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What is a GTT order on Zerodha and other brokers
GTT (Good Till Triggered) is an order that stays live in the broker's system indefinitely until the stock price reaches a trigger level you set, at which point a limit order is placed automatically. It is useful for entries, exits and stop-loss management on delivery holdings.
In one line
A GTT (Good Till Triggered) order is a conditional order stored at the broker that automatically places a limit order to buy or sell a stock when the market price touches a trigger price you define, and it remains active until triggered or cancelled, making it effective for disciplined entry and exit management without requiring constant screen time.
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How a GTT order is structured
A GTT order has two layers. First is the trigger price: the market price at which the system wakes up the order. Second is the limit price: the actual price at which the limit order is placed on the exchange once the trigger fires. These can be the same or slightly different (a small buffer is practical to ensure the order gets filled near the trigger rather than missing the fill if price moves past the trigger quickly).
GTT orders sit in the broker's internal system, not on the exchange order book. Only when the trigger condition is met does the broker push a fresh limit order to the exchange. This means a GTT order is not visible to the market as a pending order, and it also means there is a small window between trigger and order placement where price can move. In normal liquid markets this gap is negligible. In fast-moving or illiquid markets, the limit price you set must accommodate possible slippage.
Two GTT types: single and two-legged (OCO)
Most brokers that offer GTT provide two flavours. A single GTT triggers one order when the price crosses one level, for example a buy trigger if the price drops to your target entry, or a sell trigger if the stock rallies to your target exit. A two-legged GTT (sometimes called One Cancels Other, or OCO) lets you set both a stop-loss trigger (below current price) and a target trigger (above current price) simultaneously. Whichever fires first cancels the other. This is the GTT equivalent of a bracket order for delivery holdings that you hold for days or weeks.
The OCO GTT is particularly useful for managing delivery positions on individual stocks. You hold shares and want to exit at a profit if the stock rallies, or exit to cap losses if it falls. Rather than watching the price all day, you set the two levels, confirm the GTT, and the system handles the exit automatically. For a retail investor managing a portfolio of 10 to 15 stocks, GTT orders mean disciplined exits are enforced even when you are not at the screen.
Important limitations to know
GTT orders are not exchange orders until triggered. This means they are subject to the broker's system uptime and cannot be guaranteed in the event of a technology outage. In practice, the major brokers have reliable systems, but understanding this distinction is important: a GTT is a promise to place an order, not a placed order on the exchange.
GTT orders also do not carry over if the broker's system resets them (for example, if the stock undergoes a corporate action like a bonus or split that changes the price). After a corporate action, check your GTT orders and update the trigger and limit prices to match the post-action price. A stop-loss GTT set at 500 for a stock that splits 5-for-1 and now trades at 100 is meaningless until corrected.
FAQ4 reader questions · AEO-eligible
Common questions on what is a gtt order.
Is GTT order available on Zerodha?
Yes. Zerodha's Kite platform offers GTT orders for delivery holdings. You can set single and two-legged (OCO) triggers with validity until triggered or manually cancelled.
Does a GTT order expire?
GTT orders remain valid until triggered or until you cancel them. They do not expire at end of day like intraday orders. Check periodically that your triggers are still relevant to the current market price and your view.
Can I set a GTT for intraday trades?
GTT orders are designed for delivery holdings, not intraday trades. For intraday, the appropriate tools are MIS orders with a stop-loss, or bracket and cover orders where available.
What happens to my GTT if the stock goes ex-dividend?
The stock price typically drops by approximately the dividend amount on the ex-dividend date. Your GTT trigger prices remain unchanged unless you manually update them, so a stop-loss trigger below the ex-dividend price may fire unintentionally if you do not adjust it.
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