Forex Margin Calculator

How to use the margin calculator

1. Currency pair and account currency.
2. Lot size. 1 for a standard lot (100,000 units of the base currency), 0.1 for a mini lot, 0.01 for a micro lot.
3. Leverage. Enter the ratio your broker gives you on that pair: 30 for 1:30, 50 for 1:50.

The result is the position's notional value and the margin the broker holds while it is open, in your account currency and in the pair's base currency.

How margin works

Leverage lets you control a position larger than your deposit. Margin is the slice of your account the broker locks while the trade is open.

margin = notional ÷ leverage

For 1 standard lot of EURUSD at 1:30 leverage, the notional is 100,000 EUR. Margin = 100,000 ÷ 30 = 3,333 EUR — which converts to your account currency at the current rate.

Retail leverage is capped by regulators. In the EU (ESMA rules): 1:30 on major currency pairs, 1:20 on other currency pairs, gold and major stock indices, and 1:10 on other commodities. In the US (NFA rules): 1:50 on major pairs and 1:20 on the rest. Professional accounts, and brokers outside these regions, can offer more.

Worked examples

• Account currency = base currency. One standard lot of USD/JPY in a dollar account at 1:30: the notional is $100,000, so the margin is $100,000 ÷ 30 = $3,333. At 1:50 it is $2,000.
• Account currency = quote currency. 0.50 lots of EUR/USD in a dollar account at 1:30, with EUR/USD at 1.1000: the notional is 50,000 euros, worth $55,000. The margin is $55,000 ÷ 30 ≈ $1,833.
• A non-major pair. 0.20 lots of EUR/AUD in a euro account at 1:20: 20,000 euros ÷ 20 = €1,000. Under EU rules only pairs made of USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, CAD and CHF count as majors, so AUD and NZD pairs are capped at 1:20.

Rates here are round examples; the calculator uses the latest ECB reference rate.

Brokers often quote margin as a percentage instead: 1 ÷ leverage, so 1:30 is 3.33%, 1:50 is 2% and 1:20 is 5%.

Margin is not the risk

Margin is a deposit the broker holds, not a cost and not a limit on what you can lose. A 0.50-lot EUR/USD trade needs about $1,833 in margin at 1:30, but a 20-pip stop risks $100 whatever the leverage. Size the trade from the stop with the position size calculator first, then use this page to check that the margin fits your account. What happens when it doesn't (margin level, margin call, stop-out) is covered in margin calls.

FAQ

How much margin do I need for 1 lot at 1:100?

1% of the notional. For USD/JPY in a dollar account that is $1,000. EU and US retail accounts can't use 1:100 on currency pairs.

Is margin the same for every pair?

No. Caps differ by pair: in the EU, 1:30 on majors and 1:20 on other pairs, so the same lot size needs 50% more margin on a non-major.

Is margin a fee?

No. It's collateral the broker holds while the trade is open and releases when you close it. Your costs are the spread, any commission, and swap.