Position size calculator: risk % to shares, contracts or lots

By Alexander Burnett (editor) Last updated 14 October 2026

How we got this

How: The calculator runs in your browser on the numbers you enter; firm presets are each firm’s own published max loss, daily loss limit and drawdown type, quoted and linked to the page we read them on. How we check How we make money Corrections

A risk % and two prices from your chart in, the position size out (lots for forex and gold, shares, or futures contracts), then a check against your prop firm’s drawdown and daily limit. Already know your stop in pips? The lot size calculator is quicker.

Entry and stop from your chart
Lots and units
Checks trailing and daily limits

Your trade

Instrument Account currency The currency your account is held in Exchange rate 1 USD in your account currency Account balance In your account currency Risk per trade Risk What one full loss may cost Stop-loss entered as Pips to your stop Distance from entry to stop-loss Entry price Stop-loss price Round-turn costs per lot Commission to open and close 1 lot; 0 if none

The contract (change it if your broker differs)

Pip size Price move counted as one pip Contract size (1 lot) Units of the first currency or ounces Smallest step in lots 0.01 at most brokers; 1 on an exchange

Prop firm rule check

Check against A firm's own figures, or your own Account size (starting balance) Maximum loss Amount, not %: 10% of 100,000 = 10000 Drawdown type Highest balance so far Blank = the starting balance Line stops trailing at start + Blank = no lock; 0 = at the start Daily loss limit set as Some firms set it as a % of each day's start Daily loss limit Amount; blank = none Today's P&L so far Negative if down today Risk already open Full loss of trades still open

Presets are in US dollars. Line moved after a run of days? Use the trailing drawdown calculator.

Turn on JavaScript to run the calculator. The worked example below shows the results.

Show the working

Firm presets: measured. Every result: our arithmetic on your numbers (judged).

Worked example: a gold trade on a $100,000 account

Account$100,000
Risk 0.5%$500
Entry 3,350, stop 3,340100 pips
1 pip, 1 lot (100 oz)$10

Position size (gold)0.5 lots50 ounces · $500 ÷ (100 × $10)

One full loss ($500) against each limitthe limit

Static max loss $4,000 roomline $96,000 · loss uses 13%

EOD trailing $2,500 roomline $97,500 · loss uses 20%

Daily limit $2,000 roombinds first · loss uses 25%

Example prices and firm rules (judged): $4,000 max loss, $2,000 daily limit, best close so far $101,500.

Trailing line followed the $101,500 close up to $97,500
3 more full losses still fit today
Largest size inside the daily limit: 1.99 lots

Position size for other markets

FuturesES, NQ, CL and micros size in contracts and ticks. Use the futures calculator.
Shares and cryptoUnits = risk budget ÷ (entry − stop), rounded down. $10,000 account, 1% risk ($100), entry $50, stop $48: $100 ÷ $2 = 50 shares.
Indices and other CFDsContract sizes vary by broker. Enter yours in “The contract” box.

Position size or lot size calculator?

What is the difference?

This position size calculator starts from a risk % and the entry and stop prices on your chart, and sizes forex and gold in lots, with the same method for shares (above) and futures contracts (with the futures calculator for tick values). The lot size calculator starts from a stop in pips and is built for forex lots, units and gold (XAUUSD).

Do they give the same answer?

For forex and gold, yes: the stop distance is the same whether you type it in pips or as two prices. Pick the one that matches the numbers you have.

Your inputs stay in your browser
Firm presets: the firm's own figures, read 14 October 2026
A calculator, not advice

How it works

Stop distance|entry − stop| ÷ pip size. Buy or sell, only the distance counts.
Risk per lotstop in pips × pip value of 1 lot (in your currency) + round-turn costs.
Position sizerisk budget ÷ risk per lot, rounded down to your broker’s lot step.
Unitslots × contract size: 100,000 currency units, or 100 oz of gold, per lot.

The prop firm rule check

Daily roomdaily limit + today’s P&L − risk already open.
Max-loss roombalance − max-loss line − risk already open.
Trailing linehighest balance − max loss. Never below the static line; capped at any lock.
VerdictThe smaller room binds. A full loss that reaches it breaks the rule.

Limits. Slippage and gaps can beat your stop. Gold contract sizes and pips vary by broker. Firms differ on how the daily limit is measured: check yours.

Measured and judged. Firm presets are measured (read 14 October 2026, linked). Contract conventions, example prices and rates, and every result are judged.

Size the trade

Know where the lines are

Also in the toolkit: payout and cost

The whole Prop Risk Calculator and the data behind it