Trading Tool · Free

Position Size Calculator.

Calculate the correct position size for any trade based on your account balance, risk tolerance, and stop-loss distance. The single most important calculation in retail trading.

⚠️ High risk warning:
Calculated Position Size
Position Size (Lots)
0.00
Standard lots
Risk Amount
$0.00
1% of account
Units
0
Actual units
Pip Value
$0.00
Per standard lot
How to use this result: Open your trading platform and enter the calculated lot size (0.00 lots) for your trade. With a 20-pip stop loss, if the trade hits your stop, you’ll lose exactly $0.00 – your predetermined risk amount.

How Position Size Calculation Works

Position sizing is the most important calculation in trading. Get it wrong and even profitable strategies destroy accounts through outsized losses. Get it right and you can survive long losing streaks while waiting for winning periods.

The formula

Position Size = (Account Balance × Risk %) / (Stop Loss in pips × Pip Value)

Why this matters

Most retail traders risk 5-10% per trade by guessing position sizes. A 10-trade losing streak at 10% risk per trade reduces a $10,000 account to $3,486 – psychologically devastating and statistically nearly inevitable.

Professional traders risk 0.5-2% per trade. The same 10-trade losing streak at 1% risk reduces the account to $9,044 – manageable and recoverable.

Recommended risk settings

  • Conservative beginners: 0.5% per trade
  • Standard retail trading: 1% per trade (industry standard)
  • Experienced active traders: 2% per trade maximum
  • Never exceed: 3% per trade regardless of confidence

Related tools

Calculate complete trade metrics: Pip Value Calculator | Profit/Loss Calculator

Trade with proper risk management.

This calculator does the math. Discipline does the rest. Use position sizing on every trade without exception.

Learn trading strategies Compare brokers