Trailing Stop Loss vs. Trailing Stop Limit - Which Should You Use? (2024)

Last Updated on 11 September, 2023 by Samuelsson

Understanding a trailing stop loss can be difficult if you are new to the markets. For beginner traders who are already struggling with various different order types, the two types of trailing stop losses can be a hassle to maneuver.

A Trailing stop loss order creates a market order (close position at market price) when the trailing stop loss level is reached. On the other hand, a trailing stop limit order will send a limit order once the stop price is reached, meaning that the order will be filled only on the current limit level or better. Trailing stop limit orders offer traders more control over their trades but can be risky if the price falls fast.

Let’s first have a look at trailing stop losses in general, and then go on to exploring whether a stop limit order or a stop order is the best choice for a trailing stop loss!

How a Trailing Stop Loss Works

Trailing stop losses move along with the price of a security. Simply put, there is no fixed price for a trailing stop loss, but the stop loss level readjusts itself continuously with the rising market.

There are many ways you can calculate the trailing stop loss. One way is to simply set the stop at a certain distance from the highest high, or lowest low if you are going short. In that way, the stop level is continuously increased as the market moves, thus becoming a trailing stop.

Moving averages are also commonly used as trailing stops. In the image below you can see how we entered a trade, and the moving average followed along with the trend. Once the moving average was hit, the stop loss was effectuated, and we exited the trade!

Profit Protecting Stops

People often call trailing stop loss orders profit protecting stops. This is because they will move along with the security as long as the price action is favorable to your trade. However, they will come into effect as soon as the trend reverts.

This is also the reason why trailing stops are used mostly with trend following strategies. With a stop loss level that rises or falls with the trend, you are in for the long trends, while the trade is exited as soon as there is a reversal of the trend.

Example of Trailing Stop Loss

Suppose you purchase 1,000 shares of a security at $50 and set a trailing stop loss 50 cents below the maximum price ($50 at time of purchase). If the price keeps on falling and hits $49.50, the trailing stop will trigger and an order will be made on your behalf to sell your 1,000 shares at market value.

However, if the price of the security rises to $52, then the trailing stop loss will move along with the maximum price of the security to $51.50 (50 cents below the maximum price). Now, even if the price dips to $51.50 and you trigger your stop loss, you will still roughly make a 3% profit on your trade.

Trailing Stop Loss Orders and Stop Limit Orders

Now that we have covered what a trailing stop loss is, we will have a quick look at the two different order types you can use when the market hits the stop loss level.

1. Stop Orders

The stop order is an order type that immediately sends a market order when the market hits the set stop loss level. Since a market order has no conditions as to what price it may be executed at, it is typically filled immediately.

2. Stop Limit Orders

If you use a stop-limit order, once the stop level is reached, a limit order will be sent out. A limit order is an order that will only be filled at the limit price or better.

Thus, if you are long in a trade and your stop level is reached, the trade will only be exited at the limit price or higher

Conversely, if you are short in a trade and the stop level is reached, you will only get out of the trade at the limit price or lower.

So for the stop limit order, there are two levels you need to keep track of:

Stop Level: This is the level where the limit order is sent out.

Limit Level: Once the stop level is hit, a limit order with the instruction to buy at the limit price is executed.

In other words, the major difference between a stop limit order and a stop order is that the latter does not place a market order when your stop level is triggered. Instead, you set a limit price, and the security will only be sold if your broker is able to find a buyer/seller at the price you have stated or better.

Here is further reading that might be of interest.

Candlestick Guide: How to Read Candlesticks and Chart Patterns

Swing Trading Guide – How to Start and learn to be a Swing Trader

Algorithmic trading -The COMPLETE guide

Example of Trailing Stop Limit

Let’s say that you purchase 1000 shares of a security at $50 and you set a stop loss 50 cents below the maximum price. The limit is placed 20 cents below the stop loss.

Once again, let’s assume that the price of the security goes to $52 before falling back to $51.50 which triggers the stop loss. Your broker will now automatically generate a limit order to sell the security. Instead of selling it at the market price, the order will now state that the security can be sold as long as the broker can find a buyer for the security at or above $51.30 (20 cent limit).

Trailing Stop Limit vs. Trailing Stop Loss

From the examples above, it may seem like a trailing stop limit is the obvious choice due to its greater flexibility However, do remember that although limit orders allow you to have a lot more control over your trades, they also carry additional risks.

A perfect example of this would be that if a security is in a free-fall, then the entirety of your order may not be executed. In the aforementioned example, suppose the price of the security kept falling and your broker was only able to sell 700 of your shares before the price fell below $51.30, which is below the limit level. In this case, your order will not be filled until the price of the security once again rises to $51.30 and your broker is able to find willing buyers.

Market orders, on the other hand, have a much larger chance of going through. Of course, there is the risk that you will not be able to find buyers at a suitable price and experience a loss that is larger than your expectations. However, if you trade liquid markets this very seldom becomes an issue.

Which is the Winner?

In short, there is no correct answer to which order you should use. Limit orders should generally allow you to exercise more control with an added risk. They should be used by those who are only willing to sell a security at a suitable price and are willing to wait if the price dips below their limit to rise back up.

Trailing stop loss orders are for those who want to make sure that their position closes as soon as possible once the stop loss is triggered. People who are particularly risk-averse and believe that the price of the security is not going to go back up once it falls should also opt for the trailing stop loss order.

Understanding Fixed Stop Loss, Trailing Stop Loss, Trailing Stop Limit, and Take Profit

Stop orders are a type of order placed with a broker to buy or sell a security when it reaches a certain price. They are often used by traders to minimize potential losses or lock in profits. There are several types of stop orders, including Fixed Stop Loss, Trailing Stop Loss, Trailing Stop Limit, and Take Profit. In this article, we will explore each type of stop order, including their definition, functionality, advantages and disadvantages, and when they should be used in different market conditions.

Fixed Stop Loss orders are placed at a specific price and remain at that price until they are triggered or canceled. The main advantage of Fixed Stop Loss orders is that they are easy to understand and use. However, the main disadvantage is that they are not dynamic, so they do not take into account changes in the market. If the market moves against the trader, they will still be triggered at the fixed price, which may not be the optimal exit point.

Trailing Stop Loss orders are similar to Fixed Stop Loss orders, but they are more dynamic. They are set at a specific distance from the current market price, and the order price will move with the market price. This means that if the market moves in the trader’s favor, the stop loss order will also move in their favor, but if the market moves against the trader, the order will not change and will be triggered at the set price. This type of order is useful for traders who want to lock in profits while also reducing the potential for losses.

Trailing Stop Limit orders are a variation of Trailing Stop Loss orders. The main difference is that they have a limit price, which means that the order will only be executed if the market price reaches the limit price. This type of order is useful for traders who want to limit their potential losses while also taking advantage of market movements.

Take Profit orders are used to lock in profits. They are placed at a specific price and are triggered when the market price reaches that price. The main advantage of Take Profit orders is that they are straightforward and easy to use. The main disadvantage is that they are not dynamic, so they do not take into account changes in the market.

When deciding when to use Trailing Stop Loss or Trailing Stop Limit orders, traders should consider the market conditions. If the market is volatile, they may want to use Trailing Stop Loss orders to take advantage of market movements while also reducing potential losses. If the market is less volatile, they may want to use Trailing Stop Limit orders to limit their potential losses while also taking advantage of market movements.

Setting up and using Trailing Stop Loss and Trailing Stop Limit orders is straightforward in most trading platforms. Traders simply need to choose the type of order they want to use, set the parameters (e.g. distance from market price), and then place the order.

Compared to other types of stop orders, such as Fixed Stop Loss or Take Profit, Trailing Stop Loss and Trailing Stop Limit orders are more dynamic and can better take into account market movements. However, they also require more attention from the trader, as they need to monitor the market and adjust their orders if necessary.

Incorporating Trailing Stop Loss or Trailing Stop Limit orders into a risk management strategy can be an effective way to minimize potential losses while also taking advantage of market movements. Traders may want to use a combination of stop orders (e.g. Fixed Stop Loss, Trailing Stop Loss, and Take Profit) to ensure that they have a well-rounded risk management plan.

There are several real-life examples of how Trailing Stop Loss and Trailing Stop Limit orders can be used in trading. For example, a trader may place a Trailing Stop Loss order at the current market price, which will move with the market. If the market moves in the trader’s favor, the stop order will also move in their favor, but if the market moves against the trader, the stop order will not move and will be triggered at the set price. This type of order can be useful for traders who want to lock in profits while also reducing the potential for losses.

Bottom Line

Both the trailing stop limit and the trailing stop loss have their advantages. Their uses will vary according to the nature of the trade and your projections for that particular security. Just remember that although the order type is important, what is more important is that the stop loss is set at an appropriate price. That way, you can make sure that your trailing stop loss only triggers when the trade is going against you for certain.