By EdgeSizer · Updated Apr 2025
OCO brackets are the single most underused risk tool in futures trading. Most prop firm traders either skip them entirely or set them up wrong — and then wonder why their stop filled at the wrong price or their take profit didn't trigger correctly.
This guide covers exactly what to type in each field, for both Topstep and Apex platforms, using the dollar amounts that EdgeSizer calculates for you.
OCO stands for One-Cancels-Other. When you place an OCO bracket, you're submitting two orders simultaneously: a stop loss and a take profit. When one fills, the platform automatically cancels the other.
For prop firm traders, this is essential. Without it, you're sitting at your screen watching every tick. With it, you can set your levels and step away without blowing a daily loss limit because you missed an exit.
Both Topstep and Apex platforms let you set OCO brackets in either ticks or dollars. Always use Dollars mode. Here's why:
If you're trading with 3 or more contracts and using 3 take profit levels, you need 4 brackets total:
EdgeSizer generates all four sets of dollar amounts automatically. You just fill in the fields.
Step 1: Open your position at your entry price. TopstepX will show a bracket setup dialog immediately after your order fills.
Step 2: Select Dollars from the mode dropdown at the top of the bracket dialog.
Step 3: For the 1 POSITION bracket, enter the SL dollar amount from EdgeSizer in the Stop Loss field. Enter the 1R TP dollar amount in the Take Profit field. Set contracts to your full position size.
Step 4: Add additional brackets for TP1, TP2, and Runner using the + button. Each bracket gets its own contract count and dollar amounts from EdgeSizer.
Step 5: Confirm. TopstepX will show all active brackets on the chart as dotted lines. Verify the levels look correct visually before walking away.
Step 1: In Tradovate, go to Order Ticket before placing your trade. Enable the Bracket option.
Step 2: Set the bracket type to $ P&L (dollar profit and loss). This is the Dollars mode equivalent in Tradovate.
Step 3: Enter your Stop Loss amount (negative dollar value) and Take Profit amount (positive dollar value) from EdgeSizer.
Step 4: For multiple TP levels, Tradovate requires you to set up additional orders after your initial bracket fills TP1. Many traders use the DOM (Depth of Market) for this.
Mistake 1: Setting the SL in ticks instead of dollars. The platform looks similar either way. Always double-check the mode selector before confirming.
Mistake 2: Forgetting to account for the contract split. If you have 6 contracts total and set up one bracket for 6 contracts at TP1 distance, all 6 close at TP1. You need separate brackets per TP level.
Mistake 3: Not verifying on the chart. After setting brackets, look at the chart. The stop and take profit lines should be at the prices you intended. If they're too close or too far, something is set up in ticks when it should be dollars.
Mistake 4: Using the same bracket template for different setups. A $200 risk trade at 30 points stop is not the same as a $200 risk trade at 60 points stop — even if the dollar risk is identical. Recalculate for each trade.
Here's the actual workflow once you have EdgeSizer open alongside your platform:
That's it. The entire process takes under 60 seconds once you've done it a few times.