Position size calculator: how big should this trade be?
The traders who last aren't the ones who pick the most winners. They're the ones no single trade can hurt. Enter your account, risk and stop — see the exact size where a loss costs only what you chose.
Enter your entry and stop to see your size.
How it works: money at risk = account × risk %. Distance = entry − stop. Size = money at risk ÷ (distance × value per unit). A wider stop gives a smaller size — the money at risk stays the same.
Forex? Use the lot size calculator — it works in pips and lots. Futures? Common point values: ES $50, MES $5, NQ $20, MNQ $2. Always double-check with your broker before a real trade.
Why size matters more than entries
Two traders take the same trade. One risks 1%, the other 10%. After a normal losing streak, one is fine and the other is in trouble. The entry was the same — only the size was different. Read more in How much should you risk per trade?
Make this a habit, not a one-off. Lesson 2 of our free email course is all about risk: the 1% rule, where the stop goes, and the 2-loss rule. Send me the free lessons →
Want the next step? We'll walk you through it.
Four free lessons by email, one every few days — each with a 10-minute exercise on a real chart.
Send Me the Free Lessons 4 short emails · No spam · Unsubscribe anytimeOr see the whole method, step by step:
See What’s Inside the Course Try everything free first. Decide when you're ready. · Open the free chart tool (works in the TradingView phone app)One chart idea a day, in plain English. Follow along: