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Apex Trader Funding Payout Rules: How to Maximize Every Withdrawal
 

Apex Trader Funding payout rules determine when you can withdraw profits, how much you can take out, and what your account needs to look like before a request is approved. The structure is straightforward once you understand it: traders keep 100% of the first $25,000 in profits per account, then a 90/10 split applies, 90% to you, 10% to Apex. That is more favorable than many prop firms that start with an 80/20 or 75/25 split from the first dollar.
 

But a generous profit split only matters if you understand how to actually access your money. This guide breaks down every payout rule you need to know, the 8-day payout cycle, safety net calculation, 30% consistency rules, contract scaling, payout request steps, and withdrawal timelines, so you can plan your trading around a clear, predictable payout schedule.
 

The 8-Day Payout Cycle and Trading Day Definition

The 8-day payout cycle is the foundation of all Apex Trader Funding withdrawals. You must trade on eight separate trading days between each payout request, and at least five of those eight days must be profitable with a minimum of $50 in profit each.
 

What Counts as a Trading Day

A trading day at Apex runs from 6 PM ET to 5 PM ET the following day. This means trades placed on Sunday evening at 6 PM and Monday morning all count as a single trading day, not two. Holiday sessions with early market closures do not count as separate trading days either, they roll into the next full session for settlement purposes.

This distinction matters because miscounting trading days is one of the most common mistakes traders make when tracking progress toward a payout. Your trading platform (Rithmic or Tradovate) updates your day count after evening processing at 6 PM ET. Always wait until after that time on your eighth trading day before submitting a payout request to make sure it registers correctly.

Meeting the Minimum Profit Requirement

Apex requires at least five out of your eight trading days to show a minimum profit of $50 each. Quick "flipping" trades that hit the $50 target within a single session count, Apex is looking for consistent profitability across multiple days, not a specific style of trading.

Here is what a qualifying 8-day cycle might look like:
 

• Day 1: +$120 ✓
• Day 2: +$55 ✓
• Day 3: -$30
• Day 4: +$200 ✓
• Day 5: +$50 ✓
• Day 6: -$15
• Day 7: +$85 ✓
• Day 8: -$40

That cycle meets the requirement: eight trading days completed, five of which cleared the $50 minimum.
 

Safety Net Calculation for Your First Three Payouts

During your first three approved payouts, Apex applies a safety net, a balance buffer that ensures your account stays stable while you are getting established.

How the Safety Net Is Calculated
 

The formula is simple: your account's trailing drawdown amount plus $100.
 

$50,000 account example:
 

• Trailing drawdown: $2,500
• Safety net: $2,500 + $100 = $2,600
• Minimum balance before withdrawal: $50,000 + $2,600 = $52,600
   

$100,000 account example:
 

• Trailing drawdown: $3,000
• Safety net: $3,000 + $100 = $3,100
• Minimum balance before withdrawal: $100,000 + $3,100 = $103,100
   

How the Safety Net Affects Your Withdrawal Amount

The minimum payout is $500. If you want to withdraw more than that, your balance must exceed the safety net by the additional amount above $500.

For example, requesting a $1,200 payout from a $50,000 account requires a balance of at least $53,300, that is, the $52,600 safety net threshold plus the $700 above the minimum $500 payout.
 

When the Safety Net Drops Away

After your third successful withdrawal, the safety net no longer applies, and you gain significantly more flexibility with future payout requests.
 

The 30% Consistency Rules Explained

Apex enforces two related 30% rules designed to promote steady, disciplined trading. Understanding both is essential to keeping your withdrawals on track.
 

The Profit Consistency Rule

No single trading day can account for more than 30% of your total profits at the time you submit a payout request. If you had one standout session that generated a large chunk of your gains, you will need to keep trading until the rest of your profit history balances it out.

Example: If your total profit is $3,000 and $1,200 of that came from one day, that single day represents 40% of your total, exceeding the 30% limit. You would need to continue trading and building profit on other days until no single day exceeds the 30% threshold before requesting a payout.
 

The 30% Negative P&L Rule

This rule limits the total unrealized loss you can carry across all open positions at any given time. Your combined open negative P&L cannot exceed 30% of your start-of-day profit balance.

For newer accounts or those with smaller accumulated profits, the limit is calculated as 30% of the trailing threshold instead. On a $50,000 account, that works out to approximately $750.
 

When the limit relaxes: If your end-of-day profit balance reaches double the safety net amount, the negative P&L limit increases to 50% starting with the next trading session.

Consequences of Rule Violations

Quick, accidental breaches that you correct immediately typically do not trigger penalties. However, repeated or serious violations can result in written warnings, denied payout requests, forfeited profits from the violation period, or account closure in severe cases.
 

Contract Scaling on Performance Accounts

When you first activate a Performance Account, you are limited to trading half of your maximum allowed contracts. This restriction stays in place until your end-of-day balance exceeds the trailing threshold, your starting balance plus the drawdown amount plus $100.

$50,000 account example:

 

• Maximum contracts: 10
• Starting limit: 5 contracts
• Full allocation unlocked when balance exceeds: $52,600
   

Once you cross that threshold, you can use your full contract allocation starting with the next trading session. Keep your approach consistent, erratic switches between large and small contract sizes just to secure payouts can trigger reviews.
 

Payout Request Steps and Timeline
 

How to Submit a Payout Request

 

1. Log in to your Apex dashboard.
2. Navigate to "Payout Request" in the left-hand menu.
3. Complete all required fields and review your information carefully.
4. Submit the request.
    

Important: Payout requests cannot be changed, edited, or canceled once submitted. Double-check everything, especially banking details, before hitting submit.
 

You can continue trading immediately after submitting a request. Trade as though the requested funds have already been removed from your balance so you do not accidentally dip below the required threshold.
 

Payout Methods by Location

US-based traders: Withdrawals are processed via ACH direct deposit. Enter your bank's ACH routing number, not a wire transfer number, during setup.
 

International traders: Apex uses Plane as its international payment processor. After your payout is approved, you will receive an invitation email from Plane (typically within one to four business days) to complete verification and receive your funds. Apex no longer processes payouts through Wise or DEEL.

Withdrawal Timeline

The full timeline from request to funds in your account typically runs five to seven business days:
 

• Apex reviews and approves or denies requests within 2 business days
• Fund transfers initiate within 3 to 4 business days after approval
• International transfers may take slightly longer depending on local bank processing

Note: The 5–7 business day estimate reflects the combined review (up to 2 days) and transfer (3–4 days) windows. Actual timing may vary based on banking holidays and international processing.
 

Profit Sharing Structure

Apex Trader Funding's profit split is one of the most favorable in the funded trading space:

 

• First $25,000 in profits per account: You keep 100%
• Profits above $25,000: 90/10 split (90% to you, 10% to Apex)

Example: If you earn $30,000 in total profit on a single account, you keep the full first $25,000. On the remaining $5,000, you keep $4,500, and Apex takes $500. Your total take-home: $29,500 out of $30,000.
 

Scaling Earnings with Multiple Accounts

Apex allows traders to manage up to 20 active Performance Accounts simultaneously, and each account operates independently. That means you can request the maximum payout from every eligible account during each 8-day cycle.
 

Example: A trader managing ten $50,000 accounts who withdraws $2,000 from each every eight trading days pulls $20,000 per cycle. Over 16 trading days, that could total $40,000 across all accounts.
 

Common Payout Denial Reasons and How to Avoid Them

Most payout denials come from avoidable mistakes. Watch for these:
 

• Incorrect banking information. Wrong ACH routing numbers or outdated payment details are among the most common reasons for denied or delayed payouts. Verify your information before every submission.
• Balance below the safety net threshold. During your first three payouts, your balance must clear the safety net plus your requested withdrawal amount. Run the calculation before you submit.
• 30% consistency rule violation. If one trading day represents too large a share of your total profits, the request will be denied. Monitor your profit distribution throughout the cycle, not just at payout time.
• Inconsistent contract sizes. Erratic trading patterns, randomly switching between large and small positions, can trigger reviews and denials. Stay disciplined and consistent in your approach.
• Submitting before the 8-day requirement is met. Wait until after 6 PM ET processing on your eighth trading day to ensure your platform has updated your count correctly.
   

Key Takeaways: Apex Trader Funding Payout Rules at a Glance

 

• Payout cycle: 8 trading days, with 5 of those showing $50+ profit
• Trading day definition: 6 PM ET to 5 PM ET the following day
• Safety net (first 3 payouts): Trailing drawdown + $100; balance must exceed this before withdrawal
• 30% profit consistency rule: No single day can represent more than 30% of total profits
• 30% negative P&L rule: Total open losses across all positions cannot exceed 30% of start-of-day profit balance
• Contract scaling: Half contracts until balance exceeds trailing threshold
• Profit split: 100% of first $25,000, then 90/10
• Maximum accounts: 20 active Performance Accounts
• Minimum payout: $500
• Withdrawal timeline: 5–7 business days (up to 2 days review + 3–4 days transfer)
• Payout methods: ACH (US), Plane (international)

Understanding these Apex Trader Funding payout rules before you start trading puts you in a stronger position to plan your withdrawals, avoid denials, and keep more of what you earn. If you are evaluating Apex as your next funded trading platform, use this guide as your reference, and review the full payout parameters directly on Apex's support page to confirm the latest requirements before submitting your first request.