Futures Template ES / NQ / Micros Risk + Costs

Futures Trading Journal Template built for net reality.

This free futures trading journal template is designed for ES/NQ and micro futures traders who want structured review. Track risk, R-multiples, commissions, net P&L, session context (RTH/ETH), and setup tags - then review performance like a business.

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What’s inside How to use it Fields to track Futures-specific metrics Weekly review workflow FAQ

What’s inside the ProfitPulse futures trading journal template

Futures journaling is different from stocks and crypto because costs, tick value, and session context can make or break your edge. This template is built to capture the numbers that matter so your review leads to better decisions.

Futures-ready trade log

  • • Contract (ES/NQ/MES/MNQ)
  • • Size, stop distance, tick value
  • • Planned risk → realized outcome
  • • Setup tags for pattern review

Risk + R-multiples

  • • R-multiple per trade
  • • Risk consistency tracking
  • • Expectancy mindset (not win rate)
  • • Identify “rule-breaking” trades

Session performance

  • • RTH vs ETH breakdown
  • • Time-of-day patterns
  • • Best setups by session
  • • Reduce drawdown via context

This is a website-first template (not Excel/Notion)

This page targets futures traders who want a real trading journal app-with analytics and review built in. If you want spreadsheets or Notion, use the Templates Hub. If you want professional futures analytics, use ProfitPulse.

How to use this futures trading journal template

The best futures journal is the one you can maintain daily. The workflow below is designed to be fast: log the essentials, then run a weekly review that improves your next 20 trades.

  1. 1
    Set your contract + account defaults
    Pick your main contracts (ES/NQ or micros) and confirm tick value assumptions. Futures journaling is only accurate when your costs are real.
  2. 2
    Log risk before outcome
    Record planned dollar risk, stop distance, and size. That makes your R-multiple meaningful.
  3. 3
    Track commissions + slippage notes
    Futures edge often disappears when you ignore costs. Always review net performance.
  4. 4
    Tag the setup and session
    Use setup tags + session (RTH/ETH) so you can filter for “what works” in context.
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What to track in a futures trading journal template

If you track the wrong fields, you’ll “review” and still repeat mistakes. These fields give you enough data to improve without overlogging.

Core fields (log every trade)

• Contract (ES/NQ/MES/MNQ)
• Date + time
• Session (RTH/ETH)
• Direction (long/short)
• Entry / stop / target
• Stop distance (ticks/points)
• Position size (contracts)
• Planned dollar risk ($)
• Commissions (total)
• Net P&L (after costs)
• R-multiple (realized)
• Setup tag + rule check
One-line rule for futures journaling
If you don’t log planned risk and net P&L, you’re not journaling - you’re collecting screenshots.

Optional fields (add if useful)

  • • Slippage notes
  • • Market context (trend/range)
  • • News/event flag
  • • Hold time
  • • Entry type (limit/market)
  • • Scale in/out notes
Built for serious review
ProfitPulse is optimized for futures traders who care about expectancy, drawdown, profit factor, and risk discipline - not vanity metrics.

Futures-specific metrics this template helps you improve

Futures trading rewards precision. These metrics are where most traders either build a real edge - or blow up slowly.

Expectancy (risk-weighted edge)

Track R-multiples consistently, then review your average R per trade by setup and session. Expectancy is how you separate “feels good” from “actually works”. Next: trading expectancy.

Profit factor (net)

Profit factor becomes misleading when you ignore costs. This template pushes you toward net P&L so your profit factor represents real performance. Next: profit factor.

Drawdown + risk discipline

Futures drawdowns are often caused by risk creep (bigger size, wider stops, revenge trades). Tracking planned risk makes that visible early. Related: how to calculate max drawdown.

Time & session performance

Many futures traders have a “best hour” and a “death hour.” Journaling sessions helps you stop trading low-quality time windows. See: futures trading journal.

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Weekly futures journal review (simple + powerful)

The difference between “logging trades” and improving is your review. Use this weekly checklist to convert data into decisions.

Review filters (what to segment)

  • • By setup tag
  • • By session (RTH vs ETH)
  • • By time window (first hour, lunch, close)
  • • By rule adherence (followed plan vs deviated)

Review questions (AI-friendly)

  • • Which setup has the best expectancy (R)?
  • • Where does drawdown cluster?
  • • Are costs killing a subset of trades?
  • • What time window is statistically negative?

The goal of the futures template

Your journal should answer one question: What should I do more of, and what should I stop doing? ProfitPulse is built to make that answer obvious.

Futures trading journal template FAQ

What is the best futures trading journal template?
The best futures trading journal template is one that tracks risk (planned $), R-multiples, commissions, net P&L, and session context. That combination lets you measure expectancy and reduce drawdown realistically.
How do I journal ES and NQ trades?
Log the contract, time/session, entry/stop/target, stop distance, contracts traded, planned dollar risk, commissions, net P&L, and a setup tag. Then review results by setup and by session (RTH/ETH) to find what actually produces positive expectancy.
What metrics matter most for futures traders?
Futures traders should prioritize expectancy (R), profit factor (net), drawdown, risk consistency, and session performance. Win rate alone is a trap.
Can a futures trading journal help me become consistent?
Yes-if you use it to enforce risk discipline, identify your best setups, and remove the time windows and behaviors that create drawdown. Consistency comes from repeating statistically positive behavior, not trading harder.
Do I need software or is a template enough?
A template is a strong starting point. But futures traders usually benefit from software when they want faster review and deeper analytics: expectancy by setup, profit factor net of costs, drawdown controls, time-of-day stats, and clean filtering across months of trades. See: trading journal software.
Start Using the Futures Template Back to Templates Hub

Related futures resources

Futures trading journal guide
A deeper guide to workflows, metrics, and structured review.
Profit factor
What it means, what’s “good”, and why net matters for futures.
Expectancy
How to measure a real edge using risk-weighted results.