Forex margin calculator
Updated 2026-09-19
Margin is the amount your broker sets aside in your account to keep a leveraged position open. It isn't a cost: it becomes available again when you close. But if free margin drops too far, you risk a margin call.
Required margin: 3,666.67
Notional position value: 110,000.00
Margin percentage: 3.33%
Educational tool: results are estimates and depend on the values you enter. Not financial advice. Trading involves risk.
The formula
Margin = (lots × contract size × base-currency rate in account currency) ÷ leverage. The standard contract size is 100,000 units.
Example
1 lot on EUR/USD with a USD account, rate 1.10 and leverage 1:30: (1 × 100,000 × 1.10) ÷ 30 = about 3,667 USD of margin.
Margin and risk
High leverage lowers the margin required but not the possible loss: that depends on position size and stop. Using all available leverage is one of the most common causes of blown accounts.
Margin level and margin call
Margin level is equity ÷ used margin × 100. Each broker sets a threshold (for example 100% for a margin call and 50% for stop out): below it, positions may be closed automatically.
Frequently asked questions
What is free margin?
It is account equity minus the margin already committed: it shows how much you can still use for new positions and to absorb losses.
Which leverage should I choose?
For retail clients in Europe and the UK the maximum leverage on major forex pairs is 1:30. Lower leverage doesn't cap your gains if you size from your stop, but it reduces the risk of overexposure.
Is margin a fee?
No. It is a deposit held while the position is open.