> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.rails.xyz/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.rails.xyz/trading/perpetuals/placing-orders.md).
# Placing Orders
This article details how to place the different [order types](broken://pages/ntM1Plm6DkkKG8G1mbeC) available on Rails:
{% hint style="info" %}
Before you continue:
* There is a minimum order size of $1 USD for all trades.
* There is no maximum order value.
{% endhint %}
## Order Types
Read below to understand the various order types available for perpetuals trading:
Market Order
A market order is an order to buy or sell an asset immediately at the best available price. This makes it the fastest and easiest order type to execute because they prioritize speed over price.
**What's Required:**
Three pieces of information are required to place a market order:
1. **Order Side:** Specify a Long (Buy) or Short (Sell) order.
2. **Amount:** You can specify the amount by quantity or trade value.
* **Quantity (#)**: How many units (or partial units) of the asset you are trading.
* **Trade Value ($)**: How much you will pay (in USDT) not including any associated fees.
3. **Leverage**: How much [leverage](/trading/perpetuals/margin-modes.md#what-is-leverage) you wish to open the position with.
Limit Order
A limit order enables you to buy or sell an asset at a specified price or better. When placing a limit order to buy, it will only be executed at the limit price or lower, enabling you to control how much you pay. Conversely, a limit order to sell will only be executed at the limit price or higher. Limit orders may not be filled if you don't set an [appropriate price](/trading/perpetuals/placing-orders.md#how-to-select-the-right-limit-price).
**What's Required:**
Five pieces of information are required to place a limit order:
1. **Order Side:** Specify a Long (Buy) or Short (Sell) order.
2. **Price**: This specifies the limit price you wish to set for your order.
3. **Amount:** You can specify the amount by quantity or trade value.
* **Quantity (#)**: How many units (or partial units) of the asset you are trading.
* **Trade Value ($)**: How much you will pay (in USDT) not including any associated fees.
4. **Leverage**: How much [leverage](/trading/perpetuals/margin-modes.md#what-is-leverage) you wish to open the position with.
5. Check **Post only** if desired.
Post Only Order
A post-only order is a type of limit order that ensures your order adds liquidity to the market instead of taking it. If the price you set would cause the order to be matched with an existing order in the order book (i.e. execute immediately), it will be automatically canceled.
Stop Loss Market Order
This is used to minimize losses if the asset moves against an open position. You must set a stop loss (SL) price which reflects your risk tolerance, and once the SL price is reached or exceeded, a market order is executed immediately. The final price may be lower or higher than expected due to slippage.
* For long positions, a stop market order will automatically sell if the asset **falls below** the SL price.
* For short positions, a stop market order will automatically buy if the asset **rises above** the SL price.
**Whats Required:**
Two pieces of information are required to place a limit order:
1. **Trigger/SL Price:** This specifies the price you wish your order to be triggered at.
2. **Amount:** You can specify the amount by quantity or trade value.
* **Quantity (#)**: How many units (or partial units) of the asset you are trading.
* **Trade Value ($)**: How much you will pay (in USDT) not including any associated fees.
Stop Loss Limit Order
Similar to a stop market order, this is used to minimize losses if the asset moves against your trade but is executed differently. You must set a stop loss (SL) price (the price at which you want to trigger the limit order) and a limit price (the price at which you want the order to execute). There's a risk your trigger order does not execute if the market moves too fast causing slippage.
* For long positions, a stop limit order will be placed when the price **drops** to the SL price. The order will be executed only if buyers are willing to buy at the limit price or better (higher).
* For short positions, a stop limit order will be placed when the asset price **rises** to the SL price. The order will be executed only if sellers are willing to sell at the limit price or better (lower).
**Whats Required:**
Three pieces of information are required to place a trigger limit order:
1. **Trigger/SL Price:** This specifies the price you wish your order to be triggered at.
2. **(Limit) Price:** This specifies the limit price at which you would like the order to be executed.
3. **Amount:** You can specify the amount by quantity or trade value.
* **Quantity (#)**: How many units (or partial units) of the asset you are trading.
* **Trade Value ($)**: How much you will pay (in USDT) not including any associated fees.
Take Profit Market Order
This is used to secure profit by automatically triggering a market order against an open position once the asset reaches the take profit (TP) price specified in your trigger order conditions. The order will be executed at the best available market price. There is no guarantee of an exact execution price due to slippage, especially in volatile markets.
* For long positions, a take profit market order will automatically **sell** when the asset **reaches** the TP price.
* For short positions, a take profit market order will automatically **buy** when the asset **falls to** the TP price.
**Whats Required:**
Two pieces of information are required to place a take profit market order:
1. **Trigger/TP Price:** This specifies the price you wish your order to be triggered at.
2. **Amount:** You can specify the amount by quantity or trade value.
* **Quantity (#)**: How many units (or partial units) of the asset you are trading.
* **Trade Value ($)**: How much you will pay (in USDT) not including any associated fees.
Take Profit Limit Order
Similar to a take profit market order, this is used to secure profit by automatically triggering a limit order to be placed once the asset reaches the take profit (TP) price specified in your trigger order conditions. The order will be executed at the TP price or better.
* For long positions, a take profit limit order will **sell** when the asset **reaches** the TP price.
* For short positions, a take profit limit order will **buy** when the asset **falls below** the TP price.
**Whats Required:**
Four pieces of information are required to place a limit order:
1. **Trigger/TP Price:** This specifies the price you wish your order to be triggered at.
2. **(Limit) Price:** This specifies the limit price at which you would like the order to be executed.
3. **Amount:** You can specify the amount by quantity or trade value.
* **Quantity (#)**: How many units (or partial units) of the asset you are trading.
* **Trade Value ($)**: How much you will pay (in USDT) not including any associated fees.
## Placing Orders
To place a market or limit order, complete the following steps:
1. Select the **Asset** you wish to trade in the top left hand corner of your Rails account under *All Markets*.
2. Select **Market** or **Limit** to ensure that you are executing the type of order you want.
3. Select **Buy** or **Sell** depending on whether you want to open a Long or Short position respectively.
4. Select your preferred **Leverage** amount by clicking on the cross margin drop down menu.
* Note: If you are changing your [leverage](/trading/perpetuals/margin-modes.md), the change will apply to any open orders for that market only.
5. Input the details of your order or use the **% options** shortcuts to set a percentage of your available balance.
6. Select **Post only** if desired.
7. Click the **Buy** or **Sell** button to place your order.
A green "Order accepted" banner will pop and you should see your order appear under the [Positions tab](/trading/perpetuals/page-overview.md#trade-summary-tabs) if it was successful. See our [troubleshooting tips](/support/troubleshooting-guide.md#trading) if you need help.
{% hint style="success" %}
You can also copy your order directly from our calculator, allowing you to consider various options before placing your order. Learn more [here](/trading/perpetuals/page-overview/calculator.md)!
{% endhint %}
## Placing Trigger Orders
{% hint style="info" %}
Learn how to use the trigger order shortcut [here](#trigger-order-shortcut).
{% endhint %}
To place a Trigger Limit Order you must follow these steps:
1. Once you have an open position, navigate to your Positions Tab on the main Trading Page.
2. From the Order Panel, click the trigger order drop down menu and select whether you want a **Take Profit Limit Order,** **Stop Limit Order, Take Profit Market Order or a Stop Loss Market Order**
3. Select the **Trigger Price,** which is the price at which you would like the order to execute.
4. Select the **Price** which is the highest you would like to take profit or lowest you would like to stop loss.
5. Input the **Amount** you would like to buy/sell in one of three ways:
* Use the **% options** shortcuts to set a percentage of your available balance, or
* Input the **Amount** in either quantity (# of asset) or trade volume ($ in USD) using the arrows to toggle between the two options.
6. Click the **Buy** or **Sell** button to place your trigger limit order.
You should see a success message in the lower left-hand side of your screen if it was successful. See our [troubleshooting tips](/support/troubleshooting-guide.md#trading) if you need help.
### Trigger Order Shortcut
The easiest way to add a trigger order is using the shortcut directly from your position in your positions tab.
Follow these steps to use the shortcut to place a Trigger Order:
1. Once you have an open position, navigate to your Positions Tab on the main Trading Page.
2. Click **Add -->** on either TP or SL in the Trigger Orders column.
3. The default is to set to Market Trigger orders, or select the checkbox to set a Limit Price:
{% hint style="info" %}
Not sure if you want to set a market or limit trigger order? Find out more about each in our [order types](broken://pages/ntM1Plm6DkkKG8G1mbeC#order-types) guide.
{% endhint %}
4. Click **UPDATE TRIGGER(S).**
A success message shows on screen if your trigger orders are placed successfully, and you can navigate to the trigger orders tab to confirm.
{% hint style="info" %}
**Still need help?** See our [troubleshooting tips](/support/troubleshooting-guide.md#trading).
{% endhint %}
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