What percentage should I risk per trade?

There is no universally correct number. Many risk-management frameworks discuss 0.5%–2% of account equity per position, because it keeps a normal losing streak survivable. The right figure for you depends on your strategy, capital and tolerance for loss.

Where do I get the pip value per standard lot?

For pairs quoted in your account currency it is normally 10 units per standard lot. For anything else, use the pip value calculator to convert it first, then paste the result here.

Why does my broker show a slightly different risk?

Lot rounding, spread, commission and slippage all move the real outcome. Treat the calculated size as an upper bound and round down rather than up.

FX Vector Lab · Calculator

Position size calculator

Size a trade from the risk you are willing to lose rather than a round-number lot. Enter your balance, the percentage you will risk and where your stop sits — the calculator returns the lot size that matches.

Position size

0.40 lots

Capital at risk: $100.00
Units of base currency: 40,000
Mini lots (0.1): 4.0
Micro lots (0.01): 40
Value per pip: $4.00

Position size = (balance × risk %) ÷ (stop distance in pips × pip value per lot). Rounded lot sizes and broker minimums may shift your real risk slightly.

How this calculator works

The calculation is deliberately simple: your cash risk is the account balance multiplied by your risk percentage. Dividing that by the loss a single lot would take at your stop distance gives the position size.

Position size (lots) = (balance × risk %) ÷ (stop in pips × pip value per lot)

Because the stop distance sits in the denominator, a wider stop automatically produces a smaller position. That is the point: the loss stays constant while the trade adapts to market structure, instead of the stop being squeezed to fit a fixed lot size.

Two practical notes. First, round the result down to the nearest tradeable increment so you stay under your intended risk. Second, remember that a stop is not a guarantee — gaps and slippage can fill you worse than your level, particularly around scheduled news releases and weekend opens.

Frequently asked questions

What percentage should I risk per trade?: There is no universally correct number. Many risk-management frameworks discuss 0.5%–2% of account equity per position, because it keeps a normal losing streak survivable. The right figure for you depends on your strategy, capital and tolerance for loss.
Where do I get the pip value per standard lot?: For pairs quoted in your account currency it is normally 10 units per standard lot. For anything else, use the pip value calculator to convert it first, then paste the result here.
Why does my broker show a slightly different risk?: Lot rounding, spread, commission and slippage all move the real outcome. Treat the calculated size as an upper bound and round down rather than up.