How to set a stop loss

A stop loss is an order to automatically sell all or part of an investment when it drops to a certain price. Here’s how to set one up. 

On this page

Before you start

Hargreaves Lansdown cannot guarantee that your stop loss will be executed, even if the share price reaches the price you’ve set. If you are not comfortable with this, you should not use this service. As share prices change in seconds, we do not accept any liability for any loss or potential loss you may suffer if there is a delay in executing, or failure to execute, a stop loss.

Set a stop loss on the website

  1. Log in online to see your accounts. 
  2. Select the account containing the relevant investment. 
  3. Select the investment, then select ‘Deal now’.  
  4. Select ‘Stop losses & limit orders’. 
  5. Select ‘Stop loss’. 
  6. Enter the number of units you want to sell at a certain price. 
  7. Enter the price you want to sell at.  
  8. Select when the stop loss expires. You can choose any time period up to and including 90 days. 
  9. Read the terms and conditions of the limit order service, and the risks involved.  
  10. If you agree, select ‘Place stop loss’ to confirm.
Set a stop loss online

Set a stop loss on the mobile app

  1. Select 'Accounts' in the bottom left corner. 
  2. Log in. 
  3. Select the account containing the relevant investment. 
  4. Select the investment, then select ‘Deal now’. 
  5. Select ‘create a stop loss or limit order’. 
  6. Select ‘Create stop loss’.  
  7. Enter the price you want to sell at and select ‘Continue’. 
  8. Enter the number of units you want to sell at that price and select ‘Continue’. 
  9. Select when the stop loss expires. You can choose any time period up to and including 90 days. 
  10. Read the terms and conditions of the limit order service, and the risks involved.  
  11. If you agree, select ‘Place stop loss’ to confirm.

What happens next

You can view your stop loss in the Pending Orders section after logging in online and cancel it while the status is still ‘Pending’. 

We will attempt to sell your investments when the value reaches the price you’ve set. 

If this is successful, you will be able to find a contract note in your accounts when this happens.

Also in Shares, investment trusts and ETFs

Common queries

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