Estimates for information only — not investment advice. Margin level = equity ÷ margin in use × 100; it falls as open positions lose. Liquidation thresholds shown are InnoMP's (30% Mon–Fri, 100% over the weekend, verified 2026-09-03); other brokers differ — check your account terms. Trading CFDs involves a high risk of loss.
How margin is calculated
Required margin = lots × contract size × price ÷ leverage, converted into the account currency. Margin is collateral reserved while a position is open, not a cost — and leverage changes how much is reserved, not what a price move costs.
Margin for one lot at the indicative prices this calculator pre-fills:
| Instrument | Notional per lot | At 1:500 | At 1:1000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD at 1.0842 | 108,420 USD | 216.84 USD | 108.42 USD |
| USD/JPY | 100,000 USD | 200.00 USD | 100.00 USD |
| Gold at 2,412.30 | 241,230 USD | 482.46 USD | — (max 1:500) |
| US500 at 5,614.2 | 5,614.20 USD | 11.23 USD | — (max 1:500) |
Headroom is the number that matters. A 1,000 USD account with one lot of EUR/USD at 1:500 has 216.84 USD in use, a margin level of about 461%. Liquidation starts when equity falls to 30% of margin — 65.05 USD — so the account can absorb about 935 USD of loss, roughly 93 pips. Over the weekend the threshold is 100%, so the same position can absorb about 783 USD, roughly 78 pips, before liquidation. The calculator shows both.
Frequently asked
How is required margin calculated?
Required margin = (lots × contract size × price) ÷ leverage, converted to the account currency. At 1:500, a one-lot EUR/USD position of roughly 108,000 USD notional requires about 216 USD of margin.
At what margin level does liquidation start on InnoMP?
Forced liquidation begins when margin level — equity as a percentage of margin in use — falls to 30% during the trading week. Over the weekend the threshold rises to 100%, because positions cannot be managed while markets are closed.
How much margin do I need for 1 lot?
It depends on the instrument, its price and the leverage. At the indicative prices this calculator pre-fills and 1:500: EUR/USD needs about 217 USD per lot, USD/JPY 200 USD, gold about 482 USD and US500 about 11 USD. Doubling leverage halves each figure.
What is margin level?
Margin level is equity divided by the margin in use, times 100. A 1,000 USD account holding one lot of EUR/USD at 1:500 has about 217 USD in use, so the margin level starts near 461% and falls as the position loses.
Does higher leverage make a position riskier?
No — it reduces the margin reserved for the same position, leaving profit and loss unchanged. What it changes is how large a position the account can open, which is where the risk decision actually lives.
Read next
Why these numbers matter before they matter: Margin calls and stop-outs, explained before you meet one · Weekend gaps and the 100% rule · Position sizing comes first.