Trading Journal Template and Review Checklist
Keep planned decisions and actual outcomes in separate fields. This template is a starting record for simulated, replay or historical exercises.
Download the template
Download journal template · CSV
The download contains column headings and no customer records. Open it in a spreadsheet, preserve the field names and add your own rows. It does not connect to an account, import trades automatically or send your records to this website.
What the fields mean
| Field group | What to record |
|---|---|
| Exercise and rules | Simulation, replay or backtest; rule version. |
| Market context | Instrument, direction, timezone and session. |
| Plan | Setup tag, planned entry, initial stop and exit rule. |
| Execution | Actual entry, exit, size and timestamps. |
| Outcome | Initial risk amount, gross result, costs and net result. |
| Review | Rule adherence, mistake tag and short notes. |
Use one row per trade under a consistent definition. If a trade contains partial entries or exits, retain the detailed fills separately so the row can be reconciled with its source.
Calculate without changing the original plan
Net result equals gross result minus costs when costs are recorded as a positive amount. R multiple equals net result divided by the initial risk amount, where that amount is positive. Keep the original initial risk rather than changing it after moving a stop.
If an outcome or cost is unknown, label it as missing. A blank or unknown value should not silently become a zero in a summary. Use the expectancy example for consistent units.
A concise review routine
- Confirm every eligible trade is present.
- Check missing data and reconcile the result.
- Separate rule-following trades from violations.
- Review recurring mistakes rather than selecting only dramatic outcomes.
- Write one change and a new rule version before testing it.
The journal workflow explains the broader process. You can also use the calculators to check simple arithmetic before summarising a sample.
Questions about this topic
Does the CSV contain macros?
No. It is a plain text CSV containing column headings.
Does the template upload my records?
No. Downloading the template does not connect your spreadsheet to this website or upload its contents.