MetaTrader 5 (MT5) is a powerful, multi-asset trading platform favored by traders worldwide, especially those working with proprietary trading firms. Understanding the different types of orders in MT5 is essential for developing precision in execution, managing risk, and meeting the performance expectations of the best prop firm in the UK. This article explores how you can optimize your trading by mastering MT5’s order types and aligning them with prop firm requirements.
1. Introduction to MT5 and Prop Trading in the UK
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) is a sophisticated trading platform offering enhanced speed, multi-asset capabilities, and superior analytical tools. When trading for a UK prop firm, MT5 becomes an essential asset due to its advanced order handling and risk management features.
Best prop firms in the UK, like FTMO UK, The 5%ers, and Audacity Capital, evaluate traders based on consistency, discipline, and drawdown control. Mastery of MT5 order types can significantly boost your ability to meet their evaluation criteria.
2. Market Order: Instant Execution for Fast-Moving Markets
A market order is the most straightforward order type in MT5. It instructs the platform to buy or sell an asset immediately at the current market price.
When to use it with UK prop firms:
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During high-volatility news events.
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To ensure instant entry or exit when managing risk.
Tip: Leading UK prop firms often require strict drawdown limits. Use market orders for fast exits to avoid breaking trading rules.
3. Pending Orders: Planning Trades with Precision
Pending orders in MT5 allow traders to set trades that will trigger once specific price conditions are met. These are essential for structured trading — a quality often valued by prop firms.
MT5 supports four main types of pending orders:
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Buy Limit: Buy at a price lower than the current market value.
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Sell Limit: Sell at a price higher than the current market value.
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Buy Stop: Buy at a price above the current level.
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Sell Stop: Sell at a price below the current level.
Use case with prop firms: Helps reduce emotional decision-making, ensuring trades align with your trading plan — a key trait firms like Audacity Capital seek in funded traders.
4. Stop-Loss and Take-Profit Orders: Essential Risk Management Tools
Effective risk management is non-negotiable when working with the best prop firm in the UK. MT5 allows integration of stop-loss and take-profit levels with every order.
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Stop-Loss (SL): Limits your losses on a trade.
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Take-Profit (TP): Locks in profits when a target level is hit.
Why this matters: Prop firms enforce daily and maximum loss limits. Knowing how to correctly apply SL and TP orders can keep you compliant and profitable.
Tip: Use trailing stops (also available in MT5) to lock in gains as the market moves in your favor.
5. Modify and Delete Orders: Stay Agile in Dynamic Markets
MT5 enables traders to modify or delete pending and active orders as market conditions evolve.
Benefits for prop traders:
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Adjust risk levels mid-trade.
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Move stop-loss or take-profit targets to secure profits.
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Cancel poorly timed entries without penalty.
Being adaptable is a major plus when trading with UK-based prop firms that evaluate you in real time. Your ability to react without impulsiveness is often the key to passing evaluations and scaling accounts.
6. Strategy Optimization Using MT5 Order Types
Proper use of MT5 orders allows for the creation of structured, automated strategies. With tools like Expert Advisors (EAs), traders can automate:
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Breakout strategies using buy/sell stop orders.
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Mean-reversion setups using limit orders.
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Scalping strategies using fast market orders and trailing stops.
UK prop firm advantage: Traders who present well-documented, automated, or rule-based strategies often gain faster trust from evaluators at top firms like The Funded Trader UK or FTMO.
7. How UK Prop Firms Evaluate Order Discipline
The best prop firm in the UK does more than just look at your profitability. They evaluate:
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Trade entry and exit logic.
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Order execution consistency.
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Stop-loss/take-profit usage.
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Emotional discipline and adherence to the strategy.
Using MT5’s order types correctly proves you are a disciplined trader, capable of handling real capital responsibly.
8. Best Prop Trading Firms in the UK Using MT5
Here are some of the leading UK prop trading firms that support or recommend MetaTrader 5:
| Prop Firm | MT5 Supported | Evaluation Style | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| FTMO UK | Yes | Challenge-based | Large account scaling, low commissions |
| The 5%ers | Yes | Instant funding & growth | Focus on low-risk strategies |
| Audacity Capital | Yes | Evaluation & live funding | Capital doubling programs |
| Alpha Capital Group | Yes | Performance-based | High leverage, flexible rules |
These firms provide MT5 access, and their success metrics align closely with the structured use of MT5 order types.
9. Real-Life Example: Using MT5 Orders to Pass a Prop Firm Challenge
Let’s say you’re attempting to pass FTMO UK’s evaluation:
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You place a Buy Limit order at a key support level — avoiding emotional execution.
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You add a Stop-Loss below support to stay within the daily loss limit.
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A Take-Profit is set at the next resistance for a 2:1 reward-to-risk ratio.
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The market hits your Buy Limit, and price climbs.
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You trail your stop to lock in profit — the trade exits in profit with minimal risk.
This structured, risk-managed trade is exactly what UK prop firms want to see.
10. Final Thoughts: Combine Skill and Tools to Win with UK Prop Firms
Success in proprietary trading isn’t just about big wins — it’s about consistency, risk management, and discipline. By mastering the types of orders in MT5, you can demonstrate all three traits while trading for the best prop firm in the UK.
