Trading Basics
Setting Spot Take-Profit and Stop-Loss on OKX: Trigger Price vs Order Price
A TP/SL order lets the system watch the market for you: when price touches the trigger, an order is placed automatically. This guide separates trigger price from order price, walks through setup, and flags three common mistakes.
Checked July 13, 2026. Order-form options vary slightly across app versions; the live interface is authoritative.
Nobody watches charts 24 hours a day, which is what take-profit/stop-loss (TP/SL) orders are for: define the condition in advance, and the system places the order when price gets there. The whole mechanism in one sentence: the trigger price decides when to place an order; the order price decides what order gets placed. Mixing these two up is the number-one reason beginner stop-losses fail.
Trigger price vs order price
Say you hold BTC and want out if it breaks below a level:
- Trigger price: when the last traded price reaches this, the system acts;
- Order price: the sell order the system then places - either a limit price you set, or market (fill at whatever the book offers).
The combination decides certainty of execution. A market order almost always fills but may slip; a limit order controls price, but in a fast drop the market can blow straight through your limit and leave the stop unfilled.
Setup, step by step (spot)
- Open the trading pair;
- Switch the order type from Limit to TP/SL (or the trigger/conditional order option);
- Enter the trigger price;
- Choose execution: market, or a specific limit price;
- Enter the amount and confirm.
Pending conditional orders live in the Open orders → conditional/strategy tab, where you can edit or cancel them anytime.
Three common mistakes
| Mistake | Consequence | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Trigger set right at current price | Normal noise stops you out | Leave a buffer consistent with your actual thesis |
| Limit order price too tight | Fast moves gap through; stop never fills | Use market execution for critical stops, or leave room on the limit |
| Set and forget | Market structure changes, stale orders remain | Review open conditional orders regularly |
What TP/SL does and does not solve
TP/SL enforces discipline of execution; it does not make the thesis right. Also note that once triggered, the placed order is a normal order and pays normal fees - the maker/taker difference is explained in limit vs market orders, and broader cost-cutting in the fee saving guide.
FAQ
Q: Do conditional orders lock my funds? Generally not before triggering - but if the balance is missing at trigger time, the order fails. Do not promise the same coins to several conditional orders at once.
Q: Can I still sell manually with a stop in place? Yes - but cancel the corresponding conditional order afterward, or a later trigger may fail or double-sell.
Q: My stop triggered but never filled - why? Almost always a limit price the market gapped through. Check the order history; use market execution for stops that must fire.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not investment advice. Crypto assets are volatile; assess the risks yourself before acting. All rules and fees are subject to what OKX officially displays in your account. This site is not affiliated with OKX.