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Trailing Stop or Take Profit?

  • #81
  • Oct 22, 2024 12:12am Oct 22, 2024 12:12am
Quoting dpan1277
I did some experiment on trialing stop but if I were a full time trader, then I would not need it as I could monitor it all day to get some better profit. TS will prevent you from big profit.
Interesting take! Watching trades all day definitely lets you grab those bigger profits manually. But for those of us who can't stare at the screen 24/7, trailing stops still save the day, locking in some gains and protecting from those wild swings.
  • #82
  • Oct 23, 2024 2:16am Oct 23, 2024 2:16am
I think answer is simple (anyway, for me). If you trade trend pair you can use trailing stop. If it's not trend pair it is better to use take profit.
But. You have to test any strategy before using of your real money!
  • #83
  • Jan 6, 2026 3:35am Jan 6, 2026 3:35am
Quoting leebsurag
On volatile market I prefer to use TP because sweeping price swings can easily trigger Trailing Stop cutting down potential profits. On flat or trend market I often use trailing stops though there are few trading pairs which offer that opportunity.
That’s a pretty practical way to handle it. Trailing stops work well if you can’t monitor trades all day, and switching to take profit during high volatility makes sense too. In the end, using what fits your schedule and the market conditions is more important than forcing one fixed method.
  • #84
  • Jan 8, 2026 5:32pm Jan 8, 2026 5:32pm
A trailing stop is used to secure profits, and combining it with a breakeven point reduces losses. You won't be able to cover 100% of your losses, but you can cover about 90%. So, if you manage your small losses well and secure your profits, you'll grow quickly and make a lot of money. Furthermore, you move the trailing stop as the price moves, so you should activate it in a space where the price can move upwards. I don't recommend placing it right next to the price unless it has already passed the first take-profit level (TP1) and you want to secure that TP1 while still being able to take profits towards the second TP2. I generally trade with three TPs.
  • #85
  • Jan 9, 2026 7:09am Jan 9, 2026 7:09am
I take profit at a preplanned level, then trail the remainder only after locking 1R once structure confirms trend. Pure trailing without context chopped me up in ranges, fixed TP was better there
  • #86
  • Jan 26, 2026 1:58pm Jan 26, 2026 1:58pm
I see a bunch of different opinions on which one is better, trailing stop to take profit… guys you are missing the point. They are both excellent tools but they are different and used in a different context. So you can’t blindly say tp is better, or the other one.
I use both of them, but which one I would use in a certain setup depends on the context, the market conditions and ultimately on the trading strategy. Mostly I trade with support and resistance levels. In this scenario it’s not wise to use trailing stop. In my initial setup I have identified the exit levels and put the orders on those levels.
But when you ride a trend for example, it’s not wise a fixed tp order to be used since no-one knows for sure where the trend will stop.
  • #87
  • Feb 17, 2026 6:19am Feb 17, 2026 6:19am
Yes, it ultimately depends on the trading strategy and the trading system. In some TP works better in others trailing stops work better. But to add on that, I think also the nature of the instrument has a significant role in which is better. Take GBPJPY for example, or BTC. These both are highly volatile instruments and using trailing stops can kill a profitable trading strategy because the price swings can be really long and still the price can go in the predicted direction. On the other hand for indices, whatever the index you trade it’s better the use trailing stops because the swings here are more conservative
  • #88
  • Mar 10, 2026 4:20am Mar 10, 2026 4:20am
Personally, I do use trailing stops sometimes to take profit, especially when I want to let the trade run a bit. Instead of setting a fixed TP, I just move the stop with the price and let the market decide how far it goes. If the trend keeps going, great. If it pulls back, at least some profit is locked in.
Sometimes I still use a take profit together with it, but not always. It really depends on the market. If things are trending strongly (like when Bitcoin starts moving fast), I prefer just trailing the stop and riding the move. In choppier markets though, I usually stick with a clear TP.
  • #89
  • Mar 12, 2026 10:51am Mar 12, 2026 10:51am
Quoting taxikurk
Personally, I do use trailing stops sometimes to take profit, especially when I want to let the trade run a bit. Instead of setting a fixed TP, I just move the stop with the price and let the market decide how far it goes. If the trend keeps going, great. If it pulls back, at least some profit is locked in. Sometimes I still use a take profit together with it, but not always. It really depends on the market. If things are trending strongly (like when Bitcoin starts moving fast), I prefer just trailing the stop and riding the move. In choppier markets...
Yhh, that’s a solid hybrid approach to the markets. Using trailing stops to ride strong trends like Bitcoin runs is exactly how you capture those massive moves that fixed targets would cut really short. However, switching to clear take profits in choppy markets shows good adaptability, as it prevents you from giving back gains when the market lacks direction. Ngl, it’s pretty hard sometimes to identify choppy markets, so I would like to ask you how to understand when we enter that state?
  • #90
  • Mar 21, 2026 7:04am Mar 21, 2026 7:04am
Quoting Infassen
{quote} Yhh, that’s a solid hybrid approach to the markets. Using trailing stops to ride strong trends like Bitcoin runs is exactly how you capture those massive moves that fixed targets would cut really short. However, switching to clear take profits in choppy markets shows good adaptability, as it prevents you from giving back gains when the market lacks direction. Ngl, it’s pretty hard sometimes to identify choppy markets, so I would like to ask you how to understand when we enter that state?
Alright, that is a great question. I guess for me, it's all about confluence. First of all, I check the ADX. If it shows that we are below 20 / 25, then it means that the momentum is weak, which is a chop signal. Secondly, I try to look at the price action itself. Ask yourself are we making lower highs and lower lows ( which means we are in the trend) or just bouncing between two clear levels (ranging)? Thirdly, watch out for the moving averages. If the 20 and 50 EMA are flat and tangled, that's a pretty solid sign of consolidation. I also drop to a higher timeframe, if BTC is ranging on the 4H but trending on the daily, I adjust my strategy accordingly. I can agree that it's not perfect, but these filters help me avoid choppy market conditions. Hope it helped, but if you have any other questions you may ask.
  • #91
  • Mar 24, 2026 11:39am Mar 24, 2026 11:39am
To be honest, I find it weird using trailing-stops because the market often makes fake breakouts or quick moves, and then suddenly reverses without you. That’s when FOMO kicks in and you end up chasing the move, which usually leads to a loss. That’s why I prefer take profits. I just set a TP at a key level and wait. No stress about fake moves.
  • #92
  • Mar 28, 2026 5:13am Mar 28, 2026 5:13am
Quoting Labelvonz
To be honest, I find it weird using trailing-stops because the market often makes fake breakouts or quick moves, and then suddenly reverses without you. That’s when FOMO kicks in and you end up chasing the move, which usually leads to a loss. That’s why I prefer take profits. I just set a TP at a key level and wait. No stress about fake moves.
Hmmm, you might find it weird and all that, but trailing SLs and TPs can actually work well together. Yes, markets whip sometimes, but fixed TPs also leave money on the table when trends run hard. Brother, I have seen too many solid setups being close to hit my TP, like a tick, and then reverse and hit my stop loss. Or moments when it hits my TP quickly, but then it keeps going up 3x further without me. A trailing stop lets you capture more of that move while still locking in profit. The key isn't avoiding trails, it's using them wisely with your trading strategy. Fake breakouts happen either way, the goal is letting winners breathe without giving back everything.
  • #93
  • Apr 19, 2026 8:07am Apr 19, 2026 8:07am
On the subject of trailing stops and stop losses I attach a free trading panel I had written with a few bells and whistles. Instructions attached.

Obviously test until you are completely happy before using on a live a/c.

Enjoy!
Attached Image (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge Name: screenshot.webp Size: 153 KB


Attachment f
Attached File(s)
File Type: pdf TradePanel_Instructions (1).pdf   33 KB | 30 downloads
File Type: ex4 TradePanel V1a.ex4   48 KB | 29 downloads
  • #94
  • Last Post: Apr 24, 2026 6:58am Apr 24, 2026 6:58am
It's not a yes/no but depends answer for me.
A TS is good if there's still potential. Otherwise not.
So the trick is figuring out there's still potential for extra gains.

You may guess right or wrong. But the the most important thing is that you guess right more often than not.
Trading is all about tweaking the odds a bit in your favor.

Catching a 500 pip bonus-move with a TS is dream. But that dream becomes a nightmare if it means you have to give back 70x 10 pips on trends that went against you until they hit the TS.
So for example you hit your profit target. Then you look at MACD and decide you get out or use a TS. And even when TS is active you could keep checking the MACD.

If you look at the chart quite often you get a feeling. If trend blasts through your profit target a TS could be wise.
But if it was a real struggle hitting your target, getting out may be wiser.

Always keep in mind a profit target no matter how skillfully determined is made with information of the market back then.
But markets change every tick, and you should constantly look if you profit target still makes sense.
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