Position size calculator
Start from the loss you are prepared to accept and work back to the position size, rather than the other way round.
Calculate position size
Inputs stay in your browser. They are not saved or sent anywhere.
How it is calculated
Amount at risk = account balance × risk percentage ÷ 100.
Position size in lots = amount at risk ÷ (stop-loss distance in pips or points × value of one pip or point per lot in USD).
Pip or point value per lot uses the same rules as the pip value calculator. The result is rounded down in illustrative 0.01-lot steps, keeping calculated risk within the amount entered before costs and slippage. Check the symbol’s actual minimum volume and volume step in MetaTrader 5.
Worked example (illustrative)
Hypothetical figures, chosen to be round.
Balance 10,000 USD, risk 1%, EUR/USD, stop-loss 20 pips. Amount at risk: 10,000 × 1 ÷ 100 = 100 USD. One pip on one lot is worth 10 USD. Position size: 100 ÷ (20 × 10) = 0.50 lots.
A stop-loss is not a guarantee
In a fast market, or when the price gaps over a weekend or a news release, a stop-loss can fill at a worse price than the level you set. The loss can then be larger than the amount at risk shown here.
The calculator shows the consequence of the numbers you choose. It does not suggest a risk percentage or a stop distance.
Questions
What risk percentage should I use?
That is your decision, and it depends on your circumstances. The calculator does not recommend a figure; it shows what the figure you choose means in lots.
How do I choose a stop-loss distance?
Place the stop where the reason for the trade would no longer hold, then measure the distance from your entry in pips or points. Size the position to that distance, not the stop to a size you wanted.
Why is the result rounded down?
This example rounds down in 0.01-lot steps; your instrument may use a different step. Rounding reduces calculated risk before costs and slippage, but does not cap your actual loss. The unrounded figure is shown for reference.
Does it account for the spread?
No. Spread, commission, swap and slippage are excluded, so actual loss can exceed the calculated amount.
Can I lose more than the amount at risk?
Yes. Slippage and price gaps can fill a stop-loss beyond its level. Read the risk disclosure before trading with leverage.
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