Capital Com Stop Loss Orders guide

A standard stop loss becomes a market order once the stop level is reached, which means the fill price can differ from the stop price, especially in fast or thin markets. This difference is called slippage. Some brokers also offer guaranteed stop variants that fix the exit price for a fee, and trailing stops that follow the price at a set distance. Terminology and behaviour differ between brokers and between product types, such as leveraged CFDs versus direct share dealing, so never assume one broker's rules apply at another.

Check the broker's current order execution policy, platform guides and product terms to confirm which stop order types exist, which instruments support them, and how they behave outside regular market hours. Look for any fees attached to specific order types, minimum stop distances from the current price, and rules about when stops can be modified or cancelled. If the documents are unclear, ask support in writing and keep the answer with its date. Because features can differ by account type and region, confirm the details that apply to your specific account rather than relying on general marketing pages.

Long-term investors use stops differently from short-term traders, and some choose not to use them at all for diversified holdings, since normal volatility can trigger exits from positions they intended to hold for years. If you do use stops, set them from your written plan, such as a maximum tolerable loss per position, and review them at scheduled intervals rather than daily. For structuring broader decisions, the guides at /invest-long-term cover planning topics, the Find my broker checklist at /find-my-broker helps you compare account features methodically, and the brokerage fee calculator at /tools/brokerage-fee-calculator helps estimate the costs that sit alongside any order strategy.