What are the position limits for different Bybit contracts?

Understanding Position Limits on Bybit

Position limits on Bybit refer to the maximum number of contracts a user is allowed to hold in a single direction for a specific trading pair. These limits vary depending on the type of contract, the underlying asset, the user’s tier level, and whether the position is in Cross Margin or Isolated Margin mode. Bybit enforces these limits to manage systemic risk and ensure market stability. Each contract type—USDT Perpetual, Inverse Perpetual, Inverse Futures, and USDC Perpetual—has its own position ceiling, which scales with the user’s account tier and margin mode settings.

USDT Perpetual Contracts Position Limits

For USDT-margined perpetual contracts, Bybit sets position limits based on the trading pair and the user’s verification level. For example, the BTC/USDT pair allows a maximum position size of 2,000,000 contracts for top-tier users. Other major pairs like ETH/USDT have a limit of 5,000,000 contracts, while smaller-cap altcoins such as DOGE/USDT may have a cap of 500,000,000 contracts due to higher volatility and lower liquidity. These limits apply per direction—long or short—and are enforced across all open positions and pending orders. To check your current limit:

• Log in to your Bybit account
• Navigate to the Derivatives section
• Select the desired trading pair
• Click on the Info icon (i) next to the leverage slider
• View the Max Position Size displayed in contracts

The actual allowable position also depends on your available margin and leverage setting, even if you are below the system-imposed cap.

Inverse Perpetual and Futures Contracts Limits

Inverse contracts, such as BTC/USD or ETH/USD, are denominated in the base cryptocurrency and have different position constraints. The maximum position size for BTC/USD perpetual is capped at 2,000 BTC, while ETH/USD is limited to 20,000 ETH. These limits are significantly smaller in quantity compared to USDT contracts because each contract represents a larger value. For instance, one BTC/USD contract equals 1 USD worth of BTC, so 2,000 BTC translates to 200,000 contracts at a BTC price of $100,000.

To verify your personal limit on inverse contracts:

• Go to the Inverse Perpetual or Inverse Futures section
• Select the contract (e.g., BTCUSD)
• Open the Risk Limit Settings panel
• Adjust your risk limit tier if necessary (higher tiers require more margin)
• Observe the Max Position value updated in real time

Note that risk limit adjustments directly affect your maximum allowable position. Increasing your risk limit enables larger positions but demands additional margin to avoid liquidation.

USDC Perpetual Contracts and Their Caps

Bybit’s USDC-margined perpetual contracts follow a structure similar to USDT contracts but are settled in USDC. The position limits for these contracts are generally aligned with their USDT counterparts. For example, the BTC/USDC pair has a maximum position size of 2,000,000 contracts for high-tier users. However, due to lower trading volume and liquidity, some USDC pairs may have reduced limits compared to USDT pairs.

To operate within USDC contract limits:

• Ensure your account is verified for advanced trading
• Deposit sufficient USDC into your derivatives wallet
• Switch to the USDC Perpetual tab on the trading interface
• Check the Max Order Size and Max Position Size in the contract info panel
• Monitor open orders and positions to avoid exceeding thresholds

Exceeding the limit will result in order rejection with an error message stating 'Position limit exceeded'.

How Tier Levels Affect Position Limits

Bybit assigns users to different verification tiers based on KYC status, trading volume, and account history. These tiers directly influence position limits. For instance:

• Unverified users may only hold up to 100,000 contracts on BTC/USDT
• Level 1 verified users can increase to 500,000 contracts
• Level 2 and VIP users gain access to the full 2,000,000 contract limit

To upgrade your tier:

• Complete identity verification in the Account Settings
• Submit required documents (government-issued ID, proof of address)
• Wait for approval (typically within 24 hours)
• Recheck position limits in the contract info panel post-verification

Higher tiers also unlock benefits like increased withdrawal limits and reduced fees, but the primary impact on derivatives trading is the expansion of position capacity.

Managing Risk Limits and Margin Mode

Position limits are closely tied to risk limit settings and margin mode. In Isolated Margin mode, each position has an independent risk limit that caps the maximum leverage and position size. Users can manually adjust this limit in increments, but each increase requires more margin. In Cross Margin mode, the entire account balance acts as collateral, but the system still enforces hard position caps per pair.

To modify your risk limit:

• Open an active position or place a new order
• Locate the Risk Limit slider in the position panel
• Choose a higher tier (e.g., from 100 BTC to 500 BTC)
• Confirm the change and deposit additional margin if prompted
• Observe the updated Max Position Size reflecting the new limit

Failure to maintain sufficient margin at higher risk tiers can lead to early liquidation, even if the overall position is below the system-wide cap.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Bybit prohibits account splitting to bypass position limits. The platform uses advanced detection systems to identify linked accounts, and violating this rule may result in trading restrictions or account suspension.

Q: Do position limits apply to both open orders and filled positions?Yes. The limit includes all pending limit orders and active positions in the same direction. For example, if your max long is 1,000,000 contracts and you have a 700,000 contract position with a 400,000 contract buy order, the order will be rejected.

Q: How often does Bybit update position limits?Position limits are adjusted dynamically based on market conditions, liquidity, and risk exposure. Major changes are announced via Bybit’s official announcement page or in-app notifications, but minor adjustments may occur without notice.

Q: Are position limits the same for spot and futures trading?No. Position limits discussed here apply only to derivatives contracts. Spot trading has separate restrictions, typically based on order size and available balance, not contract-based caps.