Forex and gold margin calculator by leverage

Margin is the amount your broker holds aside so you can open a trade. Knowing it in advance helps you avoid opening too many trades at once and getting closed out when price moves against you.

Formula

Margin = lots × contract size × price in USD ÷ leverage

Pairs quoted in USD (EURUSD, GBPUSD…): position value = lots × 100,000 × price.
Pairs with USD as the base (USDJPY, USDCHF, USDCAD): position value = lots × 100,000 USD; no price needed.
Crosses (EURJPY, EURGBP…): you need the base currency’s rate against USD (EURUSD, GBPUSD).
Gold (XAUUSD): position value = lots × 100 ounces × gold price.

Examples

Trade	Leverage	Margin
1 lot EURUSD at 1.10	1:500	100,000 × 1.10 ÷ 500 = 220 USD
1 lot EURUSD at 1.10	1:100	1,100 USD
1 lot USDJPY	1:500	100,000 ÷ 500 = 200 USD
0.1 lot XAUUSD, assumed price 3,000	1:500	0.1 × 100 × 3,000 ÷ 500 = 60 USD

Margin level and stop out

Margin level = equity ÷ used margin × 100%. As a trade loses, equity and margin level fall. Every broker has a stop out level: below it, the broker closes your biggest losing trade automatically. The level differs between brokers and account types, so check your broker’s terms.

Margin tells you how big a trade you can open, not how big you should open. To size by risk, use the position size calculator.

FAQ

How much margin does 1 lot of EURUSD need?

Margin = 100,000 × the EURUSD price ÷ leverage. At a price of 1.10 and 1:500 leverage that is 220 USD; at 1:100 it is 1,100 USD.

Does higher leverage make a trade riskier?

Leverage only sets how much margin is held. Profit and loss per pip depend on the lot size. But high leverage lets you open far bigger trades than your balance, so accounts blow up faster when traders use it.

Why does my broker show a different margin?

Many brokers change leverage by position size, by instrument or around news, and some use fixed margin for gold or indices. The figure in your broker's terminal is the one that counts; this calculator is for estimating ahead.