Position size calculator
How big should your trade be? Size it from your risk, not your feelings.
Money at risk
$10
Recommended position size
0.03
Units
3,333
If you hit a losing streak
Losing streaks are normal — even good strategies hit 5+ losses in a row. This is what your balance looks like after one, at your risk setting versus an aggressive one.
| Losses in a row | 1% risk | 5% risk |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | $970 (97%) | $857 (86%) |
| 5 | $951 (95%) | $774 (77%) |
| 10 | $904 (90%) | $599 (60%) |
| 20 | $818 (82%) | $358 (36%) |
Rule of thumb: risk 1% or less per trade. The calculator sizes your position so that hitting your stop-loss costs exactly the amount you chose to risk — no more.
What this tool actually tells you
This converts a risk rule into an actual lot size. You tell it how much of the account you're willing to lose and where your stop sits; it tells you how big the position can be. That single number decides what happens to your account on the trades you get wrong — which is most of what determines whether you're still trading in a year.
It's the calculation that separates a plan from a guess. Without it, position size gets picked by feel, and feel reliably picks "too big" after a winning streak and "too small" after a losing one.
Worked example
A $2,000 account, risking 1% per trade, going long EUR/USD with a 25-pip stop.
| Risk budget (1% of $2,000) | $20 |
| Stop distance | 25 pips |
| Pip value at 1.00 lot | $10 |
| Position size — $20 ÷ (25 × $10) | 0.08 lots |
0.08 lots — eight micro lots. If the stop is hit, the loss is $20 and the account is still 99% intact.
How to read the result
- The answer is almost always smaller than it feels like it should be. That's the point, not a bug.
- If the result comes out below your broker's 0.01 minimum, your stop is too wide or the account is too small for that trade — skip it rather than rounding up.
- Risking more than 1–2% per trade puts you in territory where a normal losing streak does real damage.
Common mistakes
- Picking a lot size first and fitting the stop around it — that reverses the entire logic.
- Widening the stop after entry "to give it room". The position was sized for the original stop; moving it silently doubles or triples your risk.
- Using the whole account balance in the formula instead of the risk budget.
Put it into practice — risk-free
Find a regulated broker with a free demo and test your sizing with virtual funds before any real money is involved.
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Tools
Educational tools only — results are estimates and not financial advice. Real trading involves risk of loss; most beginners lose money.