
Thinkorswim offers various types of OCO orders that cater to different trading strategies and risk management needs.
Limit orders can be set up as part of an OCO order to buy or sell a stock at a specific price.
Thinkorswim allows traders to create OCO orders with different order types, including limit, stop, and market orders.
The platform's OCO order feature can be used to automatically close a losing position and limit potential losses.
What Is an Order?
An order is a request to buy or sell a security at a specific price.
Thinkorswim uses different types of orders to help traders manage their positions.
An OCO order is an order type used in stock market trading.
It allows you to set up two different orders for a position at the same time.
Types of Orders
Thinkorswim OCO orders are a powerful tool for traders, and understanding the different types of orders is essential to using them effectively.

You can set up an OCO order in the Active Trader window by changing the Template from "Single" to "OCO". This is the first step in creating an OCO order.
One common choice for TIF (Time In Force) settings is "GTC" (Good 'Til Canceled), which means the order will remain active until it is canceled or executed.
To set up a stop loss, you'll need to input the Offset value, which is the distance from the entry price where you want the stop loss to be triggered. For example, if you want the stop loss to be $5.00 away from your entry price, set the offset to be 500.
You can check to make sure each sell order from the OCO order was set up properly by scrolling up and down in the Active Trader window and seeing exactly where each order resides.
Here is a summary of the steps to set up an OCO order:
- Change the Template from "Single" to "OCO".
- Choose the TIF settings for your order.
- Input the Offset value for your stop loss.
- Ensure the quantity for the OCO order matches the number of shares or contracts you want to sell.
- Assign the prices for your sell orders.
If you have any questions about Thinkorswim OCO orders or trading in general, you can contact us anytime for help.
Setting Up an Order

To set up an OCO order in Thinkorswim, start by changing the Template from "Single" to "OCO" in the Active Trader window. This will allow you to place two orders at the same time.
Choose the TIF settings for your order, with "GTC" (Good 'Til Canceled) being a common choice. This will ensure that your order remains active beyond the end of a trading day.
Input the Offset value for your stop loss from the entry price. For example, if you want the stop loss to be $5.00 away from your entry price, set the offset to be 500.
Ensure that the quantity for the OCO order matches the number of shares or contracts you want to sell. This will prevent any discrepancies in your order.
To assign the prices for your sell orders, start with the order for your profit target. Scroll up in the Active Trader window to find the price where you want to place the sell limit order for your profit target.

Here's a step-by-step guide to setting up an OCO order:
- Click on the Order Type drop-down menu and select OCO.
- Change the Template from "Single" to "OCO" in the Active Trader window.
- Choose the TIF settings for your order.
- Input the Offset value for your stop loss from the entry price.
- Ensure that the quantity for the OCO order matches the number of shares or contracts you want to sell.
- Assign the prices for your sell orders.
Remember to check the TIF menu to ensure that the time in force for each order is identical. This will prevent any compatibility issues with your OCO order.
Order Options
Thinkorswim OCO orders are a powerful tool for traders, and understanding your options is key to making the most of them.
OCO orders allow you to set both a profit target and a stop loss for your position simultaneously, making it easier to manage your trades.
You can place two orders at the same time by selecting OCO as the order type in the Order Type drop-down menu.
This is particularly easy to do in Thinkorswim, and it's a convenient feature that streamlines the trading process and reduces the risk of human error.
An OCO order counts as a single order against your buying power, which means it only uses up one unit of buying power, making it more efficient than placing separate orders.

This is especially important if you have stock positions, as it directly offsets your existing position and doesn't trigger a "short" position.
With OCO orders, you can implement risk management strategies by setting predefined exit points for both profits and losses.
Here are the benefits of using a Thinkorswim OCO order:
- Simplified Trade Management
- Automatic Cancellation
- Efficient Use of Buying Power
- Risk Management
- Convenience
Executing Orders
In the Active Trader window, choose the TIF (Time In Force) settings for your order, with "GTC" (Good 'Til Canceled) being a common choice.
You'll also need to input the Offset value for your stop loss from the entry price. For example, if you want the stop loss to be $5.00 away from your entry price, set the offset to be 500.
Ensure that the quantity for the OCO order matches the number of shares or contracts you want to sell.
To assign the prices for your sell orders, start with the order for your profit target and scroll up in the Active Trader window to find the price where you want to place the sell limit order.

You can check that each sell order from the OCO order was set up properly by scrolling up and down in the Active Trader window and seeing exactly where each order resides.
Here are the steps to execute an OCO order in a nutshell:
- Change the Template from "Single" to "OCO" in the Active Trader window.
- Choose the TIF settings for your order, such as "GTC" (Good 'Til Canceled).
- Input the Offset value for your stop loss from the entry price.
- Ensure the quantity for the OCO order matches the number of shares or contracts you want to sell.
- Assign the prices for your sell orders, starting with the profit target.
To place an OCO order, click on the Order Type drop-down menu and select OCO, which will allow you to place two orders at the same time.
Trading Platforms
Thinkorswim is a trading platform offered by TD Ameritrade that allows users to place trades, monitor their accounts, and access various tools and resources.
Thinkorswim offers a range of trading platforms, including the desktop platform, mobile app, and web-based platform. The desktop platform is available for Windows and macOS, while the mobile app is available for iOS and Android devices.
One of the key features of thinkorswim is its advanced charting capabilities, which include over 400 technical indicators and 50 drawing tools. This allows users to analyze market trends and make informed trading decisions.

Thinkorswim also offers a range of order types, including OCO orders, which can be used to limit losses or lock in profits. OCO orders can be placed through the desktop platform or mobile app.
The thinkorswim platform is user-friendly and easy to navigate, making it accessible to both beginner and experienced traders.
Learning About Orders
An OCO order is a conditional order that allows you to set both a profit target and a stop loss for your position simultaneously.
Simplified trade management is one of the benefits of using OCO orders. This means you can easily manage your trades by setting predefined exit points for both profits and losses.
OCO orders automatically cancel one part of the order when the other is executed, ensuring you don't have conflicting orders in the market.
Here are the benefits of using OCO orders:
- Simplified Trade Management
- Automatic Cancellation
- Efficient Use of Buying Power
- Risk Management
- Convenience
OCO orders also help traders implement risk management strategies by setting predefined exit points for both profits and losses.
Benefits and Process

Thinkorswim OCO orders are a game-changer for traders who want to simplify their trade management.
OCO orders allow traders to set both a profit target and a stop loss for their position simultaneously, making it easier to manage their trades.
This simplification is a huge time-saver, and it reduces the risk of human error that can come with manually canceling one order if the other is triggered.
Automatic Cancellation is a key benefit of OCO orders, as it ensures that you don't have conflicting orders in the market.
OCO orders are considered a single order, so they only count as one against your buying power, making it more efficient than placing separate orders.
Here are the benefits of using a Thinkorswim OCO order:
- Simplified Trade Management: OCO orders allow traders to set both a profit target and a stop loss for their position simultaneously.
- Automatic Cancellation: When one part of the OCO order is executed, the other part is automatically canceled.
- Efficient Use of Buying Power: OCO orders only count as one against your buying power.
- Risk Management: OCO orders help traders implement risk management strategies by setting predefined exit points for both profits and losses.
- Convenience: With OCO orders, traders don't need to manually cancel one order if the other is triggered.
To set up an OCO order in Thinkorswim, you'll need to follow a few simple steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to place an Oco order on thinkorswim?
To place an OCO order on thinkorswim, hover over the "Buy custom" or "Sell custom" option and click on "with OCO Bracket" to create a customizable OCO order template. This template can then be tailored and sent as a working order.
Sources
- https://www.stockmarketguides.com/article/thinkorswim-oco-orders
- https://www.forex.academy/how-to-place-forex-oco-order-in-thinkorswim/
- https://haikhuu.com/education/oco-bracket-thinkorswim
- https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/how-to-use-advanced-stock-order-types
- https://www.prospertrading.com/tag/thinkorswim/
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