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cTrader position size calculator
A free cTrader position size calculator: type your account size, the % you want to risk on this trade, your entry and stop-loss prices. We compute the exact lot size that makes a stop-out cost the dollar amount you chose - the same size our signals use on the free Telegram channel - no guesswork, no over-leverage.
How cTrader position sizing works
The formula is the same for every market - only the pip value changes:
lot_size = (account × risk%) ÷ (stop_distance_in_pips × pip_value_per_lot)
A $1,000 account risking 0.5% wants to lose at most $5 if the stop is hit. On EUR/USD with a 50-pip stop, one full lot (100,000 units) moves ~$10 per pip - so a 50-pip stop costs $500 per lot. To risk only $5 you need 0.01 lots. That's the smallest tradeable size on most cTrader brokers, which is why we recommend at least $500 in the account.
Why 0.5% is the sweet spot
A 6-trade losing streak is a normal monthly event for any signal service (every system has cold weeks). At 0.5% per trade, that's a 3% drawdown - psychologically easy to ride out. At 2% per trade, the same streak is a 12% drawdown - and that's the point where most retail traders cut, switch systems, and lock in the loss.
The tgsignals algorithm sizes every signal at 0.5% by default. You can run higher on your own broker if you want, but we won't help.
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FAQ
How does the position size calculator work?
You pick an account size, a risk percentage (we recommend 0.5-2%), an entry price, a stop-loss price, and an instrument type. The calculator converts your risk-in-dollars into the correct lot size based on the instrument's pip value, so a stop-loss hit costs exactly the amount you intended to risk.
What risk percentage should I use?
0.5% is the fixed risk our signals use - it survives a 6-loss streak with only a 3% drawdown. 1% is aggressive but still survivable. Above 2% is gambling territory: one bad week and you're done.
Why does the lot size differ by instrument?
Different markets move differently. A 50-pip stop on EUR/USD risks ~$50 per 0.1 lot, but a 50-point stop on the S&P 500 risks ~$500 on the same nominal size. The calculator handles the pip-value math for each instrument family.
Does this work for cTrader?
Yes. The lot sizes match what your cTrader broker expects, so you can enter them straight into cTrader. Minimum lot on most brokers is 0.01, maximum is 100 - the calculator clamps to those bounds.