How To Scale Up After Getting Funded

Exactly how fast you can increase size without blowing out the trailing drawdown on a funded futures prop account.

1. Scaling After Funding Is Completely Different From The Evaluation

In the evaluation, your only job is to hit the profit target without violating rules. After you get funded, your job becomes:

  • Preserve trailing drawdown
  • Grow the cushion
  • Increase size only when the cushion supports it

Most traders blow funded accounts because they instantly keep trading “eval size.”

2. The Only Number That Matters: Trailing Drawdown Cushion

Your cushion is the distance between your current balance and the trailing drawdown line.

Example on a $50k funded account:

  • Trailing drawdown: $2,500
  • Account balance: $52,000

Cushion = $2,000

That cushion is literally the entire fuel tank for your scaling. Blow it, and you’re done. This is why you must pair this guide with Trailing Drawdown Explained.

3. Safe Scaling Formula (Works For Every Size)

Your maximum contract size at any moment is based on cushion:

Max contracts = Cushion ÷ (3 × average stop-loss)

Example:

  • Cushion: $2,000
  • Your normal stop: $100 per contract

Max contracts = $2,000 ÷ $300 = 6 contracts

But that’s the absolute max. Safe scaling means:

  • Start with 1 contract for 10–20 trading days
  • Add 1 contract every $1,000 cushion gained

Funding doesn’t mean sizing up — cushion does.

4. The 3-Stage Scaling Model

Stage 1: Stabilization (First 20–30 Days)

  • Trade 1 contract only
  • Build cushion to at least $1,000+
  • Avoid big losers entirely

This phase builds the foundation. It matches Common Evaluation Mistakes because most people blow up here by going too big too fast.

Stage 2: Conservative Scaling

Requirements:

  • $1,000 cushion → 2 contracts max
  • $2,000 cushion → 3 contracts max
  • $3,000 cushion → 4–5 contracts max

Never jump from 1 contract to 5+ overnight.

Stage 3: Aggressive Scaling

Only when:

  • Cushion > $5,000
  • You’ve traded profitably for 60+ funded account days

Even then, stick to the same formula:

Max contracts = Cushion ÷ (3 × stop-loss)

5. The Biggest Scaling Mistake

Traders think: “I passed with 6–8 contracts, so I can trade 6–8 funded.”

Wrong.

In the eval, losing too big costs a reset. In funding, losing too big ends your account permanently.

6. Should You Ever Withdraw?

Withdrawals eat cushion. Withdraw too early and you shrink your scaling ability.

General rule:

  • Below $2,000 cushion → no withdrawals
  • $2,000–$4,000 cushion → small withdrawals
  • $5,000+ cushion → consistent withdrawals allowed

See the math explained in How Prop Firm Evaluations Work.

7. Scaling Checklist

  • Am I above trailing drawdown by at least $1,000?
  • Have I had 10+ green trading days in a row?
  • Can I survive 3 back-to-back losing trades?
  • Does my cushion support the new size?

If any answer is “no,” don’t scale.

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