Margin Calculator
Calculate required margin for forex, stocks, and futures trades. Determine how much capital you need to open leveraged positions.
Educational use only. Not financial advice. Results are estimates. Trading involves risk. Read full disclaimer.
Margin is the amount of capital you need to open and maintain a leveraged trading position. Understanding margin requirements is crucial for managing your account and avoiding margin calls. This calculator helps you determine exactly how much margin you'll need for forex, stock, or futures trades based on your position size and leverage or margin requirements.
Margin Calculator
Results
Position Value
$110,000.00
Required Margin
$1,100.00
Margin %
1.00%
Leverage
100.0:1
Estimates only.
How to Use This Calculator
- Select asset type: Choose forex, stock, or futures.
- For forex: Enter pair type, lot size, current price, and leverage.
- For stocks: Enter share price, number of shares, and margin requirement (typically 50%).
- For futures: Enter contract size, contract price, and margin requirement percentage.
- Review results: See position value, required margin, margin percentage, and effective leverage.
Formula
Forex: Margin = Position Value ÷ Leverage
Forex: Margin % = 100 ÷ Leverage
Stock: Margin = (Share Price × Shares) × (Margin Requirement % ÷ 100)
Futures: Margin = (Contract Size × Contract Price) × (Margin Requirement % ÷ 100)
Leverage = 100 ÷ Margin %
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not leaving enough buffer: Don't use 100% of your available margin. Leave a buffer to avoid margin calls if the market moves against you.
- Ignoring maintenance margin: Initial margin gets you in the door, but maintenance margin keeps you there. Make sure you have enough equity to cover maintenance requirements.
- Using maximum leverage: Just because you can use 500:1 leverage doesn't mean you should. High leverage amplifies both gains and losses.
- Not accounting for multiple positions: If you have multiple open positions, calculate total margin requirements across all positions to ensure you have enough capital.