Forex & prop calculator

Position Size Calculator

Enter your balance, the percentage you're willing to risk, and your stop distance — and get the exact lot size that keeps every trade the same controlled fraction of your account.

  • Free — no login
  • Deterministic engine
  • No signals, no advice

Map.Trade does not provide buy/sell signals, execute trades, or manage funds. It helps traders review historical performance, risk, and behavior.

Suggested position size
0.50 lots
risk level: low
Risk amount
100.00 USD
Pip value / lot
10.00 USD
Actual risk at this size
100.00 USD

Position sizing is the one risk decision you can make perfectly, every time, before the trade. This calculator turns "how big should this one be?" into a fixed rule: risk the same small percentage of your account, sized precisely to your stop.

How to use it

  1. 1
    Enter your inputs

    Balance, risk %, stop in pips, and the instrument you're trading.

  2. 2
    Read the size

    Get the lot size that makes a full stop-out equal your chosen risk.

  3. 3
    Plan the trade

    Place the trade at that size with your stop where you planned it.

  4. 4
    Review it later

    Import the trade into Map.Trade and check planned vs actual risk.

How the position size calculator works

You decide two things in advance — the percentage of your account you're willing to lose on a trade, and where your stop sits. The calculator then solves for the lot size where a full stop-out equals exactly that amount, snapped to the instrument's lot step and clamped to its min/max.

The formula

Formula
Lots = (Balance × Risk%) ÷ (Stop in pips × Pip value per lot)
Pip value is derived from the instrument's contract size and pip size. When the pair's quote currency differs from your account currency, the result is shown as indicative — we never invent a live rate.

Worked example

Example
A $10,000 account risking 1% over a 20-pip stop on EUR/USD: $100 at risk ÷ (20 pips × $10/pip) = 0.50 lots — a precise $100 loss if the stop is hit, and a precise reward at your target.

Sizing inside a prop account

On a funded or challenge account, size to your fixed % first, then sanity-check it against the daily-loss room from the Prop Risk Calculator. If a planned trade would eat too much of the remaining daily budget, the size — not the rule — is what should change.

Common position-sizing mistakes

  • Trading a fixed lot size regardless of how far away the stop is.
  • Widening the stop after entry so the "planned" risk quietly doubles.
  • Sizing to the account you wish you had instead of the one you're trading.
  • Forgetting that JPY pairs, metals, and indices have different pip values.

Plan your size vs. size by feel

Fixed-% sizingSizing by feel
Risk per tradeA known, constant fraction of the accountVaries with mood and conviction
After a lossRisk shrinks with the account automaticallyOften increased to "win it back"
Worst-case lossCapped and known before entryDiscovered after the fact
ReviewablePlanned vs actual risk is comparableHard to learn from

Who it’s for

Forex day traders

Keep every intraday trade the same controlled risk across pairs and sessions.

Prop challenge traders

Size so a normal losing streak can't threaten a daily or max-loss limit.

Swing traders

Translate wider stops into correct lot sizes without over-leveraging.

Plan the size here — review the result in your workspace.

Create your Map.Trade workspaceTry more tools

Map.Trade does not provide buy/sell signals, execute trades, or manage funds. It helps traders review historical performance, risk, and behavior.

Frequently asked questions

How is position size calculated?

Risk amount = balance × risk%. Lot size = risk amount ÷ (stop in pips × pip value per lot), snapped to the instrument's lot step and clamped to its min/max.

What risk percentage should I use?

Many traders cap per-trade risk at roughly 0.5%–2% of the account; lower is more conservative. This is general education, not personalised advice — choose what fits your own plan and rules.

Does this support prop accounts?

Yes. Size to a fixed % first, then cross-check the result against the Prop Risk Calculator's remaining daily-loss room so a single trade can't breach a limit.

Why is my result labelled "indicative"?

When the pair's quote currency differs from your account currency and there's no exact conversion basis, we mark the value indicative rather than fabricate a live exchange rate.

Does it work for indices, metals, and crypto?

Yes — each instrument carries its own contract size and pip/point convention, and the calculator applies them.

Is this financial advice?

No. It is a deterministic calculator for planning and review. Map.Trade gives no buy/sell signals and no financial advice.

Related pages

Pip Value Calculator
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Prop Risk Calculator
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Prop Risk Monitor
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Trading journal for prop traders
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Ready to review before you trade again?

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Map.Trade does not provide buy/sell signals, execute trades, or manage funds. It helps traders review historical performance, risk, and behavior.

Position Size Calculator · Map.Trade