Margin Calculator — Forex & CFD Trading
Calculate the required margin for any forex or CFD trade — enter your lot size, leverage, and currency pair to instantly see how much collateral your broker needs to open the position. Supports all major pairs with leverage from 1:1 to 1:2000.
Updated · Reviewed by Foysal Mostafa
Results
Required Margin
$1,085.00
Notional Value
$108,500.00
Margin %
1.00%
Leverage Ratio
1:100
Why Use the Margin Calculator?
Opening a leveraged position without checking your margin requirement is one of the fastest ways to get a margin call. If you don't have enough free margin, your broker will reject the order or — worse — close your other positions automatically. This margin calculator shows you exactly how much collateral your broker will lock up for any trade size and leverage level, so you always know your available free margin before you click Buy or Sell.
Formula Used
Required Margin = (Lot Size × Contract Size × Market Price) ÷ LeverageWorked Example
Example: 1 standard lot of EUR/USD at price 1.1000 with 1:100 leverage. Required Margin = (1 × 100,000 × 1.10) ÷ 100 = $1,100. At 1:500 leverage: $220. At 1:30 (EU regulated): $3,667. The margin requirement drops as leverage increases — but your risk stays the same.
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.
What Your Margin Calculator Results Mean
Required Margin
The dollar amount your broker reserves as collateral to open this position. This reduces your free margin by this amount for the duration of the trade.
Notional Value
The total face value of the position you are controlling — your lot size multiplied by the contract size and current price. This is your real market exposure.
Free Margin After Trade
Your remaining available margin after opening this position. Keep this well above zero — a margin level below 100% triggers a margin call at most brokers.
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.
Q.What is a safe margin level to maintain in forex?
A margin level above 200% is considered safe. At 100%, a margin call is imminent. At 50% (the stop-out level at most brokers), positions start closing automatically. Professional traders keep margin level above 500% — meaning they only use a fraction of their available leverage, giving plenty of buffer against adverse moves.
About the Author
Forex Trader & Software Developer · Founder, TradeCalc
Active forex trader since 2019, specializing in risk management and systematic position sizing. Built TradeCalc to replace manual spreadsheets used in live trading. Every calculator is cross-verified against broker platforms before publishing.
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