Capital calculator
Margin Calculator
Estimate margin arithmetic under user-supplied leverage or percentage assumptions; verify broker and exchange requirements.
Educational use only. Not financial advice. Results are estimates. Trading involves risk. Read full disclaimer.
This calculator applies your entered leverage or margin percentage to a notional value. It is not an authoritative broker or exchange requirement. Requirements depend on broker, product, jurisdiction and account and can change. Initial, maintenance and intraday margin are different concepts; this calculator does not model account equity, offsets or liquidation rules.
Sources: CFTC retail forex advisory; FINRA intraday margin information. Confirm rules with your broker.
Margin Calculator
Results
Position Value
USD 110,000.00
Estimated Margin
USD 5,500.00
Margin %
5.00%
Leverage
20.0:1
Arithmetic under entered assumptions. Requirements depend on broker, product, jurisdiction and account; this is not a broker/exchange margin quote. Futures are limited to linear USD contracts using total USD point value; exchanges commonly specify margin as a fixed amount, not a notional percentage. US retail OTC forex generally requires at least 2% security deposit for major pairs and 5% for others (50:1 and 20:1); brokers may require more.
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 your broker-supplied margin requirement.
- For futures: Enter total USD point value (contract multiplier × number of contracts), quoted futures 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 = (Total USD Point Value × Quoted Futures 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: Available leverage depends on product and jurisdiction. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is margin?
Collateral or equity required to open or maintain a leveraged position. The calculation here applies the assumed leverage or percentage, not a live requirement.
How does leverage affect the arithmetic?
For a proportional margin assumption, margin percentage = 100 / leverage. For example, 20:1 means 5%. This does not mean that leverage is offered or lawful for every product.
How do requirements differ by product?
Stock initial, maintenance and intraday requirements differ. Futures exchanges commonly specify contract-specific margin amounts, with broker additions. The futures percentage field is only an assumed percentage of linear USD notional.
What happens with insufficient margin?
Your broker may reject orders, call for funds or liquidate positions, potentially without advance notice. This tool does not model those rules.
What currency is forex margin shown in?
XXX/USD notional is base units × price in USD. USD/XXX notional is base USD units. Cross-pair notional is base units × price in the named quote currency; no USD conversion is performed.
What US retail forex qualification applies?
US retail OTC forex generally requires at least 2% deposit for major pairs and 5% for others, equivalent to maximum leverage of 50:1 and 20:1. Broker requirements may be higher. See the CFTC customer advisory.
What stock margin rules does this use?
None are automatically applied. Enter a requirement supplied by your broker. FINRA intraday margin rules changed in 2026 with a broker transition period; a single 50% assumption is not a universal day-trading requirement.
Can I rely on this to open a position?
No. Independently check current broker and exchange requirements, buying power and account restrictions.