Free tool
Position size calculator
Position size follows from risk: with a $10,000 account, 1% risk, entry at 100 and a stop at 95 that is 20 shares – if the price hits the stop, you lose $100. The calculator works for stocks, futures, forex and crypto.
How it is calculated
Money at risk = account × risk %. Risk per unit = |entry − stop| × value per price move. Position size = money at risk ÷ risk per unit (rounded down to whole units). Reward-to-risk = |target − entry| ÷ |entry − stop|.
Frequently asked questions
How much risk per trade is common?
Many traders limit the risk per trade to a small part of the account, often 0.5 to 2%. This is not a recommendation – the calculator only shows what a chosen value means.
What is the “value per 1.0 price move”?
How much money one unit gains or loses when the price moves by 1.0. For shares that is 1, for futures the contract value per point, e.g. $50 for the E-mini S&P 500.
Does a stop reliably prevent bigger losses?
No. With price gaps, for example overnight, a stop can be filled at a much worse price. The actual risk can therefore be higher.
DESK is a research tool. This calculator shows arithmetic, not a recommendation: it is not investment, tax or financial advice, and past values say nothing about the future.
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DESK is a research tool and not investment advice.