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Forex Margin Calculator
See how much margin a position ties up before you open it, from your trade size, the current price and your leverage.
Position
Margin required
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Educational tools for non-US traders · not directed at US persons.
Required margin = lots × contract size × price ÷ leverage. One standard lot of EUR/USD at 1.10 on 1:100 leverage needs 110,000 ÷ 100 = $1,100. Leverage and margin percent are two views of the same thing: margin% = 100 ÷ leverage, so 1:100 is a 1% margin requirement.
How it works
What required margin is
Margin is the slice of your own money a broker sets aside as a good-faith deposit to hold a leveraged position. It is not a fee — it is locked while the trade is open and released when you close. Knowing it in advance tells you how many positions your account can carry and how close you are to a margin call.
The formula
notional value = lots × contract size × price
required margin = notional value ÷ leverage
Leverage and margin percent are interchangeable: margin fraction = 1 ÷ leverage and margin% = 100 ÷ leverage. When your account currency is the base currency, margin is simply the base notional divided by leverage — there is no extra division by price.
How to use this calculator
- Choose forex or gold and enter the pair and your account currency.
- Enter the trade size in lots and the current price.
- Enter your leverage as
1:N(type 100 for 1:100). - If your account currency is a third currency, fill in the conversion rate that appears.
Worked example 1 — EUR/USD at 1:100
One standard lot is 100,000 EUR; at a price of 1.10 the notional is 100,000 × 1.10 = 110,000 USD. On 1:100 leverage the margin is 110,000 / 100 = $1,100. The same trade on 1:30 leverage would need about $3,667.
Worked example 2 — gold at 1:100
A 0.1-lot gold position is 10 ounces; at $3,000 the notional is 0.1 × 100 × 3,000 = 30,000 USD, so margin at 1:100 is 30,000 / 100 = $300. Metals often carry lower leverage than majors, so check your broker's cap.
When margin matters
Margin matters when you hold several positions at once or size up. Free margin is what is left to absorb open losses; when it runs out you get a margin call or a forced liquidation. Sizing by risk keeps losses controlled, but margin is the separate ceiling on how much you can have open.
Common mistakes
- Confusing margin with risk. Margin is what the position ties up; risk is what you can lose. They are different numbers and both matter.
- Double-converting a base-currency account. If your account is in the base currency, divide the base notional by leverage directly — do not also divide by the price.
- Assuming one leverage fits all instruments. Regulators and brokers cap leverage differently for majors, minors, gold and indices; use the cap that applies to the instrument you are trading.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate required margin in forex?
lots × contract size × price ÷ leverage.How much margin do I need for one lot of EUR/USD?
What is the relationship between leverage and margin percent?
margin% = 100 ÷ leverage. So 1:100 is a 1% margin requirement, 1:50 is 2%, and 1:30 is about 3.33%.