Free calculator
Position Size Calculator
Tell it your account size, how much you are willing to lose, and how far away your stop is. It tells you how big the trade should be.
- Forex
- Gold
- Crypto
Pick a forex pair or gold from the list, or choose Custom and type the dollar value of one point for any other market, like a crypto or index contract at your broker.
On your broker, enter the mini lots figure in the "volume" or "size" field.
For learning and planning. The numbers are math on what you type, not a prediction.
Open TradingView chartsAffiliate link. Charting software, not a signal.
What is a position size calculator?
A position size calculator picks your trade size from your risk, not from a hunch. You decide the most you will lose if the stop is hit. The calculator works backward to the lot size.
This is the main math of Grade 4, Risk Camp. It comes before any strategy on purpose: a good idea with the wrong size can still empty an account.
The formula in plain words
- Money at risk = account size times your risk percent.
- Loss per lot = stop distance in pips times the pip value of one lot.
- Lot size = money at risk divided by loss per lot.
Lots = (Account × Risk %) ÷ (Stop pips × Pip value per lot)
Worked example
A $5,000 account risking 1% with a 25 pip stop on EUR/USD
- 1Money at risk: $5,000 × 1% = $50.
- 2One standard lot of EUR/USD moves about $10 per pip, so the loss per lot is 25 × $10 = $250.
- 3Lot size: $50 ÷ $250 = 0.20 lots. That is 2 mini lots, or 20,000 units.
Trade 0.20 lots. If the stop is hit, the loss is about $50, which is 1% of the account.
Common mistakes
- Picking the lot size first and the stop second. Set the stop where the idea is wrong, then size the trade.
- Using the wrong pip value. Yen pairs and gold move by different amounts per pip than EUR/USD.
- Forgetting the spread and slippage. A real loss is often a little bigger than the plan.
- Raising the risk percent after a loss to win it back. That is how small losses turn into big ones.
Questions people ask
How much should I risk per trade?
Many educators teach beginners to risk 1% or less of the account on one trade. That keeps any single loss small. The right number is your choice; the calculator just does the math.
What if my broker only allows 0.01 lot steps?
Round down to the nearest size your broker allows. Rounding down keeps the loss at or under your plan.
Does this work for gold or crypto?
Yes. Pick gold from the list, or choose Custom and type the dollar value of a one point move for your contract. Check that value with your broker first.
Why does a wider stop give a smaller lot size?
Your money at risk stays the same. If price has more room to move against you, the trade has to be smaller so the loss still fits your plan.
Learn the idea behind it
The calculator does the math. These free lessons explain when and why to use it.
- Grade 4Risk CampHow to protect your account before you learn a single strategy. The same risk math works in every market.
- Grade 10GraduationPut it together: a pre-trade checklist, sizing in detail and moving from demo to live.
- ElectiveCrypto ClubTake what you learned to crypto: why it never closes, Bitcoin, keeping coins safe and spot versus perpetuals.
- ElectiveStocks ClubTake what you learned to stocks: what a share is, ETFs, earnings and why stocks can gap overnight.
Lessons
Quick answers
Words to know
Need a broker to practice?Start with a Genesis demo accountPaid partner link
Demo first. Trading has risk of loss. Education, not financial advice.