Position Size Calculator
Enter your account, risk and stop loss - get the exact lot size to type into MT4, MT5 or cTrader. Updates as you type.
Trade setup
All fields update the result instantly.
Most professional traders risk 0.5-2% per trade.
Converts the result into rand.
Position size
0.01 lots
Money at risk
R92,50
1% of account targeted
Stop distance
50 pips
Pip value (per lot)
R185,00
At your entered rates
Position notional
R20 073
≈ 2x your balance
Educational tool - verify with your broker
This calculator uses industry-standard formulas and the rates you enter. Contract specifications, pip values, swap charges and margin requirements differ between brokers, so confirm the numbers on your own platform before placing a trade. Nothing here is financial advice, and trading involves substantial risk of loss.
Understand the numbers
How this calculator works, and why it matters.
Lot sizes, quickly
1 standard lot = 100,000 units of the base currency. 0.10 lots = 1 mini lot (10,000 units). 0.01 lots = 1 micro lot (1,000 units) - the smallest size most brokers accept.
Why risk 1-2%?
Risking 1% means a 10-trade losing streak draws your account down about 10% - recoverable. At 10% risk per trade, the same streak costs roughly 65% of the account, which needs a 186% gain just to get back to breakeven.
The formula
Lots = money at risk ÷ (stop distance in pips × pip value per lot). The calculator converts pip value into your account currency first - the step most traders get wrong on cross pairs.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate lot size for a ZAR trading account?
Divide the rand amount you are willing to risk by your stop distance in pips multiplied by the pip value per lot in rand. For example, risking R100 with a 50-pip stop on EUR/USD at a USD/ZAR rate of 18.50 gives R100 ÷ (50 × R185) = 0.01 lots. This calculator does the conversion automatically, including the USD/ZAR step that most international calculators leave out.
What percentage of my account should I risk per trade?
Most professional traders risk between 0.5% and 2% of their account per trade. At 1% risk, a ten-trade losing streak draws the account down about 10%, which is recoverable. Risking 10% per trade, the same streak costs roughly 65% of the account.
What is the difference between standard, mini and micro lots?
A standard lot is 100,000 units of the base currency, a mini lot is 10,000 units (0.10 lots) and a micro lot is 1,000 units (0.01 lots). Most brokers accept a minimum order of 0.01 lots, which is why this calculator rounds your size down to the nearest 0.01.
Does position sizing work the same for indices and gold?
The principle is identical - risk divided by stop distance times point value - but indices and gold use a value per point per contract instead of pip value, and that value varies by broker. The indices mode lets you set the point value from your broker's contract specifications.
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