Setting up contract orders on the HTX (formerly Huobi) platform is a powerful way to enhance trading efficiency and strategic flexibility. Whether you're aiming to enter or exit positions at precise price points, HTX offers a suite of advanced order types designed to help traders automate their strategies and respond dynamically to market movements. In this guide, we’ll walk through how to configure various types of contract orders—limit orders, trigger (plan) orders, and trailing stop orders—to help you trade more effectively.
By mastering these tools, you can align your trades with technical levels, manage risk proactively, and reduce emotional decision-making. Let’s dive into each order type with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Understanding Contract Order Types on HTX
Before placing any trade, it's essential to understand the different order mechanisms available. Each type serves a unique purpose depending on your market outlook, timing, and execution preferences.
Limit Orders: Precision Entry and Exit
Limit orders allow you to set a specific price at which you want to buy or sell a futures contract. This gives you full control over your entry and exit points, helping you avoid unfavorable slippage.
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To place a limit order on HTX:
- Navigate to the futures trading page.
- Select "Limit Order" as your order type.
Choose additional execution options such as:
- Maker-only: Ensures your order doesn’t match immediately, qualifying for lower fees.
- FOK (Fill or Kill): The entire order must be filled instantly; otherwise, it’s canceled.
- IOC (Immediate or Cancel): Partial fills are allowed, but any unfilled portion is canceled immediately.
- Enter the desired contract quantity and price.
- Click "Buy Long" or "Sell Short" to submit the order.
This method is ideal for traders who have identified key support/resistance zones and want to execute trades only at favorable prices.
Plan (Trigger) Orders: Automating Market Moves
Plan orders—also known as conditional or trigger orders—allow you to set up trades that activate when the market reaches a specified price. These are especially useful for breakout strategies or protective exits.
Let’s explore two real-world scenarios:
Scenario 1: Capitalizing on Breakouts
Suppose Bitcoin (BTCUSDT) is trading around 10,000 USDT. Trader A believes that if the price breaks above 11,000 USDT—a known resistance level—it could signal the start of a bullish trend.
To act on this:
- Go to the "Plan Order" section.
- Set the trigger price at 11,000 USDT.
- Define the execution price at 11,010 USDT (limit order).
- Input the number of contracts (e.g., 100).
- Click "Buy Long".
Once the last traded price hits 11,000 USDT, HTX automatically places a limit buy order at 11,010 USDT, enabling you to ride the momentum without monitoring the charts constantly.
Scenario 2: Managing Downside Risk
Now consider Trader B, who holds long positions but fears a breakdown below 9,000 USDT—a critical support zone.
To protect profits:
- In the same Plan Order module, set the trigger price at 9,000 USDT.
Choose a market-based execution type, such as:
- Best 5/10/20 Order Books: Matches your sell order against the top bids across multiple depth levels for faster execution.
- Enter the contract amount.
- Click "Sell to Close Long".
When the market touches 9,000 USDT, the system triggers a market-style sell order using the best available liquidity, ensuring rapid exit even in fast-moving markets.
These conditional setups help traders stay disciplined and responsive—especially during volatile periods.
Trailing Stop Orders: Riding Trends While Protecting Gains
A trailing stop order is one of the most intelligent tools for trend-following strategies. It automatically adjusts your stop-loss level as the market moves in your favor, locking in profits while giving room for price fluctuations.
Here’s how to set it up on HTX:
- Switch to the "Trailing Stop" mode in the order panel.
- Define the activation price—the point at which the trailing logic begins.
- Set the callback rate (or pullback percentage)—for example, 2%. This means if the price reverses by 2% from its peak after hitting the activation point, the order triggers.
- Specify the order quantity and preferred market depth (best N orders) for execution speed.
- Confirm by clicking "Buy Long" or "Sell Short."
For instance, if BTC rises from 10,000 to 12,000 USDT and then drops back to 11,760 (a 2% decline), your trailing stop would trigger a market sell order around that level—preserving most of your gains without manual intervention.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is the difference between a limit order and a market order on HTX?
A: A limit order executes only at your specified price or better, giving you price control but no guarantee of execution. A market order fills immediately at the best available market price, ensuring execution but potentially with slippage during high volatility.
Q: Can I modify or cancel a plan order after setting it?
A: Yes. You can view all pending plan orders in the "Open Orders" or "Conditional Orders" section and cancel them before they’re triggered. However, once triggered, the resulting limit or market order may already be partially or fully filled.
Q: Are trailing stop orders free to use on HTX?
A: Yes, setting up trailing stop orders incurs no additional fees. You only pay standard taker/maker fees when the final order executes.
Q: How accurate is the trigger price detection on HTX?
A: HTX uses the latest traded price (mark price or index price depending on settings) to determine triggers. For more reliable results during extreme volatility, consider enabling mark price triggering to avoid manipulation-based false triggers.
Q: Is there a minimum contract size for these advanced orders?
A: Minimum sizes vary by asset and contract type (e.g., BTCUSD perpetual vs ETHUSDT). Always check the contract specifications page for details like lot size and margin requirements before placing large or automated orders.
Q: Can I use multiple order types simultaneously?
A: Absolutely. Many professional traders combine limit entries with trailing stops and plan-based take-profit levels to build comprehensive, hands-free strategies.
Final Thoughts
The HTX platform empowers traders with sophisticated tools that go beyond basic buying and selling. With features like limit orders, plan-triggered executions, and intelligent trailing stops, users can design dynamic strategies tailored to real-world market behavior.
Whether you're a breakout hunter, trend rider, or risk-conscious holder, learning how to set up contract orders properly can make all the difference in performance and peace of mind.
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Remember: automation isn’t about removing control—it’s about enhancing precision and consistency. Take time to test these functions in demo mode before going live, and always manage your risk appropriately.