Blue Guardian's standard accounts use a 4% daily loss limit with an 8% static maximum on the 2-Step or a 6% trailing maximum on the 1-Step — tighter than the 5% / 10% most firms run — and funded accounts add an automatic risk tool, Guardian Shield, that closes every open trade if unrealised losses reach 2%. Once you are funded, that last rule is the one that decides your lot size: a position that could lose more than 2% of the account while open will be closed for you, and a second trigger ends the account. This calculator returns the lot size for your balance, risk and stop; the notes below show how to keep it under the Shield.
How this calculator is set up for Blue Guardian
The defaults assume a $100,000 account, 1% risk and a 20-pip stop at $10 per pip per lot — correct for EUR/USD, GBP/USD and other USD-quoted majors. Set the balance to your account. For gold, indices, oil or JPY pairs use the symbol-specific calculators at the bottom of the page.
Blue Guardian rules that decide your lot size
Current figures for the standard evaluations (1-Step Standard and 2-Step Standard); the 3-Step is a legacy model that is no longer sold. Blue Guardian also sells Nano versions (1-Step Nano: 10% target, 4% daily, 6% trailing; 2-Step Nano: 3% daily, 10% static) and an instant-funded account with a 3% daily and 6% trailing maximum; confirm the rules on the account you hold.
Rules verified against Blue Guardian's official help center on 26 Sept 2026 — check the firm's site before buying. Sources: 1 Step Standard rules, 2 Step Standard rules, Instant account rules, Account models.
| Rule | Standard evaluations | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Profit target | 9% (1-Step); 8% then 4% (2-Step) | 1-Step accounts bought before 20 Aug 2026 keep the 10% target |
| Maximum daily loss | 4% of the initial balance | Taken from the higher of balance or equity at the 5pm EST reset; breach measured on equity |
| Maximum drawdown | 8% static (2-Step); 6% trailing (1-Step) | The 1-Step trails the highest closed balance and locks at the starting balance once you are 6% up |
| Guardian Shield | Closes all trades at 2% unrealised loss | Funded accounts only; 1st trigger cuts the profit split to 50%, 2nd breaches the account |
On the 2-Step the maximum is static: it is measured from your starting balance, not from equity peaks — a friendlier model than a trailing one, but 8% is smaller to begin with. On the 1-Step the 6% maximum trails your highest closed balance until it locks at the starting balance. The daily limit is 4% of the initial balance, subtracted from the higher of your balance or equity at the 5pm EST reset.
Sizing under Guardian Shield
On funded accounts, Guardian Shield closes every open position when combined unrealised losses reach 2% of the account (1% on the instant account). For sizing that means the sum of all open positions' full stop-loss risk should stay below 2%:
- One position at 1% risk: safe, with 1% of room for a second.
- Two positions at 1% each: at the limit — if both go to their stops simultaneously the Shield fires first.
- Three positions at 1% each: the Shield closes all three at 2%, before any individual stop is reached.
Traders who run several positions at once on a funded Blue Guardian account therefore size at 0.5% or lower per trade. The Shield is not an instant breach, but it is not free either: the first trigger permanently cuts your profit split to 50% and the second permanently breaches the account — and each trigger turns planned 1% losses into an unplanned 2% loss at whatever prices the market offers.
The lot size formula with Blue Guardian numbers
Lot size = (Account balance × Risk %) ÷ (Stop loss in pips × Pip value per lot)Example 1 — $100K, single position: 1% risk, 20-pip stop on EUR/USD.
- Risk amount: $1,000
- Loss per lot: $200
- Lot size: 5.00 lots
Example 2 — $100K, two positions planned: 0.5% risk each, 30-pip stop on GBP/USD.
- Risk amount: $500
- Loss per lot: $300
- Lot size: 1.67 lots each
Example 3 — $50K, 2-Step Phase 2: 0.5% risk, 25-pip stop.
- Risk amount: $250
- Loss per lot: $250
- Lot size: 1.00 lot
Matching risk per trade to the 4% / 8% limits
| Risk per trade | Losses before a 4% daily breach | Losses before an 8% max breach | Open positions before the 2% Shield |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0% | 4 | 8 | 2 |
| 0.5% | 8 | 16 | 4 |
| 0.25% | 16 | 32 | 8 |
At 1% risk, four losses end the day and eight end the account — thin for most strategies, and only two positions can be open at once. 0.5% is the common choice on Blue Guardian. On the 1-Step, the 6% trailing maximum leaves six losses at 1%.
Common sizing mistakes on Blue Guardian accounts
- Using 5% / 10% sizing. The lot size that fits FTMO's limits is 20–25% too large here.
- Stacking positions past the Shield. Three correlated trades at 1% each will be flattened together on a bad move.
- Same lots on gold as on EUR/USD. Gold's dollar-per-pip is far larger; use the XAU/USD calculator.
- Sizing on the chart stop. Add spread and slippage before dividing.
- Holding a floating loss through the day change. It counts against the new day's 4% from the first minute.
Track your Blue Guardian evaluation in Fips
Fips's free trading journal records each trade with its R-multiple and running daily P&L, and shows your combined open risk — the number the Shield watches. Connect an MT4, MT5 or cTrader account and trades import automatically. Backtest the strategy first to read its worst losing streak; on a 4% daily limit, a strategy that has strung five losses together needs 0.5% risk or less.
Frequently asked questions
What lot size should I use on a $100K Blue Guardian account?
At 1% risk and a 20-pip stop on a USD-quoted major, 5 lots — but only if it is your only open position. With two or more open, 0.5% (2.5 lots) keeps the combined risk under the 2% Guardian Shield.
What is Guardian Shield?
An automatic tool on funded accounts that closes all open trades when unrealised losses reach 2% of the account (1% on the instant account). The first trigger permanently reduces your profit split to 50% and the second permanently breaches the account, so treat 2% of combined open risk as a hard ceiling.
Is Blue Guardian's drawdown static or trailing?
It depends on the model. The 2-Step evaluations use a static maximum measured from the initial balance; the 1-Step Standard and Nano and the instant-funded account use a 6% trailing maximum. On the standard models the daily limit is 4% of the initial balance, taken from the higher of balance or equity at the 5pm EST reset.
Does the daily loss include floating losses?
Yes — and the Guardian Shield acts on floating losses specifically.
Fips is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Blue Guardian. The rule figures on this page were checked against the firm's official sources on 26 September 2026 and can change without notice; verify them on the firm's own website before trading.