Free Tool - No Sign-up Required

Futures Contract Risk Calculator

Calculate exact position size, stop loss risk, margin requirements, and profit targets for NQ, ES, YM, RTY, CL, GC and all Micro variants. Instant results.

Calculate Position Size How It Works ↓
12+
Futures Contracts
1:3
Profit Targets
100%
Free Forever
0
Sign-ups Needed
Position Size Calculator

Calculate Your Exact
Contract Size

Enter your trade details. The calculator instantly shows contracts, total risk, margin, and profit targets.

Futures Risk Calculator
Live Calculation
Point value: $2.00 per point
$
%
Professionals risk 0.5% – 2% per trade
pts
Distance in points (not ticks)
Results
-
Recommended Contracts
Total Risk $
-
Risk / Contract
-
Point Value
-
Est. Margin Needed
-
Profit Targets
1:1 Risk/Reward -
1:2 Risk/Reward -
1:3 Risk/Reward -

⚠ Estimates only. Margin requirements vary by broker and contract. Verify before trading. This is not financial advice.

How It Works

Calculate Your Position
in 3 Steps

01

Enter Your Trade Details

Select your futures contract (NQ, ES, YM, etc.), enter your account size, risk percentage, and stop loss distance in points.

02

Instant Risk Calculation

The calculator divides your risk amount by your per-contract risk to show the optimal number of contracts - no manual math or spreadsheets.

03

Trade with a Clear Plan

See your exact contracts, total risk, margin required, and profit targets at 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 risk-reward ratios before you enter.

Contracts = Risk $ ÷ (Stop Loss pts × Point Value) Risk $    = Account Size × Risk %
Example: $50,000 account × 1% risk = $500. Stop loss 10 pts on MNQ ($2/pt) = $500 ÷ $20 = 25 contracts.
Supported Contracts

All Major Futures
Contracts Supported

From Nasdaq Micro contracts to Gold futures - our calculator supports every major CME instrument.

💻

NQ - Nasdaq-100

Tech / Index

Trade the tech-heavy Nasdaq-100. Available in E-mini (NQ) and Micro (MNQ) sizes.

E-mini
$20/pt
Micro
$2/pt
📊

ES - S&P 500

Index

The world's most liquid futures contract. Benchmark U.S. equity index.

E-mini
$50/pt
Micro
$5/pt
🏭

YM - Dow Jones

Index

Trade the 30-stock Dow Jones Industrial Average via E-mini or Micro futures.

E-mini
$5/pt
Micro
$0.50/pt
📉

RTY - Russell 2000

Small Cap

Access U.S. small-cap exposure through E-mini RTY or Micro M2K.

E-mini
$50/pt
Micro
$5/pt
🛢️

CL - Crude Oil

Commodity

WTI crude oil - among the most volatile instruments. Micro CL offers 1/10th the standard size.

Standard
$1,000/pt
Micro
$100/pt
🥇

GC - Gold

Commodity

Trade precious metals with Gold futures (GC) or Micro Gold (MGC) for smaller accounts.

Standard
$100/pt
Micro
$10/pt
Risk Management

Protect Your Capital
with Proper Sizing

The most common reason traders blow up accounts isn't bad entries - it's oversizing. Position sizing is the single most controllable variable in your trading.

✓
Use stop losses on every trade. Define your maximum risk before you enter. Never "hope" a trade recovers.
✓
Risk 0.5% – 2% per trade. Beginners start at 0.5%–1%. Scale up only as your equity grows consistently.
✓
Start with Micro contracts. MNQ, MES, and MYM let you learn with real money and lower capital at risk.
✓
Verify margin with your broker. Day trading margins differ from overnight margins. Confirm before placing the trade.
✓
Log every trade. Use a trading journal like Rulebook to track your discipline alongside your P&L.
Risk % vs. Account Survival
0.5% per trade ✓ Recommended
1% – 2% per trade ✓ Standard
5% per trade ⚠ Caution
10%+ per trade ✗ Avoid
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything traders ask about futures position sizing and our calculator.

Futures position size = Risk Amount ÷ (Stop Loss in Points × Point Value). First calculate your risk amount: Account Size × Risk %. Then divide by your per-contract risk. For example: $50,000 account, 1% risk ($500), 10-point stop on MNQ ($2/point) = $500 ÷ (10 × $2) = 25 contracts.
NQ Micro (MNQ) has a point value of $2 per point. The E-mini NQ has a $20 point value - exactly 10 times larger. So if the Nasdaq futures move 50 points, you gain or lose $100 per MNQ contract, or $1,000 per NQ E-mini contract.
Most professional futures traders risk between 0.5% and 2% of their account per trade. Beginners should start at 0.5%–1% to preserve capital while learning. Risking more than 2% per trade significantly increases the chance of severe drawdowns.
Micro futures are 1/10th the size of their E-mini counterparts. For example, MNQ (Micro NQ) has a $2/point value versus NQ E-mini at $20/point. Micros allow more precise position sizing and are ideal for smaller accounts or risk-sensitive strategies.
Day trading margins vary by broker and typically range from $50–$500 per Micro contract and $500–$17,000 per E-mini contract. Overnight margins are significantly higher. Always verify margin requirements with your specific broker before placing a trade.
Absolutely. Prop firm evaluations have strict drawdown rules, making position sizing even more critical. Enter your evaluation account size and use 0.5%–1% risk to stay within daily loss limits. Pair this calculator with Rulebook to journal every trade and track your discipline.
Ready to Trade with Discipline?

Size your position.
Then journal the trade.

Pair proper risk management with a trading journal that enforces your rules. Build your playbook, set your daily limit, track your discipline - free.

Start Journaling Free
Rulebook.Trade

The trading journal built around discipline - not just data. Build your playbook, enforce your limits, track rule adherence, earn your legacy.

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