Position size calculator

Decide what you are willing to lose, put the stop where the chart says, and get the lot size that matches — for gold, forex and Bitcoin.

Asset
USD
%
= $10.00
pips
= 4.00 in price · 400 points · 1 pip = 0.1
Broker settingscontract 100 · step 0.01

Most brokers use these values. If yours differs, copy them from MT5: right-click the symbol in Market Watch → Specification.

Lot size to open
0.02lot
Risk if stopped out
$8.000.80%
Stop distance
4.0040.0 pips · 400 points
Pip value at this size
$0.20per pip
Exact (before rounding)
0.0250

Rounded down to the lot step 0.01 (exact 0.0250), so the real risk is a little under your target.

Skip the typing on MT5. ApeX Trade Manager works out the lot from the risk you accept and the stop you drag on the chart, then sends the order.

See how →

How the lot size is calculated

Position sizing works backwards from the loss you accept. First turn the risk into money, then divide it by what one lot would lose if price travelled to your stop.

Lot = Risk in money ÷ (Stop distance in price × Contract size)
For pairs priced in yen, divide the contract value by the USDJPY rate to get dollars.

Example: gold (XAUUSD)

Balance $1,000, risk 1% = $10. Stop 40 pips = 4.00 in price. One lot of gold is 100 ounces, so a 4.00 move costs $400 per lot. $10 ÷ $400 = 0.025 lot, rounded down to 0.02. The real risk is then $8.

Example: EURUSD

Same $10 risk with a 20-pip stop. One standard lot is 100,000 euros, so one pip (0.0001) is worth $10 and 20 pips cost $200 per lot. $10 ÷ $200 = 0.05 lot.

Why it rounds down

Brokers only accept lots in fixed steps, usually 0.01. Rounding up would put more than your limit at risk, so the calculator always rounds down and shows the real risk after rounding. If the result is below the minimum lot, the trade is too big for this stop and balance.

Questions

How many pips is 1.00 on gold?

With the common convention of 1 pip = 0.10, a 1.00 move on XAUUSD is 10 pips or 100 points. Some traders call 0.01 a pip, so always check which unit a stop distance is quoted in — the calculator lets you enter pips, points or a plain price distance.

How much should I risk per trade?

Many traders keep each trade between 0.5% and 2% of the balance, so a losing streak cannot take a large share of the account. Prop firm challenges with a daily loss limit usually need the lower end of that range.

Does the lot size include spread and commission?

No. It sizes the trade on the distance from entry to stop. Spread and commission add a small cost on top, so on very tight stops you may want to lower the risk slightly to leave room for them.

Why is my broker's gold lot different?

Most brokers set one lot of XAUUSD to 100 ounces, but some use 10 or 1, and cent accounts show balances in cents. Open the symbol's Specification in MT5 and copy the contract size into Broker settings above.

For education only. Results depend on the values you enter and your broker's contract specification; they are not trading advice.