale in/out.

Benefit: More granular position sizing.

Downside: Higher commission costs (20 contracts = 20× commissions vs 2 contracts).

Does the Contract Limit Apply to Total Exposure or Per Position?

Total exposure across all open positions.

Example ($100k Elite account with 8 contract max):

You open Position A: 5 NQ long
You open Position B: 4 NQ short
Total contracts held: 9

Result: Violation. Even though one is long and one is short, you're holding 9 contracts total—exceeding your 8 contract limit.

TopOneFutures doesn't net your positions. They count gross contracts held.

Real-World Scaling Violation Examples

Example 1: Standard Contract Violation

Account: $50k Elite (4 contract max)

Scenario:

You enter 5 NQ long

Result:

Order rejected OR position force-closed
Account flagged for review

Example 2: Mixing Standard + Micro Violation

Account: $100k Elite (8 standard max, 80 micro max)

Scenario:

You hold 6 NQ (standard)
You add 30 MNQ (micro)
Combined: 6 + (30 ÷ 10) = 6 + 3 = 9 equivalents

Result:

Exceeds 8 contract limit
Position force-closed or account suspended

Example 3: Multiple Positions Violation

Account: $100k Elite (8 contract max)

Scenario:

Position A: 4 ES long
Position B: 5 CL long
Total contracts: 9

Result:

Violation (9 > 8)
One position force-closed or both reduced

Do Contract Limits Change After Payouts?

No. Your contract limit is tied to your account size, not your balance.

Example:

You have a $100k Elite account (8 contract max)
You make $10k profit and withdraw it
Your balance is now $100k (back to starting)
Contract limit: Still 8

The limit doesn't increase unless you pass a larger Elite Challenge or buy a larger account.

Does the Contract Limit Apply During Live Allocation?

Yes. Even after transitioning to live capital, your contract limit stays the same.

Example:

You have a $100k Elite account (8 contract max)
You transition to live allocation
Contract limit: Still 8

The only way to increase your limit is to pass a larger Elite Challenge or negotiate custom terms with TopOneFutures (rare).

How to Avoid Contract Limit Violations

1. Know Your Limit Before Trading

Check your account dashboard or terms. Know your exact contract limit before placing any orders.

2. Track Your Open Positions

If you have multiple positions open, count your total contracts before adding more.

Example ($100k Elite account, 8 contract max):

Position A: 3 NQ
Position B: 2 ES
Total: 5 contracts
You can add: 3 more contracts max

3. Use Position-Sizing Tools

Some platforms (like NinjaTrader) let you set hard limits on position size.

Setup:

Go to Tools → Risk Management
Set max contracts to your account limit
Platform will block any orders that exceed it

4. Close Existing Positions Before Adding More

If you're at max capacity, close one position before opening another.

5. Scale with Multiple Accounts Instead of Larger Size

Instead of passing a $250k Elite Challenge (20 contract max), pass 2–3 $100k challenges (8 each = 16–24 total).

Benefit: More payout flexibility, diversified risk.

How Contract Limits Affect Your Trading Strategy

If you're on a smaller Elite account, contract limits force you to adapt your strategy:

Strategy 1: Scalping with Micro Contracts

Instead of trading 2 NQ ($20/point), trade 20 MNQ ($2/point).

Benefit: More flexibility to scale in/out.

Example:

Enter 10 MNQ
Scale in 5 more if the trade moves in your favor
Scale out 5 when you hit target
Exit final 10 at breakeven or profit

Strategy 2: Focus on High Win-Rate Setups

With limited contracts, you can't afford to take marginal trades.

Approach:

Wait for A+ setups only
Use larger stops (since you can't diversify with more contracts)
Focus on quality over quantity

Strategy 3: Copy-Trade Across Multiple Accounts

If you need more size, pass multiple Elite Challenges and copy-trade the same strategy.

Example:

3 $100k Elite accounts (8 contracts each)
Copy-trade 8 NQ per account
Effective size: 24 NQ

Full guide on copy-trading at TopOneFutures.

My Take: Contract Limits Are Reasonable

I've traded multiple Elite account sizes. The contract limits are fair.

Why they make sense:

8 NQ on a $100k account = $160/point movement
That's enough to make $1,000–$2,000/day on clean trades
If you need more size, pass a larger challenge or run multiple accounts

The limits aren't restrictive—they're protective. I've seen traders blow $50k accounts in minutes by overleveraging. TopOneFutures' limits prevent that.

If you're consistently maxing out your contract limit and staying profitable, it's time to pass a larger challenge or scale with multiples.

Summary: Elite Contract Scaling Requirements

Contract limits vary by account size: 2–20 standard contracts, 20–200 micro contracts
Micro contracts = 1/10th of standard, max limit is 10× higher
Mixing standard + micro is allowed, but combined exposure can't exceed limit
Violation consequences: Order rejected, position force-closed, or account suspended
Total exposure across all open positions counts—not netted or per-position
Limit doesn't change after payouts or live allocation (tied to account size)
Scaling options: Pass larger challenge, run multiple accounts, or trade micro contracts
All account types (Elite, Instant Sim, Ignite) follow the same contract limits

Know your limit. Stay under it. If you need more size, scale with multiple accounts instead of violating the rules.