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Leverage Calculator — Margin & Exposure, in Dollars
“How much leverage?” is the wrong question — the right one is “how much margin does my position lock up?” Enter a position size and leverage for NQ, ES, forex, gold or crypto and see the exact notional value you control and the margin your broker holds, for any market and any ratio.
How much margin does my position require?
Margin = position value ÷ leverage. One standard EUR/USD lot is worth 100,000 × the price; at 1:100 leverage the margin is that notional divided by 100. Leverage sets the margin locked up, not your risk — your stop distance and position size decide the dollars at risk, which is why prop firms measure drawdown instead.
Your leverage setup
NQ contract specs
1 contract of Nasdaq 100 = 20× the index price. Margin required = position value ÷ leverage.
Margin & exposure
- Position value (notional)
- $397,000
- Required margin at 1:100
- $3,970
- Your money controls
- 100×
- every dollar of margin controls $100 of exposure
Typical leverage & margin per market
| Market | Unit | 1-unit value | Margin @ 1:100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| NQ | contracts | $397,000 | $3,970 |
| MNQ | contracts | $39,700 | $397 |
| BTC | coins | $67,000 | $670 |
| ETH | coins | $3,550 | $35.5 |
| XAU/USD | lots | $238,000 | $2,380 |
| EUR/USD | lots | $108,500 | $1,085 |
| ES | contracts | $279,000 | $2,790 |
| US30 | contracts | $206,000 | $2,060 |
Leverage never changes the dollar risk of a trade — it only changes how much margin your broker locks up. The stop-loss and position size still decide your risk.
Leverage decides margin, not risk
A common mistake is believing high leverage makes a trade riskier. It doesn't — the stop-loss and size do. Leverage only changes how much cash your broker locks as margin, which is why prop firms measure you on drawdown, not leverage. The lot size calculator turns your risk % into the exact size to trade, and the position sizing guide explains the full math.
Margin at 1:100 across markets
Using each instrument's real contract multiplier, this shows the dollar value of one unit at a typical price and the margin a 1:100 broker locks up.
| Market | Unit | 1-unit value | Margin @ 1:100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| NQ | contracts | $397,000 | $3,970 |
| MNQ | contracts | $39,700 | $397 |
| BTC | coins | $67,000 | $670 |
| ETH | coins | $3,550 | $35.5 |
| XAU/USD | lots | $238,000 | $2,380 |
| EUR/USD | lots | $108,500 | $1,085 |
| ES | contracts | $279,000 | $2,790 |
| US30 | contracts | $206,000 | $2,060 |
A 1:100 broker locks 1% of the position value as margin. Raise the ratio to 1:200 and the margin halves — your risk per trade is still set by the stop and size.
Per-market calculators
Nasdaq 100 Position Size Calculator
Calculate your exact NQ (Nasdaq 100 E-mini) position size in contracts based on account balance, risk % and stop-loss. Built for prop firm and SMC/ICT traders.
Sized in contracts
Micro Nasdaq 100 Position Size Calculator
Calculate your exact MNQ (Micro Nasdaq 100) position size in contracts by account balance, risk % and stop-loss. Ideal for small prop firm accounts.
Sized in contracts
Bitcoin Position Size Calculator
Calculate your exact Bitcoin position size in BTC based on account balance, risk % and stop-loss. Built for prop firm and SMC crypto traders.
Sized in coins
Ethereum Position Size Calculator
Calculate your exact Ethereum position size in ETH based on account balance, risk % and stop-loss. Built for SMC and prop firm crypto traders.
Sized in coins
Gold Position Size Calculator
Calculate your exact Gold (XAU/USD) position size in lots based on account balance, risk % and stop-loss. Perfect for prop firm and SMC traders.
Sized in lots
EUR/USD Position Size Calculator
Calculate your exact EUR/USD position size in lots based on account balance, risk % and stop-loss in pips. Built for prop firm forex traders.
Sized in lots
S&P 500 Position Size Calculator
Calculate your exact ES (E-mini S&P 500) position size in contracts from account balance, risk % and stop-loss. Built for prop firm traders.
Sized in contracts
Dow Jones (US30) Position Size Calculator
Calculate your exact US30 (Dow Jones) position size in contracts based on account balance, risk % and stop-loss. Built for prop firm traders.
Sized in contracts
Leverage & margin FAQ
How do I calculate leverage in forex?
Leverage = position value ÷ required margin. For example one standard EUR/USD lot is worth $108,500 at 1.0850; at 1:100 leverage the margin is $1,085, so leverage = 108,500 ÷ 1,085 = 100. You control $100 of exposure for every $1 of margin.
What is the difference between leverage and margin?
Leverage is the ratio of position value to margin (for example 1:100). Margin is the actual cash your broker locks up to open the position. Higher leverage means smaller margin for the same position — and a faster path to a margin call when the trade moves against you.
Does leverage change my risk per trade?
No. Your dollar risk is decided by the stop-loss distance and position size, not by leverage. Leverage only decides how much margin is locked up. That is why prop firms care about position sizing and drawdown, not about offering high leverage.
How is required margin calculated?
Required margin = position value ÷ leverage. Position value for one standard lot of EUR/USD is 100,000 × price; for one NQ contract it is the index price × $20 per point; for gold it is 100 troy ounces × price. Enter a position size and leverage in the calculator above to get the exact margin.
What leverage should a prop firm trader use?
Prop firm accounts cap your risk with daily and max drawdown limits, so the leverage ratio barely matters — what matters is size. Trade the lot or contract size your risk % allows. Using excessive leverage only means a small adverse move eats a larger share of the account before your stop fills.