TradingVital
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Position size calculator

How much to buy or sell so that, if your stop is hit, you lose exactly what you decided to risk. Results update as you type.

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What you accept to lose if it goes wrong. Usually 0.5% to 2%.
Below the entry if you buy, above it if you sell.
1 = no leverage (spot).
E.g. 0.02 (maker) or 0.06 (taker). If set, it is taken off the size.

Fill in account size, risk, entry and stop to see the result.

How it works

Size comes from the stop, not the other way round.

Risk = account × risk %
Size = risk ÷ |entry − stop|
Position value = size × entry
Margin = position value ÷ leverage
Pick the stop firstDecide where the trade idea is wrong (the stop) and then adjust the size so that, if it goes wrong, you lose what you had accepted.
An example$1,000 account, 1% risk ($10). Buy BTC at 65,000 with the stop at 63,700: 10 ÷ 1,300 = 0.0077 BTC, a position of about $500. With 5x you only lock $100 of margin.
Leverage does not change your riskWhat you lose at the stop depends on the size, not on the leverage. Leverage only changes the margin and brings the liquidation price closer.

FAQ

How do I calculate position size?

Divide the money you accept to lose (account × risk %) by the distance between your entry and your stop loss. The result is how much of the asset you can buy or sell so that, if the stop is hit, you lose exactly that amount.

Does leverage change the risk of a trade?

No. What you lose if the stop is hit depends on the position size. Leverage only reduces the margin you lock and moves the liquidation price closer.

What percentage of the account should I risk per trade?

Most traders risk between 0.5% and 2% per trade. At 1%, ten losses in a row leave the account at about 90% of its value; at 10% per trade, the same streak leaves it at about 35%.

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