Leverage calculator
Lot size, contract size, price and balance: how large the position is next to your own money, and what a one per cent move does to the balance.
This page explains the inputs on the leverage calculator and how to read its result. It is a learning tool, not a signal to trade.
What each input means
Balance is the money in your trading account that you can use as margin. You can find it on the account summary screen of your trading platform. Position size is the full value of the trade you plan to open, not the money you set aside. The platform shows it when you preview an order, and you can also work it out from price and quantity.
The leverage ratio is the setting that links your balance to the position size. Your platform shows it on the order ticket or in the account settings. Price is the current market level of the instrument you are looking at. It appears at the top of the chart and on the order screen. Some platforms also ask for the instrument type, because each market has its own contract size.
How to read the result
The result shows the margin the platform may hold against the position at the stated ratio. It also shows how large the position is compared with your balance. A higher ratio means a smaller margin block, but the exposure to price moves stays the same. Read the two figures together, not the ratio alone.
The result does not include spread, commission or swap, so real costs are higher. It does not cover gaps, where price jumps past your exit level. It does not cover fast price changes between the moment you calculate and the moment you trade. Treat it as one input among several, and check the order ticket before you confirm anything.
A common mistake is changing the ratio until the margin looks small and then treating that as safe. The ratio changes the margin block, not the risk in the position.