Level 2 Market Depth at TopOneFutures Explained

If you’ve been trading futures for a while, you’ve probably heard people say things like “watch the DOM”, “there’s size sitting below”, or “that level is stacked”. All of that lives inside Level 2 market depth.

At Top One Futures, Level 2 data is optional — but once you understand what it actually shows (and what it doesn’t), you’ll know whether it fits your trading style or is just expensive noise.

I’m writing this from the perspective of an active futures trader, not to hype order flow, but to explain what Level 2 really gives you, how it’s used in practice, and when it’s worth paying for.

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 Level 2 Data Actually Is (Plain English)

Level 2 data — also called Market Depth or DOM (Depth of Market) — shows you the rest of the orders that aren’t visible in a normal quote.

A standard price quote only shows:

• the best bid
• the best ask

That’s just the front of the line.

Level 2 shows you:

• all the other bids waiting below price
• all the other offers waiting above price
• how many contracts are queued at each price level

In other words:
you’re no longer just seeing where price is, but where other traders are positioned.

Think of It Like an Auction

The easiest mental model is an auction.

• Level 1 = the current highest bid and lowest offer
• Level 2 = everyone else raising their hand, waiting their turn

Price only moves when:

• bids get filled and disappear
• offers get lifted and disappear

Level 2 lets you watch that process in real time.

Level 1 vs. Level 2: The Practical Difference

Before talking about “advantages”, it helps to clearly separate the two.

Level 1 Data (Standard Quote)

This is what every chart already shows you:

• Best bid price
• Best bid size
• Best ask price
• Best ask size

It’s enough to:

• trade technically
• place entries and exits
• manage risk

Many profitable traders never use anything beyond this.

Level 2 Data (Market Depth / DOM)

Level 2 includes everything from Level 1 plus:

• multiple bid levels below price
• multiple ask levels above price
• size at each level

You’re now watching:

• where liquidity is stacking
• where it’s getting pulled
• how aggressively price is interacting with size

This is not predictive magic — it’s context.

What Level 2 Is Good For (And What It Isn’t)

This is important, because a lot of traders buy Level 2 expecting it to “tell them where price will go”.

It doesn’t.

What it does help with:

• execution timing
• reading short-term pressure
• seeing absorption at key levels
• spotting thin vs thick liquidity
• managing trades around obvious size

What it does not do:

• predict higher-timeframe direction
• replace a strategy
• override bad risk management
• guarantee support or resistance

Large size can disappear in a split second.
That’s normal.

How I Personally Use Level 2 (When I Use It)

I don’t stare at the DOM all day.

For me, Level 2 is most useful:

• around key highs/lows
• near VWAP or session levels
• during high-liquidity windows
• when managing entries and exits

It’s an execution tool, not a strategy.

If I’m already biased long, Level 2 helps me decide:

• do I hit market now?
• do I wait for a pullback?
• is liquidity thinning or stacking?

If you try to trade only off the DOM, you’ll overreact constantly.

Do You Need Level 2 to Be Profitable at TopOneFutures?

No.
Full stop.

Many consistent TopOneFutures traders:

• trade off charts only
• use Level 1 data
• ignore the DOM entirely

Level 2 is optional, not a requirement.

Where it tends to help most:

• scalpers
• very short-term traders
• execution-sensitive strategies
• traders using footprint or order-flow tools

If you’re trading higher timeframes, it may add very little.

How to Get Level 2 Data at TopOneFutures

TopOneFutures makes this part straightforward.

You don’t need to contact support or open a ticket.

How to Upgrade to Level 2

From your Trader Dashboard:

1. Select Account Metrics for any account
2. Click Upgrade to Level 2
3. Choose the exchange(s) you want
4. Complete the purchase

Once active, Level 2 data becomes available immediately in supported platforms.

Pricing and Subscription Details

Level 2 data is billed monthly and renews automatically unless canceled.

‍This is professional market data pricing — not inflated, but not trivial either.

Which Exchanges Actually Matter for Most Traders

You don’t always need all exchanges.

Most traders start with:

• CME (ES, NQ, micros)

Add others only if you actively trade:

• metals (COMEX)
• energy (NYMEX)
• agriculture (CBOT)

Buying all four “just in case” often makes no sense.

A Common Beginner Mistake With Level 2

Here’s something I see all the time:

Traders buy Level 2 and then:

• hesitate more
• overthink every order
• second-guess good setups
• blame the DOM for bad trades

Level 2 adds information — and information increases cognitive load.

If you don’t already have a clear trading plan, Level 2 can hurt more than it helps.

When Level 2 Starts to Make Sense

Level 2 becomes valuable when:

• your strategy is already defined
• your risk rules are solid
• your execution matters more than signal generation

At that point, it can:

• improve entries
• reduce slippage
• tighten exits
• keep you out of bad fills

Before that, it’s just an expensive distraction.

Support and Questions

If you’re unsure whether Level 2 is enabled correctly or which exchange you need:

• Live Chat inside the dashboard works well
• or email support@toponefutures.com

They can confirm subscription status quickly.

Final Takeaway (Trader-to-Trader)

Level 2 market depth at TopOneFutures is a tool, not an edge.

Used correctly:

• it improves execution
• adds context
• supports short-term decision-making

Used incorrectly:

• it creates hesitation
• fuels overtrading
• distracts from your actual strategy

If you already trade well without it, don’t feel pressured to add it.
If execution is your bottleneck, Level 2 can be worth every dollar.

Just don’t expect the order book to trade for you.

Your Next Steps

‍👉 Start Trading at TopOneFutures Today

‍👉 Read My Full TopOneFutures Review

‍👉 Start earning besides Trading with TopOneFutures Affiliate Program

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