Forex margin calculator
Choose the pair, trade size, price and leverage to see how much margin the position ties up. Add your balance to see how many lots you could open and your margin level afterwards.
Result
Fill in the fields to see the result
Leverage and margin rate
| Leverage | Margin rate | Margin for 1 lot of EUR/USD at 1.1000 |
|---|---|---|
| 1:10 | 10.00% | 11,000.00 USD |
| 1:20 | 5.00% | 5,500.00 USD |
| 1:30 | 3.33% | 3,666.67 USD |
| 1:50 | 2.00% | 2,200.00 USD |
| 1:100 | 1.00% | 1,100.00 USD |
| 1:200 | 0.50% | 550.00 USD |
| 1:400 | 0.25% | 275.00 USD |
| 1:500 | 0.20% | 220.00 USD |
| 1:1000 | 0.10% | 110.00 USD |
Margin rate = 1 ÷ leverage. The last column assumes a USD account.
How it works
Margin is the part of your balance the broker sets aside while a position is open. It is not a fee and it is not spent: it is released when you close the trade. Leverage expresses the same thing the other way round. With 1:100 leverage you put up 1% of the position value; with 1:30 you put up 3.33%.
The calculation starts from the position value, or notional: contract size × lots × price, in the quote currency. One lot of EUR/USD at 1.1000 is 100,000 euros, worth 110,000 dollars. Dividing by the leverage gives the margin: 110,000 ÷ 100 = 1,100 dollars.
The result is then converted to your account currency in the same way as on the pip value calculator. If your account is in the base currency, the price cancels out: one lot of USD/JPY on a dollar account always needs 100,000 ÷ leverage dollars, whatever the exchange rate. If your account currency is not part of the pair, enter one exchange rate between the quote currency and your account currency.
Margin level is your equity divided by the margin in use, shown as a percentage. If it falls to the broker’s margin call level, you cannot open new positions; at the stop-out level the broker starts closing positions. These levels differ between brokers, so the calculator only shows the margin level and does not apply any rule.
The leverage you can use depends on your broker and your regulator. In the EU and the UK, retail clients are limited to 30:1 on major currency pairs and 20:1 on other pairs and gold. In the US the limit is 50:1 on major pairs. Higher leverage lowers the margin, but it does not change how much a pip is worth or how much you lose when the price moves against you.
Formula
- Position value = contract size × lots × price (quote currency)
- Required margin = position value ÷ leverage
- Account = base currency: margin = contract size × lots ÷ leverage
- Margin rate = 1 ÷ leverage
- Max lots = balance ÷ margin per lot, rounded down to the lot step
- Margin level = balance ÷ required margin × 100%
Example
XAU/USD at 2,400, 1 lot of 100 ounces, 1:100, USD account: position value 100 × 2,400 = 240,000 dollars, margin 240,000 ÷ 100 = 2,400 dollars. With a 10,000 dollar balance you could open up to 4.16 lots, and opening 1 lot leaves a margin level of 416.67%.
FAQ
How is forex margin calculated?
Multiply the contract size by the lots and the price to get the position value, then divide by the leverage. Convert the result to your account currency if the pair is not quoted in it.
How much margin do I need for one lot?
For EUR/USD at 1.1000 with 1:100 leverage, 1,100 dollars. At 1:30 it would be about 3,667 dollars, and at 1:500 it would be 220 dollars.
Does higher leverage increase my risk?
It lets you open a larger position with the same balance. For a given position size, the profit or loss per pip is the same at any leverage; what changes is how much of your balance is left as a buffer.
What is margin level?
Equity divided by used margin, as a percentage. At 100% your equity equals the margin in use. Brokers set their own margin call and stop-out levels.
Why does USD/JPY margin not depend on the price?
On a US dollar account the margin is counted in dollars, which is the base currency of the pair. One lot is 100,000 dollars, so the margin is 100,000 ÷ leverage whatever the yen rate.
What leverage is allowed?
It depends on the regulator. For retail clients the EU and UK cap major pairs at 30:1 and the US at 50:1. Some offshore brokers offer much more. Your broker’s contract specs show the leverage for each instrument.
Is margin the same as the money I can lose?
No. Margin is only the deposit held while the trade is open. Your loss depends on how far the price moves and on the pip value, and it can exceed the margin.
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Calculations only, not investment advice. Check fees, margin rates and contract specs with your broker or exchange.