Risk Parameters
Trade Setup
Position Size Result
Quick Point / Tick → Dollar Converter
Risk first. Size second.
Most calculators start with margin and leverage. This one starts with how much cash you can afford to lose — because that's the only number that actually matters.
Establish the Max Risk Bound First
Before charts, before technicals — you set your maximum dollar loss for this trade. Not based on margin. Not based on overall equity. A fixed cash amount: your absolute shield. Dynamic variables like account leverage can create a false sense of security. This number doesn't move.
Calculate the True Cost of One Contract
Futures contracts have rigid, immutable specifications. Your stop loss distance in points or ticks immediately yields an exact dollar cost per contract: Stop Distance × Contract Multiplier. There is no ambiguity — you know precisely what one contract costs you if stopped out, before you place a single order.
Apply the Decision Matrix
With your risk ceiling and contract cost defined, the engine outputs one of three outcomes — the same three you see in the results panel:
This keeps your focus entirely on controlling losses first and sizing second — the cornerstone of professional-grade capital preservation.
Free Download
Futures Position Sizing Cheat Sheet
Every CME contract's point value, tick value, and micro equivalent — one printable reference page. Plus get notified first when new RiskBuddy features drop.
- 30+ contracts at a glance
- Key risk formulas explained
- Micro equivalents reference
- Early access to new features
You're in — check your inbox.
Your cheat sheet is on its way. We'll also notify you when new features drop.
Something went wrong. Try again or refresh the page.
Supported Contracts Reference
| Symbol | Contract Name | Micro | Point Value | Tick Value | Tick Size |
|---|
How to Use This Calculator
Enter your account size and risk percentage (e.g. 1%), or switch to a fixed dollar amount. Your max-risk-per-trade updates live.
Select from 30+ CME and CBOT contracts — from ES, NQ, and YM to Crude Oil, Gold, and Bitcoin. Micro contracts are included.
Type your stop distance in points or ticks. Results update instantly — no button to click.
If the standard contract exceeds your limit, the calculator automatically shows the micro equivalent at the same stop distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Position sizing is the process of determining how many contracts to trade based on your account size, risk tolerance, and stop loss distance. It's one of the most critical skills in futures trading — proper sizing prevents any single losing trade from doing excessive damage to your account. A common rule is to never risk more than 1–2% of your account on any single trade.
Max contracts = floor(Max Risk $ ÷ Risk per Contract)
Risk per contract = stop loss (points) × point value. Example: a 10-point stop on ES costs 10 × $50 = $500 per contract. With a $1,000 risk budget: floor($1,000 ÷ $500) = 2 contracts, for a total risk of exactly $1,000.
A tick is the minimum price increment for a futures contract. A point equals one full integer unit of price movement. For ES (E-mini S&P 500): 1 tick = 0.25 points = $12.50, so there are 4 ticks per point. For YM (E-mini Dow): 1 tick = 1 point = $5.00. Use the converter tool above to quickly check values for any contract.
Use micro contracts (MES, MNQ, MYM, M2K, MGC, MCL, etc.) when your stop distance makes the standard contract too risky for your account size. Micros are exactly 1/10th the size of their standard equivalents. This lets you trade with proper position sizing on smaller accounts, or use a wider stop without increasing dollar risk beyond your limit.
Most professional traders risk 0.5%–2% per trade. A standard starting point is 1%. For prop firm evaluations, check the firm's specific daily loss and max drawdown rules — risking 1% may be too aggressive depending on the evaluation's parameters. Conservative traders often use 0.25%–0.5% during difficult market conditions.
No — this calculator shows gross risk based on price movement only. Add your round-trip commission cost manually. Retail futures commissions typically range from $3–$8 per contract round-trip depending on your broker. For micros, commissions are often $0.50–$1.50 per contract.
Your settings (account size, risk %, and instrument) are saved locally in your browser using localStorage. Nothing is sent to any server. There is no account, no signup, and no tracking. This tool works completely offline once loaded.
This calculator covers products traded on the CME Group exchanges (CME, CBOT, NYMEX, COMEX), including all major E-mini and Micro E-mini equity index futures, metals, energy, interest rates, currencies, and Bitcoin futures. View the full list by expanding the Supported Contracts table above.