Lot size
Lot size
Convert a volume between standard, mini and micro lots.
Standard
1.00
Mini
10.00
Micro
100
Units
100,000
"0.25 lots" means nothing until you know which lot is meant. With a broker that counts in micros, that is 250 units of the base currency. With one that counts in standard lots, it is 25,000. A hundred times bigger, for exactly the same number typed in.
This is the number one source of oversized positions among beginners, and it does not come from a bad risk calculation: it comes from a misunderstanding about the unit. This tool puts all three sizes side by side so the doubt does not last.
The formula
Units = volume × the size of the lot you picked. Each equivalent is then that total divided by the target size. Example: 25 micros = 25 × 1,000 = 25,000 units = 2.5 minis = 0.25 standard lots.
A worked example
You type 1 under "standard". The tool shows 100,000 units, 10 minis, 100 micros. Switch to "micro": the same 1 becomes 1,000 units, 0.1 minis, 0.01 standard lots. The number did not change, the position is a hundred times smaller.
The three sizes
How many units of the base currency one whole lot represents.
| Size | Units of the base currency | In standard lots |
|---|---|---|
| Standard lot | 100,000 | 1 |
| Mini lot | 10,000 | 0.1 |
| Micro lot | 1,000 | 0.01 |
What this number does not tell you
It converts units, it says nothing about what that is worth in money · for that you need the price, the instrument and the pip value. More importantly, many brokers use none of these three sizes on indices or commodities: their contract can be worth 1, 10 or 100 units. The only place that counts is your broker's own instrument sheet.
The classic mistake
Copying a volume seen in a video or a signal channel without checking the unit. "I took 0.5 lots" does not mean the same thing for two people on different brokers · and the gap only shows up when the loss arrives.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a standard, mini and micro lot?
They are three units of account in forex. A standard lot is 100,000 units of the base currency, a mini 10,000, a micro 1,000. Each step is a factor of 10.
How do I know what my broker counts in?
Open the instrument sheet in your platform and look for "contract size". That is the only place that counts · two brokers can show the same symbol with different sizes.
Is 0.01 lots a micro?
If your broker counts in standard lots, yes: 0.01 × 100,000 = 1,000 units, which is one micro. It is the smallest volume many platforms accept.
Does this work for gold or indices?
The three sizes on this page are the forex ones. On gold, indices or commodities, contract size follows a different logic and varies a lot between brokers · you have to read it in your platform.
Why does my figure in money not match?
This page converts units, not money. For an amount you also need the entry price, the instrument and your account currency · that is what the pip value calculator does.
See also
Position size
Work out how many lots to open from your account size, risk percentage and stop loss distance in pips. Free, no sign-up, runs entirely in your browser.
Profit
Work out the profit or loss of a forex, index or metals trade from the entry price, the exit price and the lot size. Free in-browser calculator, no sign-up.
Pip value
Work out what one pip is worth for any currency pair, based on your lot size and account currency. Free, instant, and everything runs in your browser.