In Grid DCA strategies, order_percent is a key parameter that determines how much of your allocated capital is used for each individual DCA order. It directly affects position sizing, average entry, and risk exposure.
Here’s a detailed explanation.
1. Definition of order_percent
order_percentrepresents the percentage of the allocated trade capital to be used for each grid or DCA order.- It is expressed as a percentage of the total capital allocated to the trade, not the total account balance.
Example:
- Total DCA allocation: $1,000
order_percent = 20%→ Each DCA order = $200
2. How It Works in Grid DCA
- Parent Position: Initial order placed using its own defined percentage (usually separate from
order_percent). - Grid DCA Orders: Each subsequent DCA order uses
order_percentof allocated DCA capital. - Final DCA (optional): Can be configured with a different multiplier, but still based on the same allocation logic.
Example Timeline:
| Order Type | Quantity (order_percent) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Parent | $200 | Initial entry |
| Grid 1 | $200 | First DCA |
| Grid 2 | $200 | Second DCA |
| Final DCA | $200 | Optional, may have multiplier |
3. Effect on Average Entry
- Higher order_percent → Each DCA order has more weight → Average entry drops faster → Required recovery percentage decreases.
- Lower order_percent → Smaller DCA impact → Average entry moves gradually → Requires more market movement to recover.
Illustration:
| Order | Price | Quantity (order_percent) |
|---|---|---|
| Parent | $100 | 20% |
| Grid 1 | $95 | 20% |
| Grid 2 | $90 | 20% |
- Average entry: Weighted average using order_percent quantities
- Larger order_percent per grid → more influence on lowering average entry
4. Relationship With Other Parameters
max_orders- Total capital used = order_percent × max_orders
- Helps prevent overexposure
Multipliers / Final DCA
- Multipliers can increase the effective percentage of capital for deeper grids
- Final DCA may be 1.5–2x order_percent
Deviation_percent
- Determines grid spacing, while order_percent determines how much capital each spaced grid order uses
Interval_minutes
- Controls timing of DCA execution, but order_percent controls size per execution
5. Risk Considerations
High order_percent
- Faster average entry reduction
- Higher exposure per grid → riskier in leveraged or volatile markets
Low order_percent
- Slower recovery
- Less immediate capital risk
- May leave positions under-averaged if trend continues
Tip: Adjust order_percent according to account size, leverage, volatility, and number of grid levels.
6. Recommended Usage
| Trade Type | Suggested order_percent |
|---|---|
| Spot trades, stable asset | 15–25% |
| Leveraged trades (5–10x) | 5–15% |
| Highly volatile coins | 5–10% |
- Use smaller percentages for high leverage or high volatility to reduce exposure.
- Combine with max_orders to control total capital allocation.
7. Key Takeaways
order_percentdetermines the size of each DCA/grid order relative to allocated trade capital.- Higher percentages accelerate average entry reduction, lower recovery percentage, but increase exposure.
- Lower percentages reduce exposure but slow down break-even and TP achievement.
- Works in combination with max_orders, deviation_percent, multipliers, and interval_minutes for balanced risk management.