Tradovate Positions Tab Basics
The Positions tab shows every open trade you have by instrument. If you’ve ever lost track of your average price, wondered why your P/L looked wrong, or thought a bracket didn’t attach, this is the tab that gives you the truth. The chart and DOM show what’s happening—this tab shows exactly what you’re holding.
Where to Find the Positions Tab
Open it from the left sidebar → Positions. You’ll see one line for every active position across all accounts.
If you have multiple accounts (SIM, eval, live), make sure you’re viewing the correct one. Traders get burned all the time because they’re checking the wrong tab.
Understanding the Columns
The tab displays key details you must know while holding a trade:
| Column | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Instrument | The market and contract you're in (e.g., ESZ5) |
| Qty | Current position size (positive = long, negative = short) |
| Avg Price | Your volume-weighted average entry price |
| P/L Open | Real-time profit or loss based on current price |
| P/L Day | Total daily P/L including closed trades |
| Account | The account holding the position |
If the numbers here don’t match what you're expecting, something is wrong with your execution flow, not your chart.
How Average Price Works in Tradovate
If you scale into a position, Tradovate recalculates your average price automatically. Example:
- Buy 1 ES at 5200
- Buy 1 ES at 5190
Your new average = 5195, not 5200. This is why the chart may show multiple entry markers, but the Positions tab shows one clean averaged line.
Use the Positions tab—not the chart—to confirm your true average.
Understanding Position Size (Qty)
Qty tells you exactly how big your position is:
- +1 = long 1 contract
- –1 = short 1 contract
- 0 = flat
If this number looks wrong, you probably scaled in or accidentally reversed. This tab tells you the truth immediately.
Tracking Open P/L
Open P/L updates tick by tick. It reflects:
- Your average price
- Current market price
- Tick value of the instrument
- Your position size
If your P/L jumps more than expected, you likely increased size or entered a more volatile contract like NQ or CL.
Verifying Brackets and ATMs
If your bracket didn’t attach correctly, the Positions tab makes this obvious. You’ll see:
- A live position
- No associated stop or target working
If your stop or target is missing from the "Working Orders" panel, flatten immediately. Do not stay in a position with no protective stop.
Flattening From the Positions Tab
Click the position → Flatten. This closes the trade and cancels all related orders.
Flatten from here is safer than flattening from a chart tab you might’ve zoomed away from.
Closing Only Part of a Position
If you scaled in and want to scale out:
- Go to the DOM or chart
- Place an opposite limit order for the partial size
The Positions tab updates automatically, showing your new size and recalculated average price.
Final Thoughts
The Tradovate Positions tab is the most accurate snapshot of your open trades. If you want to know your true size, average price, real-time P/L, or whether your bracket attached, this tab is the source of truth. Check it often—especially during prop firm evaluations where one bad size mistake ends your account.