Contents 5
The margin calculator shows how much money your broker locks on the account to open a trade at the chosen leverage, what share of the balance that is and the maximum lot you can open. It works for currency pairs, metals, oil, indices and crypto, for USD, EUR, GBP, RUB and cent accounts.
How to use the margin calculator
- Account currency and instrument. For currency pairs the price is filled in at the current rate.
- Lot — trade size.
- Leverage — e.g. 100 for 1:100. You’ll find it in your broker’s client area or account specification.
- Price — the current price. For gold, oil, indices and crypto enter the price from your terminal.
- Balance — to see the margin share, free margin and margin level.
Margin formula
Margin = Lots × Contract size × Price ÷ Leverage
Lots × Contract size × Price is the full value of the position. Leverage tells how much of it you put up yourself: at 1:100 — one hundredth.
Example 1. EUR/USD, 1 lot, 1:100
Position value: €100,000 × 1.0850 = $108,500. Margin = 108,500 ÷ 100 = $1,085. On a $1,000 balance you can’t open it — the maximum is about 0.92 lot.
Example 2. Gold, 0.1 lot, 1:100
Position value: 0.1 × 100 oz × $2,650 = $26,500. Margin = $265. On a $1,000 balance that’s 26.5% of the account and a 377% margin level.
Example 3. Same gold trade at 1:500
Margin = 26,500 ÷ 500 = $53. The risk of the trade doesn’t change — the loss per pip is the same. Leverage only changes how much money is locked and how many positions you can hold.
Margin level, margin call and stop out
Margin level = Equity ÷ Margin × 100%. Equity is the balance plus or minus the floating profit of open trades. While the level is high, you’re fine. As losses push it down:
- Margin call (usually 50–100%) — a warning; you can’t open new trades.
- Stop out (usually 20–50%) — the broker starts closing positions, the biggest loser first.
Which leverage to choose
| Leverage | Margin, 1 lot EUR/USD (1.0850) | Margin, 0.1 lot gold ($2,650) |
|---|---|---|
| 1:30 | $3,617 | $883 |
| 1:100 | $1,085 | $265 |
| 1:200 | $543 | $133 |
| 1:500 | $217 | $53 |
| 1:1000 | $109 | $27 |
High leverage isn’t dangerous by itself — a big lot is. Higher leverage leaves more free margin and protects from a stop out, as long as the size is chosen by risk. That’s what the lot size calculator is for.
FAQ
How much money do I need to open 1 lot?
It depends on leverage and price. For EUR/USD at 1:100 about $1,085, at 1:500 about $217. Enter your numbers in the calculator above.
Does leverage change profit and loss?
No. Profit and loss depend only on the lot and the price move. Leverage changes the deposit required and therefore how far price can go against you before a stop out.
Why do I enter the price for gold and indices?
The calculator knows currency rates, but for metals, oil, indices and crypto it’s best to take the price from your terminal so the result is exact.
Why is my broker’s margin different?
Brokers can use their own contract sizes, special margin for metals, indices and crypto, or higher margin before weekends. Check the symbol specification in your terminal.
