How it works
The calculator divides the amount you’re willing to lose by how much one contract loses if your stop is hit:
Contracts = Risk ÷ (Stop in ticks × Tick value)
The result is always rounded down. If you get 2.7 contracts, you trade 2: the third contract already pushes the loss past your limit.
Tick and point values
All four contracts move in increments of 0.25 points, so one point equals 4 ticks. Only the dollar value of that increment differs.
| Contract | Tick size | Tick value | Point value |
|---|---|---|---|
| NQ E-mini Nasdaq-100 | 0.25 | $5.00 | $20 |
| MNQ Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100 | 0.25 | $0.50 | $2 |
| ES E-mini S&P 500 | 0.25 | $12.50 | $50 |
| MES Micro E-mini S&P 500 | 0.25 | $1.25 | $5 |
A micro contract is one tenth of the full-size one: 10 MNQ equal 1 NQ in dollar terms.
Examples
- MNQ, $200 risk, 40-tick stop (10 points). One contract loses 40 × $0.50 = $20. $200 ÷ $20 = 10 contracts.
- NQ, same $200 and 40 ticks. One contract loses 40 × $5 = $200. Exactly 1 contract.
- NQ, $200 risk, 60-tick stop (15 points). One contract loses $300, more than your limit, so NQ is off the table. On MNQ: 60 × $0.50 = $30, so 6 contracts.
What the calculator doesn’t include
- Commissions. They depend on your broker or prop firm and add to the loss on every contract.
- Slippage. In a fast market or on news, your stop can fill a few ticks worse.
- Gaps. If the market opens beyond your stop, the loss will be larger than calculated.
So it makes sense to leave a small buffer instead of sizing right up to your limit.
Risk per trade at a prop firm
At a prop firm, the limit that matters most is the daily loss limit or the drawdown. It’s easiest to size each trade from it: decide how many stops in a row you need to survive in a day and divide the limit by that number.
For example, with a $1,000 daily limit and room for 4 attempts, your risk per trade is $250 at most. If your style is a few small stops before a good entry, plan for more attempts and risk less on each one.
FAQ
MNQ or NQ: which one?
If NQ gives you one contract or fewer for your stop, trade MNQ. Micros let you match size to risk more precisely and scale out of a position: you can’t do that with 1 NQ, but you can with 10 MNQ.
How much should I risk per trade?
0.5–1% of the account is a common guideline. Treat it as a reference point, not a rule: what matters more is that a normal losing streak for your style doesn’t hit your daily limit.
How do I convert points to ticks?
Multiply by 4: a 10-point stop is 40 ticks. To go back, divide by 4. Or just switch units in the calculator.
Why does it show 0 contracts?
Even one contract at that stop risks more than your amount. Tighten the stop, increase the risk or switch to a micro contract — the calculator shows how many MNQ or MES you could trade instead.