Tradovate DOM Settings Guide for New Futures Traders
The Tradovate DOM (Depth of Market) is where serious futures traders execute orders. If yours is misconfigured, you’re basically trading with blurry vision. Here’s the no-bullshit checklist of DOM settings that actually matter.
How to Access DOM Settings
Right-click anywhere on the DOM → Settings. Simple. The menu is split into columns, appearance, and order-entry behavior. You don’t need all of it. You only need the parts that affect speed and clarity.
Recommended Columns
The DOM shows price, bid size, ask size, and volume-at-price. Anything beyond that is optional, not essential. For clean trading, stick to this configuration:
| Column | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Bid Size | Shows liquidity leaning |
| Price | The core of the DOM |
| Ask Size | Shows pressure |
| Volume (VAP) | Shows activity at each level |
If you’ve read bid-ask spread basics, you already understand why bid/ask size matters for short-term entries.
Color Settings That Make Sense
Don’t overthink colors. Use:
- Green for bid pressure
- Red for ask pressure
- Gray or neutral for volume
- Gold/Yellow for your active orders
Bright neon clown colors don’t make you trade better. Clear contrast does.
Order Buttons and Hotkeys
In the DOM settings you can enable quick buttons like:
- Buy Market
- Sell Market
- Reverse
- Flatten
Beginners should disable Reverse until they stop impulse-trading. Flatten is mandatory for prop traders—especially in evaluations described in daily loss & resets.
Ladder Behavior
There are only three settings that matter:
- Center on Last – ON
- Auto-Center Speed – Moderate
- Scroll Wheel – Zoom, not trade
You want the DOM to follow price, but not freak out every second. Hyper-centered ladders make it impossible to read liquidity.
Final Setup Advice
You want a DOM that is clean, readable, and fast. Strip the noise. Keep the columns tight. Use sane colors. And never bury your flatten button—prop firms love traders who can’t get out fast enough.