Margin calculator

Calculate margin requirements and determine how much capital you need to open positions across Forex, Stocks, Stock Indices, Commodities, and Cryptocurrency CFDs before you trade.

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How to calculate margin requirements

Use this formula to calculate how much margin is required based on your lot size, leverage ratio, and the current market price.

Formula

Required margin = Volume ÷ Effective leverage*
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* Use the denominator of the Effective leverage ratio, 1 : XXXX.
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Volume is calculated based on the following formula:
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Forex: Lots x Contract size x BSE/USD*
Other: Lots x Contract size x Execution price x QTE/USD**
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*BSE/USD is the conversion rate from the base currency (BSE), referred to as the "Margin Currency" in MT5, to USD.
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**QTE/USD is the conversion rate from the quote currency (QTE), referred to as the "Profit Currency" in MT5, to USD.

Example

You are trading 0.25 lots of EUR/GBP with leverage of 1:1000. The EUR to USD conversion rate is 1.10634.

The margin required is USD 27.66 to open the above position.

Note: These are approximate values only and will differ depending on the leverage that is set for your account and the asset you want to trade.

How to use the Deriv margin calculator

1

Select trading instrument

Choose your trading instrument, from Forex, Stocks, Commodities, Crypto, and more.

2

Enter position size

Input your trading volume in lots. You can also edit the asset price to tailor the calculation to your trading strategy.

3

View margin requirement

See exact margin needed for your selected trading instrument.

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Why use Deriv’s margin calculator

Deriv’s margin calculator helps you determine how much margin each trade requires and plan additional positions without overexposing your account.

Avoid margin call risk

Check required margin before opening a trade to reduce the risk of automatic position closures.

Control your trade size

Calculate the right position size that fits your available capital and risk tolerance.

Manage multiple positions

See how much margin each trade uses so you can plan additional positions.

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Your questions answered

What is margin in trading?



Margin is the amount of capital required to open a leveraged position. It's not a fee, it's a portion of your funds held as collateral allowing you to control larger positions with smaller capital. Margin requirements vary by instrument type, leverage ratio, and market volatility.

What is the difference between margin and leverage?

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Margin is the amount you need to open a position. Leverage is the multiplier that increases your exposure. A higher leverage means lower margin but higher risk.

What are the different types of margin in trading?

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Required margin - Minimum deposit needed to open a position
Used margin - Total margin currently allocated to open positions
Free margin - Available margin for new positions
Margin level - Ratio of equity to used margin (expressed as percentage)

When you trade with leverage, your margin requirement depends on:

Instrument (e.g. EUR/USD vs BTC/USD)
Trade size (in lots or units)
Leverage ratio (e.g. 1:50, 1:100, 1:500)

Why do margin requirements increase during news events or volatility?



When markets become unstable such as during big news events, prices can change quickly and unpredictably. To reduce the risk of large losses, brokers may temporarily increase the margin needed to open new trades. This helps ensure your account has enough funds to handle bigger price swings.

What happens if my margin level falls below 100%?

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When margin level drops below 100%, you receive a margin call. If the level continues declining, positions may be automatically closed to protect your account.

Do weekends affect margin requirements?

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Some brokers increase margin requirements before weekends due to gap risk. Cryptocurrency markets remain active, maintaining standard margin requirements.

What happens if I don’t have enough margin?

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Your trade won’t open. If your existing margin falls below maintenance level, we may trigger a margin call or auto-close positions.