Margin Calculator
See the margin a position needs, how much of your equity it uses, and how far the price can move against you before a margin call or a stop out.
Estimates for one position. Spread, swaps and commission are not included, and brokers can use their own margin rules. Independent tool. See the methodology and the risk disclaimer. Nothing you type is sent to our servers.
Margin, free margin and margin level
MetaTrader and most platforms show these three. They answer different questions, so it helps to read them together.
Used margin
lots * contract * value per unit / leverage
The money held while the trade is open. It is collateral, not a fee, and it is released when the trade closes.
Free margin
equity - used margin
What you still have to open new trades or to absorb a loss. When it reaches zero you cannot open anything new.
Margin level
equity / used margin * 100%
The number your broker watches. At the margin call level you get a warning. At the stop out level the broker starts closing trades.
What 1.00 lot of USDJPY asks for, by leverage
For a USD account and a pair with USD as the base currency, such as USDJPY, USDCHF and USDCAD, the margin does not depend on the price. It is 100,000 USD divided by the leverage.
| Leverage | 1.00 lot | 0.10 lot | 0.01 lot | Relative to 1:10 | Lots using 10% of a $10,000 account |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:10 | $10,000.00 | $1,000.00 | $100.00 | 0.10 | |
| 1:30 | $3,333.33 | $333.33 | $33.33 | 0.30 | |
| 1:50 | $2,000.00 | $200.00 | $20.00 | 0.50 | |
| 1:100 | $1,000.00 | $100.00 | $10.00 | 1.00 | |
| 1:200 | $500.00 | $50.00 | $5.00 | 2.00 | |
| 1:500 | $200.00 | $20.00 | $2.00 | 5.00 |
Margin is not risk
Risking 1% of a $10,000 account is $100. The margin of 1.00 lot at 1:100 is $1,000. Those two numbers have nothing to do with each other. Leverage decides how much margin a position needs, and your stop decides how much you can lose.
Size the trade from your risk first, then check that the margin fits. The Position Size Calculator does the first step, and the Pip Value Calculator shows what each pip is worth.
Four positions, with the math written out
The price only matters when the base currency of the pair is not your account currency. Gold always needs it.
| Position | Math | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| EURUSD, USD account0.50 lot at 1.1000, leverage 1:100 | 0.50 × 100,000 = 50,000 EUR, ÷ 100 = 500 EUR, × 1.1000 | $550.00 |
| XAUUSD (gold), USD account0.10 lot at $2,500.00, leverage 1:100 | 0.10 × 100 oz = 10 oz, × $2,500.00 = $25,000.00, ÷ 100 | $250.00 |
| USDJPY, USD account1.00 lot, leverage 1:30 | 1.00 × 100,000 = 100,000 USD, ÷ 30 (the price is not needed) | $3,333.33 |
| EURUSD, EUR account0.20 lot, leverage 1:50 | 0.20 × 100,000 = 20,000 EUR, ÷ 50 (the price is not needed) | EUR 400.00 |
Prices and rates in the examples are illustrations, not live quotes. Your broker may round or apply its own margin rules.
See the margin before you place the order
Lot Architect is my trade panel for MetaTrader. Drag your entry, stop-loss and take-profit lines on the chart and read the numbers live.
- Position size
- Margin
- Risk
- Reward
- R:R
Lot Architect is my own product on the MQL5 Market. If you buy it, I earn money. It does not read the rules of a prop firm. This calculator stays free either way. On a prop account, also check your loss limits with the Daily Loss and Drawdown Calculator.
Margin, answered
Basics
What is margin?
Margin is the money your broker sets aside from your account while a trade is open. It is not a fee. It goes back to your free funds when the trade closes, and your profit or loss is settled separately.
How is margin calculated?
Multiply the lots by the contract size and by the value of one unit of the instrument, then divide by your leverage. On a forex pair whose base currency is your account currency, the price is not needed. On gold and on pairs with another base currency, it is.
Does this include my other open trades?
No. It calculates one position. To see the total, add up the margin of each position and compare it with your equity. Some brokers reduce margin for hedged positions, so check how yours does it.
Leverage
Does higher leverage mean more risk?
Leverage lowers the margin you need, so it lets you open a bigger position. Your risk is set by the lot size and your stop. A 1.00 lot trade with the same stop loses the same money at 1:30 and at 1:500.
Why does my broker show a different margin?
Brokers can set different leverage for different symbols, use tiers that cut leverage as your position grows, or round differently. Use your platform as the final word and this page as a planning tool.
Which leverage should I enter?
The leverage of your account or symbol, as shown by your broker. You can type 100 or 1:100. Prop firms often use a lower leverage than retail brokers, so check your plan.
When it goes wrong
What are margin call and stop out?
Both are levels of your margin level, which is equity divided by used margin. At the margin call level your broker warns you. At the stop out level it starts closing trades. The levels are set by the broker, and the ones in this tool are only examples.
What does the distance to stop out mean?
It is how far the price must move against this one position, with no other trades open, to bring your equity down to the stop out level. It ignores spread, swaps and gaps, and a fast market can go past it.
Is this financial advice?
No. It is an independent calculator, and the results are estimates. Trading is risky and you can lose more than you expect. Read the risk disclaimer before you trade.
Keep going
- Position Size CalculatorLot size from your risk and your stop.
- Pip Value CalculatorWhat a pip is worth on 18 pairs.
- The5ers Position Size CalculatorSize trades against prop firm loss limits.
More utilities for MetaTrader by TachiTeam: MQL5 seller page (my own products, I earn money if you buy). Trading is risky and this is not financial advice. Read the risk disclaimer.