Trailing Stops: A Worked Crypto Example With Fees Included
A trailing stop follows price up and exits on a pullback. The profit you keep is the peak move minus the trail distance, slippage and two fees.
Short answer
A trailing stop moves with price by a fixed distance or percentage and closes the trade on a reversal. Example: long 2 ETH at $3,000 with a 4% trail from the highest close. ETH peaks at $3,450, so the stop sits at $3,312; with $2 slippage the exit is $3,310. Gross profit is $620, fees (0.05% per side) are ≈ $6.31, net ≈ $614. The trail gave back $280 from the peak — the price of staying in the trend. Tighter trails give back less but stop out more often in noise.
Worked example
| Step | Value |
|---|---|
| Entry | 2 ETH at $3,000 |
| Trail | 4% below highest close |
| Peak close | $3,450 → stop $3,312 |
| Exit (−$2 slip) | $3,310 |
| Gross | $620 |
| Fees | ≈ $6.31 |
| Net | ≈ $614 |
| Given back from peak | $280 |
Trail types
| Type | Basis | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Percentage | % from high | Simple |
| ATR multiple | k × ATR | Adapts to volatility |
| Structure | Below swing lows | Discretionary unless defined |
| Close-based vs intrabar | Highest close or high | Changes stop level |
Specify whether the trail tracks the highest close or the highest high; the two can differ by the full wick.
Conclusion
Related: Partial Profit-Taking: A Worked Crypto Example With Fees Included, Risk-Reward Ratios: A Worked Crypto Example With Fees Included.
Plan the same calculation with ChartsPod's position planner.
Open the ChartsPod terminalA trailing stop moves with price by a fixed distance or percentage and closes the trade on a reversal.
See Trailing Stops on live data in the free ChartsPod terminal.
Open the ChartsPod terminalQuestions readers ask
How much does a trailing stop give back?
At least the trail distance from the peak, plus slippage.
Close or high?
Specify it; results differ.
Do fees matter?
Less than give-back, but include them.
Sources and methodology
Arithmetic uses standard sizing formulas. Fee rates (0.05% taker, 0.02% maker), slippage and funding values are illustrative; check your venue's schedule. Liquidation figures are simplified approximations; exchanges calculate them with their own maintenance-margin rules (see Bybit's documentation).
- Bybit: Liquidation process — mark price and margin modes.
- ChartsPod: product overview, pricing and FAQ — free terminal, venues, modules, no order placement; checked 17 Oct 2026.
This article explains research tools and workflows. It is not financial advice, does not recommend buying or selling any asset and does not predict prices. Crypto derivatives carry a risk of rapid and total loss of margin.
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