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Forex Margin Calculator

Pick a currency pair, your lot size and leverage to see exactly how much margin the trade needs in your account currency. Add your balance to get free margin, margin level and how many pips you can lose before a margin call.

Last updated:

Trade

Current quote from your broker, e.g. 1.0850 or 150.25.

Fractions are fine, e.g. 0.3

units
1:
Account
Your account currency is

Example: USD account trading EUR/GBP → enter the EUR/USD rate (about 1.085).

$

Adds free margin, margin level and maximum position.

%

Margin level at which your broker warns or stops new trades (often 100%).

Enter your values to see the result.
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How to use the Forex Margin Calculator

  1. Choose the currency pair and enter its current price.
  2. Set the trade size in lots or custom units.
  3. Select your leverage, for example 1:30 or 1:50.
  4. Tell the calculator your account currency; for a third currency, enter the base-to-account rate.
  5. Optionally add your balance to see free margin, margin level and the distance to a margin call.

Forex margin formula

Required margin = units × base-currency value in account currency ÷ leverage

  • Account in the quote currency (USD on EUR/USD): margin = units × price ÷ leverage.
  • Account in the base currency (USD on USD/JPY): margin = units ÷ leverage.
  • Account in a third currency (USD on EUR/GBP): margin = units × EUR/USD rate ÷ leverage.
  • Margin level = equity ÷ used margin × 100; free margin = equity − used margin.

Margin for 1 standard lot (USD account)

Pair (example rate)1:201:301:501:1001:500
EUR/USD (1.0850)$5,425$3,617$2,170$1,085$217
GBP/USD (1.2700)$6,350$4,233$2,540$1,270$254
AUD/USD (0.6600)$3,300$2,200$1,320$660$132
USD/JPY, USD/CAD, USD/CHF$5,000$3,333$2,000$1,000$200
EUR/GBP (EUR/USD 1.0850)$5,425$3,617$2,170$1,085$217

Rates are examples only. Mini lots need one tenth of these amounts, micro lots one hundredth.

Margin tips

  • Keep plenty of free margin: a trade that uses most of your balance can hit a margin call after a small move.
  • Lower leverage on your account does not lower the margin rate set by your broker, but it does mean smaller positions relative to your balance.
  • Some brokers charge higher margin rates on exotic pairs, before weekends or around major news. Check the contract specifications.

Frequently asked questions

How is forex margin calculated?

Required margin = position value ÷ leverage. The position value is the number of units of the base currency, converted into your account currency. For 1 standard lot of EUR/USD at 1.0850 with a USD account and 1:30 leverage: 100,000 × 1.0850 ÷ 30 = $3,616.67.

What if my account currency is the base currency?

Then no conversion is needed: margin = units ÷ leverage. For 1 standard lot of USD/JPY with a USD account at 1:50, the margin is 100,000 ÷ 50 = $2,000, whatever the yen rate.

What is margin level?

Margin level = equity ÷ used margin × 100. Brokers use it to decide when to warn you (margin call, often at 100%) and when to start closing positions automatically (stop out, often 50% or lower). The exact levels depend on your broker.

What is free margin?

Free margin is equity minus the margin already used by open trades. It is the money available to open new positions and to absorb losses on existing ones.

How much leverage can I use?

It depends on where you trade. US forex dealers may offer up to 50:1 on major pairs and 20:1 on other pairs, and retail clients in the EU and UK are limited to 30:1 on major pairs and 20:1 on minor pairs. Brokers elsewhere may offer more. Check your broker's current terms.

Does margin change while the trade is open?

For pairs where the account currency is not the base currency, the margin is recalculated as the exchange rate moves, so it changes slightly. Your equity also changes with open profit or loss, which moves your margin level.

Is margin a fee?

No. Margin is a deposit held by the broker while the trade is open and released when you close it. Your costs are the spread, commission and overnight swap.

Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?

Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.

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