> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://zerotick-trade.gitbook.io/documentation.v1.2/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://zerotick-trade.gitbook.io/documentation.v1.2/user-guides/placing-a-trade.md).

# Placing a trade

Every trade on ZeroTick starts on a token's trade page: pick a side, choose market or limit, enter an amount, and press the trade button. This guide walks through both order types and the optional take profit and stop loss levels you can attach before you trade.

{% hint style="info" %}
You need funds to trade with; see [Deposit](https://zerotick-trade.gitbook.io/documentation.v1.1/user-guides/deposit). You can browse any trade page without an account, but pressing the trade button while signed out asks you to sign up or log in first.
{% endhint %}

#### Open the trade page

Three ways lead to the same place:

* **Marketplace**: press any project card. See the [Marketplace](https://zerotick-trade.gitbook.io/documentation.v1.1/marketplace) overview.
* **Discover**: press any row in the Discover table.
* **Search**: search by name, symbol, or contract address, then press a result.

The chart fills the left side of the page. The trade panel sits on the right: the **Buy with** selector (or **Sell for** when selling) at the top sets which asset you pay with or receive, followed by the **Buy** and **Sell** pills, the amount box, and the trade button.

![A token trade page: the chart on the left, the trade panel on the right](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ZeroTick-Trade/Public-Assets/2e6995eabfe14239fd7ead6ac3785fe21c7dc747/docs/guides/trading/placing-a-trade/01-trade-page.png)

Picking a pay asset that lives on a different chain than the token turns the trade into a cross-chain trade; see [Cross-chain trading](https://zerotick-trade.gitbook.io/documentation.v1.1/user-guides/cross-chain-trading).

#### Place a market order

A market order executes right away at the current price.

![The trade panel with the Buy and Sell pills and the Market order type selected](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ZeroTick-Trade/Public-Assets/2e6995eabfe14239fd7ead6ac3785fe21c7dc747/docs/guides/trading/placing-a-trade/02-buy-sell-market.png)

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**Pick Buy or Sell**

Press **Buy** or **Sell**. Buy turns the panel green, Sell turns it red, and the amount box switches to match the side.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Keep the order type on Market**

The dropdown next to the pills sets the order type. **Market** is the default; leave it as it is for an instant trade.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Enter the amount**

Buying: type how much to spend in your display currency, or press **$25**, **$50**, **$75**, or **$100** (the buttons follow your display currency). Selling: type a token quantity, or press **25%**, **50%**, **75%**, or **100%** of the tokens you hold.

As soon as the amount is set, an estimate appears under the field: **You'll receive** shows the tokens a buy would get you, **You'll get** shows the asset a sell would return.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Review the estimate and fees**

A summary appears above the trade button: **You receive**, **Exchange rate**, **Min. received** (the least you accept after slippage), and **Estimated fees**. Expand **Estimated fees** to see the full breakdown before you confirm. Slippage comes from your active execution preset; see [Execution presets](https://zerotick-trade.gitbook.io/documentation.v1.1/user-guides/execution-presets).
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Press the trade button**

The button states exactly what will happen, for example **Buy \~120K TOKEN for $50**. Press it and the panel shows **Processing...** while the trade executes.

{% hint style="success" %}
A receipt toast confirms the result: **Buy confirmed**, "Bought \~120K TOKEN", or **Sell confirmed** with the amount received. If it fails, a **Trade failed** toast names the single cause.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

![The order summary above the trade button, which states exactly what the trade will do](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ZeroTick-Trade/Public-Assets/2e6995eabfe14239fd7ead6ac3785fe21c7dc747/docs/guides/trading/placing-a-trade/04-summary-button.png)

<details>

<summary>The trade button is disabled</summary>

The button stays off until you enter an amount. It also disables when the amount exceeds what you can pay: on a buy, your balance of the pay asset; on a sell, the tokens you hold. Lower the amount or [deposit funds](https://zerotick-trade.gitbook.io/documentation.v1.1/user-guides/deposit), then try again.

</details>

<details>

<summary>I am not signed in. What happens when I press the button?</summary>

The trade page works as a preview for guests: you can read the chart, pick a side, and enter an amount. Pressing the trade button opens the sign-up dialog instead of trading. Create an account or log in, then place the trade.

</details>

#### Place a limit order

A limit order is a resting order: you set a target price, and the order waits until the market reaches it, then executes automatically.

![The trade panel in Limit mode, with the Price field above the amount box](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ZeroTick-Trade/Public-Assets/2e6995eabfe14239fd7ead6ac3785fe21c7dc747/docs/guides/trading/placing-a-trade/05-limit-price.png)

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**Switch the order type to Limit**

Open the dropdown next to the **Buy** and **Sell** pills and pick **Limit**. A **Price** field appears above the amount box.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Set your price**

Type your target in the **Price** field. The helper underneath reads **Price per TOKEN in SOL** (your token and pay asset), so the price is quoted per token, in the asset you trade with.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Enter the amount**

Same as a market order: a buy amount in your display currency, or a sell quantity in tokens. The **You'll receive** estimate uses your limit price instead of the current price.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Place the order**

Press the trade button. An **Order placed** toast confirms it, for example "Limit buy TOKEN at $0.000012".

{% hint style="info" %}
The order now rests until the market reaches your price; nothing else is needed from you. It executes automatically when the price gets there.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Track or cancel the order**

Open the **Positions & orders** tab under the chart. Your resting order sits under **Open orders** with its limit price. Press **Cancel** to withdraw it any time before it fills; filled and cancelled orders move to **Order history**.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

#### Add take profit and stop loss

Take profit (TP) and stop loss (SL) levels close part or all of your position automatically once the price moves a set percentage from your entry: TP locks in gains, SL limits losses. Set them before you place the trade; they attach to the order.

![Advanced trading strategy expanded, showing the Take profit and Stop loss rows](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ZeroTick-Trade/Public-Assets/2e6995eabfe14239fd7ead6ac3785fe21c7dc747/docs/guides/trading/placing-a-trade/07-advanced-tpsl.png)

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**Open Advanced trading strategy**

Tick the **Advanced trading strategy** checkbox above the trade button. The section expands with one **Take profit** and one **Stop loss** row.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Set the level**

Each row has two fields: **% change from entry** sets how far the price must move from your entry before the level triggers, and **% position to sell** sets how much of the position closes when it does. A take profit of 10 with 50, for example, sells half the position once the price is 10% above entry.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Add more levels**

Press **Add TP**, **Add SL**, or **Add TP/SL** to stack levels, for example selling 50% at +10% and the rest at +25%. Rows are numbered (TP 1, TP 2) and each extra row gets an X to remove it.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Fine-tune on the chart**

Your levels appear as lines on the chart the moment you set them (the **TP/SL lines** display option turns on by itself). Drag a line to a new price and the **% change from entry** field updates to match. You can also right-click the chart and pick **Set Take Profit** or **Set Stop Loss** at that price.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Place the trade**

Press the trade button. The levels attach to the trade and are monitored for you: when the price reaches one, that part of the position is sold automatically.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Levels apply only while **Advanced trading strategy** is ticked. Untick it before pressing the trade button and the order goes out without any TP or SL.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

<details>

<summary>Can I adjust the levels after placing the order?</summary>

For a resting limit order, yes: the attached TP and SL lines stay on the chart, and you can drag them to new prices until the order fills. Levels start fresh on every token: switching to another trade page clears the form, so set TP and SL per trade.

</details>

For background on how order types and slippage work, read the [Trading](https://zerotick-trade.gitbook.io/documentation.v1.1/trading) overview and [Market & Limit Orders](https://zerotick-trade.gitbook.io/documentation.v1.1/trading/market-and-limit-orders).

Trading moves real funds on public chains and executed orders cannot be reversed. Read the [Risk & Legal Disclaimer](https://zerotick-trade.gitbook.io/documentation.v1.1/risk-and-legal-disclaimer) before you trade.

#### Related guides

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Execution presets</strong></td><td>P1, P2, P3, and Fast: the priority, tip, slippage, and MEV settings behind every trade.</td><td><a href="https://zerotick-trade.gitbook.io/documentation.v1.1/user-guides/execution-presets">https://zerotick-trade.gitbook.io/documentation.v1.1/user-guides/execution-presets</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Instant trade</strong></td><td>One click buys at your saved amount with your active preset.</td><td><a href="https://zerotick-trade.gitbook.io/documentation.v1.1/user-guides/instant-trade">https://zerotick-trade.gitbook.io/documentation.v1.1/user-guides/instant-trade</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Cross-chain trading</strong></td><td>Buy a token on one chain while paying with an asset from another.</td><td><a href="https://zerotick-trade.gitbook.io/documentation.v1.1/user-guides/cross-chain-trading">https://zerotick-trade.gitbook.io/documentation.v1.1/user-guides/cross-chain-trading</a></td></tr></tbody></table>