Margin calculator
Margin is the deposit your broker holds while a leveraged position is open. It is set by the position’s full value and the leverage allowed for that instrument.
Margin is a deposit, not the most you can lose: profit and loss are calculated on the full position value. EU and UK retail positions are closed out when equity falls to 50% of required margin.
Prices are prefilled from delayed market quotes and cross rates are derived from them. Edit the price to use your broker’s. Results are estimates; your broker’s contract specification is what counts.
How it works
- Position value = units × price of the base currency in your account currency.
- Required margin = position value ÷ leverage (30:1 means 3.33%, 20:1 means 5%).
- For EU retail clients ESMA caps leverage at 30:1 on major pairs and 20:1 on other pairs and gold.
Questions
Is margin the most I can lose?
No. Gains and losses are calculated on the full position value, not on the margin. Negative balance protection stops a retail account going below zero, but the whole balance can be lost.
What happens when my margin runs low?
Brokers send a margin call and, for EU and UK retail clients, must start closing positions when equity falls to 50% of the margin required.
Which pairs count as majors for the 30:1 limit?
Under ESMA rules, any pair made only of USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, CAD and CHF. AUD and NZD pairs are 20:1.
Learn more
Not investment advice. This is general information and education, written without knowledge of your circumstances. It is not a recommendation to buy or sell any instrument. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Trading leveraged products carries a high risk of losing money. Risk warning