The deviation setting that decides how much slippage is accepted
Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2026 8:47 pm
In MT4, every market order includes a maximum deviation, the largest difference between the requested and executed price that the trader will tolerate. The default value varies, and many people never look at it.
If the deviation is too wide, orders fill at poor prices during fast markets. If it is too tight, orders get rejected or requoted whenever price moves a little. Neither is automatically right.
For scalping, the value should relate to the target. Accepting 3 pips of slippage on a trade aiming for 4 pips makes no sense. A tighter setting, perhaps a fraction of a pip on majors, forces the broker to either fill near the price or refuse.
The tradeoff is more missed trades, but missed trades at bad prices are often better than filled ones.
Test different values over a few weeks and compare the result: number of fills, average slippage, and net outcome. The best value depends on the broker and the pairs.
What deviation value is used, and was it chosen on purpose or left at the default?
If the deviation is too wide, orders fill at poor prices during fast markets. If it is too tight, orders get rejected or requoted whenever price moves a little. Neither is automatically right.
For scalping, the value should relate to the target. Accepting 3 pips of slippage on a trade aiming for 4 pips makes no sense. A tighter setting, perhaps a fraction of a pip on majors, forces the broker to either fill near the price or refuse.
The tradeoff is more missed trades, but missed trades at bad prices are often better than filled ones.
Test different values over a few weeks and compare the result: number of fills, average slippage, and net outcome. The best value depends on the broker and the pairs.
What deviation value is used, and was it chosen on purpose or left at the default?