Risk-first sizing
Set your risk as a percentage of your account or a fixed amount. The calculator sizes the position so hitting your stop loss costs exactly that, never more.
Stocks · Forex · Crypto
Position Size Calculator for Smarter Risk Management
Work out exactly how many shares, lots or coins to buy so a stop loss only costs the amount you are willing to risk. This free position size calculator also shows your risk-to-reward ratio, profit targets, capital and margin needed.
- Risk by % or amount
- Forex lots & pips
- Risk-reward & R targets
- Long & short
Enter entry & stop
1Account and risk
Risk per trade 1% is a common starting point
2Trade setup
The smallest amount your exchange lets you trade.
Example: trading EUR/USD with a GBP account, enter the USD to GBP rate.
Position size–Enter your balance, risk, entry and stop loss
Amount at risk–
Position value–
Stop distance–
Risk : reward–
Profit at target–
Capital needed–
| Target | Price | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| R targets appear here | ||
Calculations exclude brokerage, fees and slippage, which can make a real loss slightly larger. For education and planning, not investment advice.
Why it’s better
One position size calculator for every market
Most position sizing tools only handle forex lots or only handle shares. This one covers stocks, forex and crypto, long and short, and shows the full picture of the trade.
Forex lots and pip value
Get standard, mini and micro lots, stop distance in pips and pip value, even when your account currency differs from the pair.
Crypto-ready
Choose your exchange’s quantity step, from whole coins down to 0.000001, and the size is rounded down so you never exceed your risk.
Risk-reward and R targets
Add a take profit to see your risk-to-reward ratio, plus ready-made 1R, 2R and 3R price targets with the profit at each.
Visual price ladder
A clear ladder shows your stop, entry and target zones, with long or short detected automatically from where you place the stop.
Built-in safety checks
Warnings flag risk above 2%, positions larger than your account, poor risk-reward, and targets on the wrong side of your entry.
| Feature | This calculator | Typical calculator |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks, forex and crypto | All three | Usually one market |
| Long and short | Auto-detected | Often long only |
| Risk-reward and R targets | Yes | Rarely |
| Leverage and margin | Yes | Sometimes |
| Risk warnings | Yes | No |
The formula
How to calculate position size
Position sizing starts with how much you are willing to lose, not how much you want to buy. Divide the amount you are risking by the loss on each share or unit if your stop loss is hit.
Position size = Amount at risk ÷ |Entry price − Stop loss price|
Stock example
- Account of ₹5,00,000, risking 1% = ₹5,000.
- Buy at ₹2,450 with a stop loss at ₹2,400: risk per share = ₹50.
- Position size = 5,000 ÷ 50 = 100 shares, worth ₹2,45,000.
- If the stop is hit, you lose about ₹5,000 plus charges, exactly 1% of the account.
Forex example
- USD account of $10,000, risking 1% = $100.
- Buy EUR/USD at 1.0850 with a stop at 1.0820: a 30-pip stop.
- Pip value per unit is $0.0001, so units = 100 ÷ (30 × 0.0001) = 33,333 units.
- That is about 0.33 standard lots, or 3 mini lots and 3 micro lots.
| Lot | Units | Pip value (0.0001 pip) | Pip value (JPY pair, 0.01 pip) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 100,000 | 10 | 1,000 JPY |
| Mini | 10,000 | 1 | 100 JPY |
| Micro | 1,000 | 0.10 | 10 JPY |
| Nano | 100 | 0.01 | 1 JPY |
How it works
How to use the position size calculator
Pick your market
Choose Stocks, Forex or Crypto. Forex adds pip size and currency options; Crypto adds your exchange’s quantity step.
Set your risk
Enter your account balance and how much to risk, as a percentage or a fixed amount.
Plan the trade
Enter your entry and stop loss. A stop below entry means long, above entry means short. Add a target for risk-reward.
Place the order
Use the position size shown, check the warnings, and copy the trade plan for your journal.
Risk management
Why traders risk only 1–2% per trade
Losing streaks happen to every trader. Small risk per trade keeps a streak from wiping out your account. The table shows what 10 losses in a row do to your balance, and the gain needed to get back to where you started.
| Risk per trade | Account drawdown | Gain needed to recover |
|---|---|---|
| 1% | 9.6% | 10.6% |
| 2% | 18.3% | 22.4% |
| 5% | 40.1% | 67.0% |
| 10% | 65.1% | 186.8% |
Risk-reward and win rate
- With a 1:1 risk-reward you need to win more than 50% of trades to profit.
- At 1:2, a win rate above 33% is enough.
- At 1:3, you only need to win more than 25% of the time.
- Break-even win rate = 1 ÷ (1 + reward-to-risk), before costs.
Placing a good stop loss
- Put the stop where your trade idea is proven wrong, such as below support, not at a random distance.
- Let the stop decide the position size, not the other way round.
- Allow for normal volatility so everyday noise does not stop you out.
- Remember gaps and slippage can make a real loss larger than planned.
FAQ
Position size calculator: frequently asked questions
What is position sizing?
Position sizing is deciding how many shares, lots or coins to trade so that, if your stop loss is hit, you lose only a planned amount. It is one of the most important parts of risk management because it controls how much any single trade can hurt your account.
How much should I risk per trade?
Many traders risk between 0.5% and 2% of their account on each trade, with 1% a common starting point. Lower risk means smaller swings in your account and more room to survive losing streaks while you learn.
How do I calculate lot size in forex?
Divide the amount you are risking by the stop distance in pips multiplied by the pip value per unit. For EUR/USD with a USD account, risking $100 with a 25-pip stop gives 100 ÷ (25 × 0.0001) = 40,000 units, or 0.4 standard lots.
Does this work for short selling?
Yes. If your stop loss is above your entry price, the calculator treats the trade as a short. The position size formula is the same; only the direction of the stop and target changes.
What is a good risk-to-reward ratio?
Many traders look for at least 1:2, meaning the potential profit is twice the potential loss. A higher ratio lets you be profitable with a lower win rate, but targets that are too far away may rarely be reached.
How does leverage change position size?
It does not change the correct position size. Your risk is still set by the stop loss. Leverage only reduces the capital or margin needed to open the position, which is why the calculator shows margin separately.
Why is my position size rounded down?
You can only buy whole shares on most stock exchanges, and crypto exchanges have a minimum quantity step. Rounding down keeps your real risk at or below your limit instead of slightly above it.
Do charges and slippage affect the result?
Yes. Brokerage, fees, spreads and slippage all add to the real loss if your stop is hit. Leave a small buffer, for example risking 0.9% when your limit is 1%, if your costs are significant.
Size every trade before you place it
Know your risk, your reward and your exact position size in seconds. Free, private and built for stocks, forex and crypto.
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