Tools / Margin Calculator

Forex Margin Calculator

See the margin a trade locks and the effective leverage you are actually running across the account.

Free · no signup · margin and effective leverage together
live rates
Instrument
Account currency
Position size (lots)
Current EURUSD price prefilled from the live rate
Leverage
Account equity optional - unlocks effective leverage
Margin required
1,161.01USD
Position value$116,101.00
Margin rate1.00% · 1:100
$116,101.00 controlled1.00% down

This position ties up $1,161.01 to control $116,101.00. Is that the exposure you meant to take?

Connect your account and Helix AI tracks the leverage you actually run on every trade - and flags when a position outgrows your plan.

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New to this? Read the margin explainer in plain English.

How margin and leverage work

Margin is the deposit held while a leveraged position is open. Leverage is the ratio that determines how small that deposit can be relative to the exposure it controls. More leverage frees margin, but it also makes it easier to carry more exposure than the account can support.

The formula

Required margin = position value / leverage. One standard lot of EURUSD at 1.10 controls $110,000, so at 1:100 leverage it requires about $1,100 of margin.

Effective leverage is the number to watch

The account may allow 1:100, but a $110,000 position on $10,000 of equity is 11x effective leverage. That ratio describes the exposure you are actually carrying, regardless of the maximum the account permits.

Frequently asked questions

How is required margin calculated?
Divide the position value by the leverage. Position value comes from size, contract size, price, and any account-currency conversion.
What is the difference between margin and leverage?
Leverage is the permitted exposure ratio. Margin is the actual capital set aside to hold the position.
Does higher leverage increase risk?
Leverage changes capacity, not the loss at your stop. Risk increases when the extra capacity is used to open more size or exposure.
Do I need a TradeDNA account?
No. The calculator is free and standalone. A TradeDNA account tracks the leverage you actually use trade by trade.
Forex Margin Calculator - Required Margin & Leverage | TradeDNA