Margin calculator
Pick the pair, lots, and leverage — we tell you how much margin you need.
Live reference quotes (refreshed every ~60s), not pinned to the moment of your trade.
Frequently asked questions
1What is margin?
The capital your broker holds to keep a leveraged position open. The higher the leverage, the lower the margin required.
2Is more leverage better?
Not necessarily: it lowers the required margin but amplifies gains and losses equally. It is an exposure tool, not a risk-management one.
3What is the difference between margin and risk?
Margin is what gets locked to open the position; risk is what you can actually lose if price runs against you to your stop. They are distinct: you can use little margin and still risk a lot.
4What is a margin call?
The broker's warning when your equity falls below the required margin. If you don't add funds, it may close positions automatically (stop out). A comfortable margin lowers that risk.
5Does margin change by pair?
Yes: it depends on the base currency value converted to dollars, which is why the calculation uses live quotes, along with the position size and leverage.
