Request a Higher Contract Limit in Tradovate
Got a "maximum order quantity has been met" rejection? Here's how to figure out which limit is stopping you and raise it, whether that's your own Risk Settings or a request to your firm or Tradovate.
You go to send a five-lot and Tradovate spits it back: "Your maximum order quantity has been met. Please change your quantity to place the order." Frustrating, especially mid-setup. The good news is that cap isn't carved in stone. Depending on your account, you either raise it yourself in a few clicks or send a short request to whoever controls your limits and wait a day or two. The first job is figuring out which limit is actually stopping you, because the fix differs for each.
Three Limits That Can Cap Your Size
Before you request anything, know that a contract-quantity rejection can come from any of three places:
- Your own Risk Settings: a Max Position Size you (or your automation) set on the account. This is the easy one to change yourself.
- A broker or prop-firm cap: on evaluation and funded accounts the firm sets your ceiling, and Tradovate's own Risk Settings don't even apply to evaluation accounts. The allowed size varies by firm and account size, so check your firm's current rules.
- An exchange position limit: a hard regulatory ceiling set by the exchange (CME, Eurex, ICE) for a given product. No request gets you past this one; it sits above everything else.
Request a Higher Contract Limit: Step by Step
Identify Which Limit Is Blocking You
Read the rejection carefully and note your account type. If you're on a personal Tradovate Brokerage account, the cap is almost always your own Risk Settings or the exchange. If you're on a prop-firm evaluation or funded account, it's the firm's rule. Sorting this out first saves you a wasted email.
Check and Raise Your Own Risk Settings First
Open Application Settings, click the Accounts tab, select your account, and hit the Risk Settings button to expand the panel. If you find Max Position Size set lower than the size you're trying to trade, that's your culprit. Raise the value or toggle it off. Remember this is a total across all products, not a per-symbol number. These settings apply to live and demo Tradovate Brokerage accounts only, so if yours is a prop account, skip to Step 3.
On a Prop or Evaluation Account, Ask Your Firm
Because Risk Settings don't apply to evaluation accounts, the prop firm holds the keys to your contract cap. You can't change it from inside Tradovate. Reach out through the firm's support channel and ask them to raise your allowed order quantity, quoting your account ID. How much they'll bump it depends on the firm and account size, so check your plan's current rules first.
On a Live Tradovate Account, Submit a Risk Change Request
If you're on your own live account and your Risk Settings aren't the problem, the ceiling is set on the brokerage side. Contact Tradovate support by email, chat, or phone and ask them to raise the allowed order quantity on your account. Include your Tradovate username and the size you need. This is a manual review, so give it time. Approvals usually land within about a business day or two.
Confirm the New Limit and Re-Place Your Order
Once the increase is approved, log out and back in so the account refreshes. Reopen Risk Settings to confirm the new value is in place, then send a test order at the larger size. If it goes through instead of bouncing, you're done. If it still rejects, you've likely hit a different limit: margin, the exchange ceiling, or a firm rule stacked on top.
Before You Ask for More Size
- Bigger limits don't move margin. Custom Risk Settings never override brokerage margin rules. If your account can't cover the margin on the larger position, the order still gets rejected.
- Match the size to your plan. A higher ceiling only helps if your risk-per-trade can absorb it. Raise the cap because your strategy needs it, not because the rejection annoyed you.
- Prop caps stack. Even after a personal increase, a firm-side rule can still reject the order. Those limits vary by firm and account size.
Automate This with PickMyTrade
Once your limit is where you want it, PickMyTrade routes your TradingView alerts straight to Tradovate at exactly the quantity you set. Set your contract size once and let validated orders fire to one account or many at the same time, no manual clicks.
Automate Your Tradovate Trades
Once your limit is where you want it, PickMyTrade routes your TradingView alerts straight to Tradovate at exactly the quantity you set, no manual clicks.
Start Your Free 5-Day TrialFrequently Asked Questions
A risk change request on a live Tradovate account is reviewed manually and usually clears within about a business day or two. Prop-firm requests depend on the firm's own turnaround.
Usually one of two things: you don't have enough margin for the bigger position (quantity caps never override margin rules), or a separate limit is in play, such as the exchange position limit or a prop-firm cap stacked on top of yours.
No. Risk Settings don't apply to evaluation accounts, so the prop firm controls the cap. You have to ask the firm to raise it, and the ceiling varies by firm and account size.
This guide is for educational and informational purposes only and is not financial, investment, or trading advice. Trading futures and other leveraged products carries a substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor. PickMyTrade is an independent third-party automation platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Tradovate, Inc. "Tradovate" and all related names, logos, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Platform features and steps change over time, so always confirm the current process in the official Tradovate platform and documentation before acting.