Question on position sizing with partial fills – how do you manage?

asked by u/zeynep.arslan · 15d · 3 answers

Hey all, been trying to get more disciplined with position sizing, sticking to a strict % of equity per trade. One thing that keeps tripping me up is when I'm trying to get into a position and only get a partial fill. Say I want to size for 100 units, but only get 50 filled at my initial entry. Then the price moves a bit, and I get another 25. Do you guys recalculate your risk after each partial fill, or do you treat the initial 100-unit intended size as the max risk regardless of how much actually fills? It feels messy trying to adjust on the fly, but also like I'm under-utilizing my allocated risk if I don't fill out the whole position. Any insights on how more experienced traders handle this practical aspect?

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Top answers

  • u/naledi38· 1 pts· 15d

    Partial fills can definitely complicate things. For me, I set my max risk for the total intended position size from the outset. If I only get a partial fill, my actual risk is lower than planned, but I don't adjust the stop-loss or add more until the initial target size is reached or the trade is invalidated. How do you factor in slippage with your calculations?

  • u/gold_bug_omar· 1 pts· 15d

    This is a great question. Personally, I pre-define my total exposure for the trade and let partial fills accumulate up to that point. I don't recalculate risk mid-trade on each partial fill, as that can lead to chasing. Instead, I determine my full risk at the outset for the desired full position size.

  • u/putratanjung· 1 pts· 15d

    Partial fills can definitely complicate things, especially with strict sizing. For me, if I don't get the full fill I wanted initially, I usually just work with the size I have rather than chasing the rest, especially if the price has moved significantly. It keeps the risk clearer.

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