# Limit orders

Source: https://ballistic.app/docs/trade/limit-trailing/

After this, you'll be able to set exit and entry prices in advance, so a trade fires at a market cap you picked.

A limit order is an automation you attach to a token: it buys or sells when the token reaches a market cap you set. It places a real order that moves your funds.

## When to use it [#when-to-use-it]

- Setting a target exit ahead of time, so you take profit at a market cap you picked instead of watching the chart.
- Setting a target entry ahead of time, so you buy once a token cools down to a market cap you're comfortable with.

**When not to:** you want to react to other traders' volume rather than a fixed price. For volume-reactive orders, use [Auto-buy and auto-sell](https://ballistic.app/docs/trade/auto-buy-sell/).

## Limit orders [#limit-orders]

A limit order fires once the token reaches a market cap (its price times its total supply) you set in advance. In the trade panel, limit orders are available on Solana tokens.

- A **sell** limit fires when the market cap rises to or above your target.
- A **buy** limit fires when the market cap falls to or below your target.

You set three things:

- **Side**: buy or sell. This decides which way the market cap has to move to fire the order.
- **Target market cap**: the market cap that triggers the order.
- **Amount**: how much to trade, as a token count, native SOL, USD, or a percent of your current holdings.

The order rests until the market cap reaches your target. You can cancel a resting limit order any time before it fills.

## Attach an order [#attach-an-order]

1. Open the limit controls for the token from its [trade panel](https://ballistic.app/docs/trade/trade-panel/).
2. Pick the side, set the target market cap and set the amount.
3. Start the order. It runs on its own from there.

> **Note**
>
> On Solana, limit orders run on a live event stream, so they fire the moment the market cap crosses your line. On other chains they poll, so a fill can lag the trigger by a few seconds.

## What can go wrong [#what-can-go-wrong]

| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Limit order never filled | The market cap never reached your target, or you cancelled the order first | Check the current market cap against your target. If it moved the wrong way, set a new target or place a fresh order. |
| Limit isn't offered | The token is not on Solana | Limit orders are available on Solana tokens. |

## Related

- [Auto-buy and auto-sell](https://ballistic.app/docs/trade/auto-buy-sell/)
- [DCA and TWAP](https://ballistic.app/docs/trade/dca/)