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Margin Calculator — Forex & CFD Trading

The margin calculator shows how much collateral your broker requires to open a leveraged position. Understanding margin requirements is critical to avoid margin calls and forced position closures. This tool supports all major forex pairs and CFD instruments with custom leverage settings from 1:1 to 1:2000. Experienced traders always calculate their required margin before opening a position to ensure they maintain sufficient free margin as a buffer against adverse price movements.

Updated August 7, 2026

Margin CalculatorResults update instantly

Lot Size

Contract Size (units/lot)

Market Price (USD)

Leverage (e.g. 100 for 1:100)

Results

Required Margin

$1,085.00

Notional Value

$108,500.00

Margin %

1.00%

Leverage Ratio

1:100

Formula Used

Required Margin = (Lot Size × Contract Size × Market Price) ÷ Leverage

How to Use the Margin Calculator — Step by Step

1
Enter your lot size
Type the number of lots you intend to trade. Standard lots are 1.0, mini lots 0.1, and micro lots 0.01.
2
Select the contract size
Choose the contract size for your instrument — 100,000 for forex standard, or 1 for stocks and crypto.
3
Enter the current market price
Input the current price of the instrument you are trading.
4
Set your leverage ratio
Enter the leverage provided by your broker (e.g. 100 for 1:100 leverage). Higher leverage means lower margin requirement but higher risk.
5
Read your required margin
The calculator shows the exact dollar amount your broker will reserve as margin, plus the total notional value of the position.

About the Margin Calculator

This free margin calculator works directly in your browser — no download, no registration, and no delay. All calculations are performed client-side, so your trading data is never transmitted to a server.

The formula used is: Required Margin = (Lot Size × Contract Size × Market Price) ÷ Leverage. This is the same formula used by professional traders and institutional risk managers worldwide.

Supported asset classes include: Forex, Stocks, Crypto. Each asset class applies the correct unit conventions so results are always accurate regardless of the market you are trading.

Margin Calculator — Frequently Asked Questions

Q.What is margin in forex trading?

Margin is a good-faith deposit your broker requires to open a leveraged position. It is not a fee — it is a portion of your account equity reserved as collateral. Once the trade closes, margin is released back to your free balance.

Q.What is the difference between margin and leverage?

Leverage is the ratio of trade size to margin. 1:100 leverage means you control $100,000 with $1,000 margin. Higher leverage requires less margin but increases risk proportionally.

Q.What happens if I get a margin call?

A margin call occurs when your account equity falls below the required margin level (often 100%). Your broker will close positions automatically to prevent your balance going negative. Always maintain a margin level above 200% to be safe.

Q.How much margin do I need for 1 standard lot of EUR/USD?

At 1:100 leverage: Required Margin = (100,000 × 1.10) ÷ 100 = $1,100. At 1:500 leverage: $220. At 1:30 leverage (EU regulated): $3,667.

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