Margin Calculator

Calculate the margin required to open a position at a given leverage, before you place the trade.

Margin required: $3,614.00
Position value: $108,420
Leverage: 1:30

Amounts in US dollars for a USD account. Example rates only; check your broker's price.

How it works

Margin is the portion of your account balance a broker sets aside as collateral to open and hold a leveraged position — it is not a fee, but funds reserved from your balance for as long as the position stays open. The amount required is a direct function of the position's notional value and the leverage the broker offers on that instrument: higher leverage means less margin is required to control the same size position, and vice versa. The formula is straightforward: margin = notional value ÷ leverage, where notional value is the position size in units multiplied by the current price (or, for a pair quoted directly against USD, simply the contract size times the exchange rate). Regulators such as the FCA and ESMA cap retail leverage on major currency pairs — often at 30:1 — specifically because uncapped leverage lets a trader control a dangerously large position from a small deposit. Understanding required margin before you trade tells you exactly how much of your account balance a position ties up, and how close you are to a margin call if the market moves against you.

Frequently asked questions

What is margin in forex trading?

Margin is the portion of your account balance a broker holds as collateral to open and maintain a leveraged position. It is calculated as the position's notional value divided by the leverage offered.

How is required margin calculated?

Margin = notional value ÷ leverage, where notional value is the position size in units multiplied by the relevant exchange rate. A $108,420 position at 30:1 leverage requires $3,614 of margin.

What happens if my margin runs low?

If your account equity falls too close to the margin required to keep your positions open, most brokers issue a margin call and, if it is not met, automatically close positions (a "stop-out") to protect against a negative balance.

Why do regulators cap leverage on forex trades?

Higher leverage means a smaller deposit controls a larger position, which magnifies losses just as much as gains. Regulators such as the FCA and ESMA cap retail leverage on major pairs — often at 30:1 — to limit how much retail traders can lose relative to their account size.

Worked example

Take 1 standard lot (100,000 units) of EUR/USD at a sample rate of 1.0842, with 30:1 leverage. Notional value = 100,000 × 1.0842 = $108,420 Margin required = notional value ÷ leverage = $108,420 ÷ 30 = $3,614 At 100:1 leverage instead, the same position needs only $1,084.20 of margin — a third as much capital tied up to control the identical $108,420 position, which is exactly why leverage limits exist: the position's risk hasn't changed, only how much of your own money is required to hold it.

This is the margin for a single new position in isolation — brokers calculate total required margin across your entire account, so existing open positions reduce the free margin available for a new one. Margin requirements, and the maximum leverage on offer, vary by broker, by instrument and by your regulatory jurisdiction; always confirm the exact figures with your broker before trading.

Terms in this calculation

Next step

Guide

Margin Calls and Stop-Outs Explained

Balance, equity and margin level explained — how a margin call differs from a stop-out, which position closes first, and when a gap outruns the system.

Read the guide

Definition:Margin