Gold position size calculator
Work out how many lots of gold (XAU/USD) to trade so that, if your stop is hit, you lose only the amount you planned. Enter prices directly; the calculator handles the 100 oz contract maths.
Sizing a currency pair instead? Use the forex position size calculator or the quicker lot size calculator. New to gold? Start with our XAU/USD market guide.
How to size a gold trade
Gold is quoted in US dollars per troy ounce, and one standard lot of XAU/USD is 100 ounces at most brokers. That makes the maths simple once you see it: every 1.00 dollar move in price is worth 100 dollars on one lot, 10 dollars on 0.10 lots and 1 dollar on 0.01 lots.
The calculator uses the fixed fractional method:
- Money at risk = balance × risk percentage.
- Stop distance = the difference between entry and stop, in dollars.
- Lots = money at risk ÷ (stop distance × ounces per lot).
If your account is in pounds or euros, the money at risk is converted into dollars with this site's reference rates before step 3, because gold profit and loss is settled in dollars.
Worked example
A $2,000 account risks 1%, which is $20. A buy at 4,000.00 with a stop at 3,992.00 has a stop distance of 8.00 dollars, which is 80 pips on this site's convention (1 pip = 0.10). Lots = 20 ÷ (8 × 100) = 0.025. Most brokers trade gold in steps of 0.01 lots, so you round down to 0.02 lots, which risks $16. Rounding up to 0.03 would risk $24, more than planned.
Lot size by stop distance
For a $10,000 account risking 1% ($100), wider stops mean smaller positions:
| Stop distance | Exact lots | Rounded down | Risk at rounded size |
|---|---|---|---|
| $5.00 (50 pips) | 0.2000 | 0.20 | $100.00 |
| $10.00 (100 pips) | 0.1000 | 0.10 | $100.00 |
| $20.00 (200 pips) | 0.0500 | 0.05 | $100.00 |
| $30.00 (300 pips) | 0.0333 | 0.03 | $90.00 |
The money risked stays close to $100 whatever the stop, which is the point of sizing from the stop rather than picking a lot size first.
Check your broker's contract
Not every account uses 100 ounces per lot. Some brokers offer gold contracts of 10 or 1 ounce, and some quote gold with two decimals while others use three. Look at the contract specification in your platform and change the ounces field if it differs. If the result is below your broker's minimum trade size, the trade is too large for your risk limit with that stop.
Gold pips and points
On Forexuro one gold pip is 0.10 dollars, so a 5.00 dollar move is 50 pips. Other sites may call 0.01 or 1.00 a pip, which is why this calculator takes prices rather than pips. The gold pip calculator converts between the conventions.
Related tools and guides
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate lot size for gold?
Start with the cash you are prepared to lose, which is your balance times your risk percentage. Divide that amount by the stop distance in dollars times 100 (the ounces in one standard lot). For example, $20 ÷ (8.00 × 100) = 0.025 lots, rounded down to 0.02.
How much is a 1 dollar move in gold worth?
On a standard 100 oz lot, a 1.00 dollar move in XAU/USD is worth 100 dollars. On 0.10 lots it is worth 10 dollars and on 0.01 lots it is worth 1 dollar.
Why round the lot size down?
Rounding down keeps the loss at or below the amount you planned. Rounding up means the stop would cost more than your risk limit.
What if my broker uses a different gold contract size?
Change the ounces per lot field to match your broker's contract specification. The formula is the same; only the value per dollar move changes.
Does this include spread and slippage?
No. The result assumes the stop fills at your stop price. Spread, commission and slippage on fast moves can make a real loss larger, so some traders size slightly below the result.
Calculators are for education and planning. They do not account for your broker's spread, commission, swap or contract terms. Trading forex and CFDs carries a high risk of losing money. Read our risk disclosure.