What is GTT Order (Good Till Triggered)?

Last Updated: 5 Sep 2025

In the securities market, investors often look for the ideal time to place a stock to maximise their returns. With the advent of technological advancements, tools such as GTT orders offer investors a strategic advantage in managing their trades. It is a useful tool to purchase stocks at a designated price. To know more, we delve into the intricacies of GTT, explore their meanings, functionality types, benefits and more. So, stay tuned!

What is the GTT Order?

A GTT order, also known as the Good Till Triggered order, is a form of trade order that stays alive until a particular trigger price is achieved. It allows traders to specify an agreed price at which they prefer to sell or buy a security, and the order is automatically executed when that price is reached. For example, when a stock is trading at ₹1,000, and an investor desires to purchase it at 950, then they can enter a GTT buy order of ₹950.

The order remains open until the stock falls to ₹950 or the investor chooses to cancel. GTT in stock market offers traders the flexibility to plan trades and execute them automatically when market conditions are favourable.

How Does a GTT Order Work?

A GTT (Good Till Triggered) order also allows you to sell or purchase a stock automatically at a price of your own selection. You begin by choosing the stock and the amount, and then choosing a trigger price. Until the stock is priced at that price, your order remains inactive. Once it does so, the order will automatically be carried out at the prevailing market price. You can also modify or cancel an order at any time prior to being triggered. This possibility helps you to execute your investment without actively tracking prices.

Types of GTT Orders

GTT allows traders to sell or buy stocks under certain conditions automatically. GTT orders can be of two main types: Single Trigger GTT Orders and OCO (One Cancels Other) GTT Orders. Understanding the GTT order meaning is essential, as each of these can be modified in response to your trading strategy.

Single Trigger GTT Orders

If you wish to go with single trigger GTT orders, you will get two options: Buy Limit Order and Sell Limit Order. Here they are as follows:

• Buy Limit Order: You place a trigger price that is lower than the market rate. For example, you have a stock at ₹1,000 and you place an order at ₹950 with a limit at ₹945. The order will be executed when the price of the stock goes to ₹950 or lower, and the order will be executed at ₹945 or higher.
• Sell Limit Order: You give an order at a higher price than the market price. A sell order is placed at your trigger price when the stock reaches this trigger. As an example, when a stock is trading at ₹1,000, when you place a trigger at ₹1,050 and you set the limit to ₹1,055, the order will only be executed when the stock price reaches ₹1,050 or above, and the execution price is ₹1,055 or higher.

OCO (One Cancels Other) GTT Orders

An OCO order combines two conditions: a target price and a stop-loss price. When one of these conditions has been satisfied, the other condition is automatically disallowed. This is especially useful for GTT orders in the stock market, as it helps traders manage risk while securing profits. For example, when you hold a stock at ₹1,000, you can put a target sell price at ₹1,100 and a stop-loss at ₹950. When the stock reaches ₹1,100, the target order occurs, and the stop-loss is cancelled. On the other hand, once the stock goes down to ₹950, the stop-loss order is executed, and the target order is cancelled.

Advantages of Using GTT Orders

GTT in share market provides traders a smart way of managing their trades in an efficient and effective manner. GTT orders allow traders to save time, minimise risk, and make accurate trading decisions by automating execution at preset prices. Along with that, here are a few more advantages that you can look for:

• Automation and Convenience: GTT orders execute automatically when the trigger price is reached. Thus, it eliminates the need to place orders manually and reduces the risk of missing trading opportunities.
• Accuracy in Trading: To make sure that you get your trade at the desired levels, you can specify specific trigger prices to buy or sell.
• Risk Management: With GTT orders, you will be able to specify some entry and exit points, and this will allow you to minimise losses or hedge profits effectively.
• Time-Saving: The orders are left in force until activated, so you do not have to be present when creating new orders or keeping an eye on the market.
• Flexibility: GTT orders can be changed or cancelled at any time before being triggered, and this allows you greater control over your trading strategy.
• Opportunity Maximisation: With GTT orders, you can trade at your preferred price and capitalise on favourable market changes even when you are away from your trading platform.

Limitations of GTT Orders

Although GTT orders in the stock market are convenient and automated, they have their limitations. To be able to use GTT efficiently and to prevent unforeseen results, traders should be aware of these disadvantages:

• No Certain Price of Execution: Although the order will be executed at a certain price that you have set, it can be executed at a slightly different market price because of volatility.
• Limited Validity Period: The majority of platforms allow GTT orders to stay open for a certain time. The order expires automatically if the trigger price is not met in this period.
• Partial Fills: Your order can sometimes only get partially filled when there is not enough liquidity at the trigger price.
• Subject to the Availability of the Trading Platform: The GTT order might not be fulfilled in accordance with your requirements in case of technical problems with the trading platform.
• Needs Market Surveillance: GTT does not eliminate the need to constantly monitor what goes on in the market, but major market events might still need human intervention to amend or cancel their orders.

How to Place a GTT Order?

Placing a GTT order (Good Till Triggered) is a simple process. Follow these steps to automate your trades:

• Enter Your Trading Account: Log into your broker’s account or app and prepare to place your order.
• Choose the Stock or Security: Choose the stock you wish to buy or sell at your target price.
• Select the GTT Order Type: Choose to automate your trade by selecting the GTT or Good Till Triggered.
• Establish the Trigger Price: Select the price that you would like your order to trigger at.
• Quantity: Enter the number of shares or units that you would like to trade.
• Set the Limit Price (where applicable): In certain platforms, you can specify the actual execution price at which to trigger an order.
• Check Your Order: Re-check your stock, trigger price, quantity and limit price.
• Order it: Confirm your GTT order and leave it to run.
• Modify or Cancel: You may modify or cancel it at any time before it triggers.
• Automatic Order Placing: Your trade will be automatically executed within the trigger price.

Who Should Use GTT Orders?

Good Till Triggered (GTT) orders are the best orders preferred by traders and investors wishing to automate their orders and have control over the prices of their execution. When you are not able to track the market at all times, GTT orders allow you to pre-establish the price at which you wish to buy or sell, and the trade will take place only when the circumstances are met.

They come in particularly handy when the investor is disciplined, prefers to minimise losses or is interested in securing profits without being attached to the screens.

Conclusion

GTT (Good Till Triggered) orders are an influential instrument that gives traders and investors the ability to automate trade in precise and convenient ways. GTT orders allow you to manage risks, save time and exploit opportunities in the market without monitoring the market, as long as you can set trigger prices to sell or buy. They are limited to some extent, including possible partial fills and platform dependence, but they are extremely useful due to their automation, flexibility, and disciplined trading.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How does an OCO GTT order differ from a Single Trigger?

A Single Trigger GTT allows you to place one price requirement, whether to buy or to sell. An OCO (One Cancels Other) GTT allows you to establish a target price and a stop-loss, and when one of them is hit, you automatically cancel the other.

2. How does a GTT order work?

You choose a stock, a trigger price and make your order. As soon as the stock reaches your trigger, the order is placed with the exchange and executed in accordance with your limit or market price.

3. What is the duration of a GTT order?

GTT orders’ duration varies from broker to broker until triggered. The order lapses automatically in case the trigger price is not reached within this period.

4. What are the advantages of GTT orders?

The orders of GTT are automated, saving time and ensuring accurate placement of trades to trigger at specific levels. They are particularly helpful to the investors who cannot observe markets all the time.