Forex Lot Sizes Explained
Lot size determines how much currency you’re trading and directly impacts your profit/loss per pip movement. Choosing the right lot size is one of the most important decisions in risk management.
What is a Lot?
A lot is a standardized unit of measurement for the amount of currency being traded.
Lot Size Types
| Lot Type | Units | Pip Value (USD pairs) | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 100,000 | $10/pip | Professional traders |
| Mini | 10,000 | $1/pip | Intermediate traders |
| Micro | 1,000 | $0.10/pip | Beginners |
| Nano | 100 | $0.01/pip | Practice/tiny accounts |
How Lot Size Affects Risk
With a $1,000 account and a 50-pip stop loss:
| Lot Size | Risk per Trade | % of Account |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 (Standard) | $500 | 50% ❌ |
| 0.1 (Mini) | $50 | 5% ⚠️ |
| 0.01 (Micro) | $5 | 0.5% ✅ |
The 2% rule suggests never risking more than 2% of your account on a single trade.
Calculating the Right Lot Size
Formula:
Lot Size = (Account Balance × Risk %) / (Stop Loss in Pips × Pip Value)
Example: $5,000 account, 2% risk, 30 pip stop loss:
Lot Size = ($5,000 × 0.02) / (30 × $10) = $100 / $300 = 0.33 lots
So you would trade approximately 0.33 standard lots (or 3.3 mini lots).
Lot Size Tips for Beginners
- Start with micro lots (0.01) — learn without significant risk
- Always calculate position size before trading — never guess
- Use the 2% rule — or even 1% when starting out
- Increase size gradually — only after consistent profitability
- Let your EA handle it — our SteadyPips EA includes automatic position sizing based on your risk percentage
Common Mistakes
- Trading too large — the #1 reason new traders blow accounts
- Ignoring pip value differences — JPY pairs have different pip values
- Not adjusting for account growth/decline — recalculate as balance changes
- Emotional sizing — increasing lot size after losses to “recover”
This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Trading forex carries significant risk. Start with a demo account before risking real money.