Gold, XAUUSD, in dollars you can check
Calculators and plain-English notes for trading gold: lot size from a stop in dollars, what a pip or point is really worth, and the margin and swap that come with it.
- Free to use
- No account needed
- Contract size you can edit
One move, four readings. Two-decimal quote and a 100 oz contract assumed. Brokers differ, so check yours.
What do you need to work out?
Pick a task and we will point you to the right page.
Start with the XAUUSD Lot Size Calculator. Give it your balance, risk and the stop distance in dollars, and set the contract size your broker uses.
Open the XAUUSD Pip, Point and Tick Value Calculator when a broker, EA or article quotes one of those units and you need dollars.
The Margin Calculator shows what a position locks up at your leverage. Use your broker’s gold contract size and the current price.
Enter the swap your broker lists for XAUUSD in the Swap and Rollover Calculator to see the cost per night and for the days you hold.
The Forex Market Hours clock shows session overlaps in your time zone. Confirm your broker’s own gold trading hours too.
The Fibonacci and Pivot Point Calculator turns a swing into retracement, extension and pivot levels, with the R:R between any two.
Built for gold, not borrowed from forex
XAUUSD Lot Size Calculator
Lot size for gold from your balance, risk and stop distance, with a contract size you can match to your broker.
- Use it when
- You know your stop in dollars and the amount you are willing to lose.
- Watch out
- The contract size and lot step come from your broker. Check them in your platform first.
XAUUSD Pip, Point and Tick Value Calculator
What a pip, a point and a tick are worth on gold, and why brokers and websites define the gold pip differently.
- Use it when
- A broker, EA or article quotes pips or points and you need to know the dollars.
- Watch out
- There is no single gold pip. Read the symbol specification instead of trusting the word.
Three tables worth bookmarking
All three assume a 100 oz contract and a two-decimal quote. Change the contract size and every figure scales with it.
One move, read in each unit
| Move | Points (0.01) | Pips (0.10) | 1.00 lot | 0.10 lot | 0.01 lot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1.00 | 100 | 10 | $100 | $10 | $1 |
| $2.00 | 200 | 20 | $200 | $20 | $2 |
| $5.00 | 500 | 50 | $500 | $50 | $5 |
| $10.00 | 1,000 | 100 | $1,000 | $100 | $10 |
| $20.00 | 2,000 | 200 | $2,000 | $200 | $20 |
Dollar columns show profit or loss for that move, before spread, commission and swap.
Lots for a given stop and risk
| Stop distance | Risk $50 | Risk $100 | Risk $250 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2.00 | 0.25 | 0.50 | 1.25 |
| $3.00 | 0.16 | 0.33 | 0.83 |
| $5.00 | 0.10 | 0.20 | 0.50 |
| $8.00 | 0.06 | 0.12 | 0.31 |
| $10.00 | 0.05 | 0.10 | 0.25 |
| $15.00 | 0.03 | 0.06 | 0.16 |
Lots rounded down to 0.01. Lot size equals risk divided by stop distance and contract size. Spread and slippage are not included.
Margin at an example price
| Leverage | 0.10 lot | 0.50 lot | 1.00 lot |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:30 | $800 | $4,000 | $8,000 |
| 1:100 | $240 | $1,200 | $2,400 |
| 1:200 | $120 | $600 | $1,200 |
Example price of $2,400, not a live quote. Margin equals lots times contract size times price, divided by leverage. Your broker’s margin rules can differ.
Six ways gold catches traders out
- Treating a gold pip like a forex pip.On most pairs the pip is the fourth decimal. Gold has no such standard, so a pip, a point and a tick can each mean a different amount. Ask what unit your broker means.
- Assuming the contract size.Many brokers use 100 oz per lot, but not all do. A wrong contract size makes every lot calculation wrong by the same factor.
- Skipping the conversion to dollars.Work from the stop distance in dollars, then convert. A stop quoted in points that you never converted is how a 0.50 lot ends up where 0.05 was meant.
- Forgetting that stops are not guaranteed fills.A stop is where your order triggers. In a fast market the fill can be worse, so leave room in the size for spread and slippage.
- Rounding the lot up.Lot sizes move in steps. Round down to the step your broker allows, so the real risk stays at or under the amount you chose.
- Ignoring margin and swap.A lot size can fit your risk and still use a lot of margin, and holding past the rollover can add a cost. Check both before you open.
More tools that work with gold
- The5ers Position Size CalculatorGold lot sizes checked against prop firm limits.
- Risk/Reward CalculatorR:R, dollars at risk and the effect of spread.
- Margin CalculatorWhat a position locks up at your leverage.
- Swap and Rollover CalculatorNightly cost and the triple-swap day.
- Fibonacci and Pivot Point CalculatorLevels on a gold swing.
- XAGUSD Lot Size CalculatorSilver next to gold, side by side.
All 21 calculators are in the tools hub.
Size it where you trade
The calculators live in a browser tab. Lot Architect puts the same idea on your MetaTrader chart.
Lot Architect
Drag the Entry, SL and TP lines on the chart and read lot size, margin, risk, reward and R:R from them. Long and short, market, limit and stop orders, sized by risk percent, risk in dollars or fixed lots.
It does not read prop firm rules. Confirm the contract size on your own broker before you rely on any lot figure.
Our own product, and we earn money if you buy. More: TachiTeam on MQL5.
Gold questions, short answers
How much is one pip in gold?
It depends on who you ask. Some brokers call 0.01 a pip, others 0.10, and some avoid the word and quote points or ticks. Read the symbol specification in your platform, then use our pip, point and tick calculator to turn it into dollars.
What is the contract size of gold?
Many brokers use 100 troy ounces per 1.00 lot, but it varies. The Contract size field in your platform’s symbol specification is the one that counts.
Why is gold lot size different from EURUSD?
The contract and the price move differ. A one dollar move in gold on a 100 oz contract is worth $100 per 1.00 lot. A pip in EURUSD is worth about ten dollars per lot. That is why you size gold from the stop distance in dollars.
Do these tools work for other metals?
The two gold tools are for XAUUSD. For silver, see the XAGUSD Lot Size Calculator.
Do I pay swap on gold?
Most brokers charge or credit a swap on gold positions held past the daily rollover, and the amount varies by broker and direction. The Swap and Rollover Calculator works it out from your broker’s figures.
Can I use these on a prop firm account?
Yes. Use the gold calculators to size the trade, then check it against your limits in the Prop firm hub.
How our tools are built: Methodology. Educational tools, not financial advice, and trading carries a risk of loss. Risk Disclaimer.