Forex position size calculator by account risk
Size a forex trade from your account risk: choose a percentage of the balance or a fixed cash amount, enter the stop in pips or as entry and stop prices, and get lots, units and the loss at your stop for 8 currency pairs or gold.
Only need a quick lot figure from a stop in pips? Use the lot size calculator. Trading gold from chart prices? The gold position size calculator handles the XAU/USD contract maths.
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Free on Telegram. Join the free Forexuro Telegram channel for daily gold and forex updates, then size each trade with this calculator.
Free, opens TelegramHow the calculator works
Position size in lots = risk amount ÷ (stop distance in pips × pip value per standard lot). The calculator finds the pip value for the instrument in your account currency using this site's reference rates, then solves for the lot size. It shows the exact size, the size rounded down to 0.01 lots and the loss at the stop with the rounded size, so the real risk never exceeds your plan.
If you enter prices instead of pips, the stop distance is measured for you: 0.0001 per pip on most pairs, 0.01 on USD/JPY and 0.10 dollars on gold, matching the conventions on the Forexuro results board.
Percentage or fixed amount
Percentage risk is the usual approach because the position shrinks automatically after losses and grows after gains. A fixed amount suits traders who budget a set sum per trade, for example £25. Both are supported; the result also shows the risk as a share of your balance so you can see how aggressive a fixed amount is.
Worked example
A £5,000 account risks 1% (£50) on EUR/USD with a 25 pip stop. One standard lot of EUR/USD is 10 dollars per pip, about £7.46 at GBP/USD 1.34. 25 × £7.46 = £186.50 per lot, so the size is £50 ÷ £186.50 = 0.268 lots, rounded down to 0.26 lots or 26,000 euros. On gold with a 15 dollar stop (150 pips) and the same £50, the size is about 0.04 lots of 100 ounces.
How this differs from the lot size calculator
The lot size calculator is the quick version: percentage risk and a stop in pips. This position size calculator adds fixed amount risk, entry and stop prices, the full units breakdown and the lot split into standard, mini and micro lots. For gold with a custom contract size, use the gold position size calculator.
How to calculate forex position size
- Decide how much you will risk: a percentage of the balance, such as 1%, or a fixed amount.
- Measure the stop distance in pips from your entry to the stop loss.
- Find the pip value of one standard lot in your account currency.
- Divide the risk amount by (stop pips × pip value per lot) to get the lot size.
- Round down to the nearest 0.01 lot so the real risk never exceeds your plan.
Using trading signals? Each Forexuro signal gives an entry, stop and targets, so you can plug them straight into this calculator. See the EUR/USD signals, the gold signals and the daily notes on the free Telegram channel.
Related tools and guides
- Lot size calculator
- Risk per trade calculator
- Pip value calculator
- Position sizing (glossary)
- How much to risk per trade
- All free trading tools
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula for position size in forex?
Lots = risk amount ÷ (stop pips × pip value per lot). For example £50 ÷ (25 × £7.46) ≈ 0.26 lots on EUR/USD.
Why round down?
Brokers trade in 0.01 lot steps. Rounding down keeps the loss at the stop at or below your planned risk.
Does it include spread and commission?
No. Add a little to the stop distance or reduce risk slightly to allow for costs.
Can I use it for gold?
Yes. Gold uses a 0.10 dollar pip and a 100 ounce lot, as on the results board.
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.