Position Size & Lot Calculator for Forex and Gold

Lot size = (capital × risk %) ÷ (stop distance in pips × pip value per lot). A $1,000 account risking 1% with a 100-pip stop and $10 pip value → 0.01 lots. The correct order is always: set the stop first, then derive the size.

Position size (lot) calculator

The lot size that keeps your loss inside your risk limit.

Account balance ($) Risk per trade (%) Stop-loss distance (pips) Pip value per 1 lot ($)

Verify your instrument's pip value from your broker's contract specification or via the pip calculator.

Why this is the most important calculator in trading

Every risk-management rule flows through this single number: lot size is what turns "I risk 1%" from a slogan into a measurable reality.

The most account-destroying error is not bad analysis but wrong sizing: a correct stop with a doubled lot means a doubled loss. That is why size is computed after the stop, never before.

Capital	1% risk	100-pip stop	50-pip stop
$500	$5	0.005 lots	0.01 lots
$1,000	$10	0.01 lots	0.02 lots
$5,000	$50	0.05 lots	0.10 lots

Note: a tighter stop allows a larger size at the same risk — see gold position sizing and adapting size to volatility.

Frequently asked questions

What if the result is below the minimum lot?

If the result is below your broker's minimum lot (usually 0.01), your options are a tighter stop if the market allows it, a cent account, or declining the trade — entering at the minimum would exceed your risk percentage.

Do I calculate on balance or original capital?

Always on the current balance. After losses the risk amount shrinks automatically, slowing the bleed; after gains it grows gradually.

⚠️ Educational tool, not financial advice. Verify contract specifications with your broker. Trading is high-risk. Risk Disclosure