FameOrbitA $10,000 account risking 1% with a $2 stop distance gives a 50-unit position size.
Size a trade from your risk.
Calculate how many units or shares to trade from account size, risk percentage, entry price and stop-loss price. Runs entirely in your browser.
Runs entirely in your browser — nothing uploaded to servers
Position size calculator
All calculations happen locally — nothing is sent to a server.
POSITION SIZEReady
50.0000 units
Risk amount: 100.00Risk per unit: 2.0000
How position sizing works
Position sizing translates your account risk rules into a concrete number of units to trade. The formula is straightforward: position size = (account balance × risk %) ÷ |entry − stop|.
Risk amount is the maximum dollar value you are prepared to lose on the trade. Risk per unit is how far the price moves from entry to stop-loss. Dividing the two gives you the position size that keeps your loss within your defined limit if the stop is hit exactly.
When to use this calculator
Use it before entering any leveraged or sized position. Decide your risk percentage first — most risk management frameworks suggest between 0.5% and 2% per trade — then enter your specific entry and stop-loss prices for the setup you are evaluating. The calculator does not choose a risk percentage or predict a market outcome; it only applies arithmetic to the inputs you provide.
Important disclaimer
This is an educational calculation tool. It is not financial or investment advice. Real trading results differ because of fees, slippage, spreads, partial fills, liquidity and changing market conditions. Always verify calculations and understand the risks involved before placing a trade.
Frequently asked questions
What is position sizing?
Position sizing determines how many units, shares or contracts to trade based on your account size, your risk tolerance and the distance between your entry and stop-loss prices.
What risk percentage should I use?
There is no universally correct answer. Many traders use between 0.5% and 2% of their account per trade. Lower percentages reduce the impact of losing streaks; higher percentages can amplify both gains and losses.
Does this work for forex, stocks and crypto?
The arithmetic is universal — it works for any market where you have a defined entry price, stop-loss price and account value. Be aware that different instruments have different lot sizes, contract specifications and leverage rules that affect how you apply the result.
What if my entry and stop are the same?
A trade with an entry equal to stop-loss has zero risk distance, which makes position sizing undefined. Ensure your stop-loss is placed at a different price from your entry.