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Margin calculator

See how much margin a position needs. Real values depend on your broker’s margin rules, such as leverage by symbol. It runs in your browser, so there is nothing to download or add to MT4 or MT5.

New to this?

You getHow much margin (the deposit set aside) your account needs to hold the position

↓ See how it is worked out
What to enter, and the terms used

You enterAccount currency, pair, contract size, lot size, current price and leverage

New to these words?

lots
: 1
Limits differ by country and broker. See forex leverage limits by country
Your entries stay on this device only and will be here next time. You can use . or , for decimals. If a number has separators, we show how it was read below the field.

Example: enter this, get this

  1. Account currency: USD, pair: EUR/USD, contract size: 100,000 units
  2. Lot size: 0.1 (= 10,000 euros), current price: 1.0850
  3. Leverage: 30:1 (an example; limits differ by country and broker)

The position is worth 10,000 × 1.0850 = $10,850. Divided by 30, that is about $361.67. While you hold the position, that much of your account is set aside as margin.

The example numbers only show how the calculation works. They are not recommendations. Replace them with your own account’s numbers, or use “Clear inputs”.

Where to find these numbers in MT4/MT5

Current price
The price of the pair in Market Watch
Lot size
The “Volume” box when you place an order. For open positions, the Volume column (MT5) or the Size column (MT4) in the Trade tab
Leverage
Your account opening details or your broker’s client area. Some brokers set different leverage per symbol, so also check the symbol’s specification or your broker’s margin page
Contract size
Right-click the pair in Market Watch → Specification → “Contract size” (often 100,000 units for currency pairs, but it varies by broker and account)
To compare with your platform
After you open the position, “Margin” in the Trade tab (the MT4 Terminal or the MT5 Toolbox) shows the margin in use. If it differs from this tool, your platform’s figure is the one that counts

The mobile app and platforms other than MT4/MT5 may use different names or places (for example, “Units” or “Lot size” for contract size). If you cannot find a number, check your broker’s help pages.

How it works

  1. Required margin = contract size × lots × current price ÷ leverage (in the quote currency)
  2. If the quote currency differs from your account currency, it is converted with the rate you enter.
  3. Some brokers change leverage by symbol, time of day or account balance.

Formula, a worked example and common mistakes

The formula

Position value (quote currency) = contract size × lots × current price

Required margin = position value ÷ leverage × conversion rate

The conversion rate is how much one unit of the quote currency (the right side of the pair) is worth in your account currency. If they are the same, as with EUR/USD in a USD account, it is 1.

A worked example by hand: 0.1 lots of EUR/USD in a EUR account (30:1)
  1. Position value = 100,000 × 0.1 × 1.0850 = $10,850
  2. In EUR, with EUR/USD at 1.0850: 10,850 ÷ 1.0850 = 10,000 EUR (divide, because EUR is on the left of EUR/USD)
  3. Required margin = 10,000 ÷ 30 = about 333.33 EUR. When your account currency is the base currency, the price cancels out: units ÷ leverage
The numbers only show how the calculation works. They are not recommendations, and the rates are examples.
3 common mistakes
  1. Assuming one leverage figure for every symbolSome brokers set different margin rates for gold, indices or certain hours, even in the same account. Check the symbol specification.
  2. Treating required margin as your maximum lossMargin is a deposit set aside, not a cap on losses. Your P&L depends on the price move and the position size.
  3. Planning with only the required margin in the accountIf equity equals used margin, your margin level is 100%. A small move against you brings it near your broker’s stop-out level.

FAQ

EUR/USD in a USD account?

Enter the EUR/USD price. The quote currency is USD, so no conversion rate is needed.

USD/JPY in a USD account?

Enter the USD/JPY price as the current price and again as the conversion rate. The margin works out to contract size × lots ÷ leverage in USD.

How much margin does 1 lot need?

It depends on the price and your leverage. For example, 1 lot of EUR/USD (100,000 euros) at 1.0850 is worth $108,500. At 30:1 that needs about $3,616.67 in a USD account; at 100:1, $1,085. These are examples, not recommended leverage.

Why does my broker show a different margin?

The figure in your platform is the one that counts. It can differ from this estimate because leverage is often set per symbol (and can be lower for gold, indices or large positions), your broker converts to your account currency at its own rate, the price moves between your check and your order, and some brokers charge less margin on hedged positions. Check the symbol specification or your broker’s margin page.

Is there an MT4 or MT5 download?

Yes, as an indicator. This calculator itself is a web page, so there is nothing to install: keep it open next to MT4 or MT5 (it also works on a phone) and enter the numbers from your platform. “Where to find these numbers in MT4/MT5” above shows where each one is. If you want margin figures on your chart, download the free MT4/MT5 position size indicator. Under “More” it shows your margin level and the approximate margin your current lot size needs. It runs in MT4 or MT5 on a computer and never places trades.

What lot size should I trade?

This tool does not tell you. To size a trade by how much you are willing to lose, use the position size calculator, then check the margin here. To see how far you are from a stop-out, use the margin level and stop-out calculator.

Log your size next to how you felt.

Tiltnote is a trading journal that keeps your lot size and P&L next to how you felt on each trade. Over time you can see how your larger-size trades turned out.

Try Tiltnote free →On the free plan, analysis and history show your most recent 14 days (older records are kept and unlock on the paid plan).

Related articles

Forex vs other investments: stocks, crypto, binary options and index investingWhat is hedging in forex? Netting vs hedging accountsWhat is leverage in forex? How many times your margin your trade isForex leverage limits by country and region

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This tool is a calculation aid. It is not investment advice or a recommendation to make any trade. Real values depend on your broker’s contract size, rates, commissions and spread. Always check in your trading platform before placing an order. The numbers you enter are calculated on your device and never sent anywhere.

Updated 22 Oct 2026 · Run by Kenji Okumura, Representative, Tiltnote · About this site