Position sizing
Last updated
Last updated
Position sizing is all about deciding how much to trade on each position. It’s crucial to not put too much on the line in any single trade. A common rule is to risk only 1-2% of your trading account on one trade. This way, even if things go south, you’re not wiped out.
Objective: learn how to calculate the right position size to manage risk effectively.
Scenario: you have a $10,000 trading account. You want to enter a trade on EUR/USD, risking 2% of your account.
All exercises are performed on or any other backtesting tool / trading simulator / demo account.
Steps:
Calculate risk amount: 2% of $10,000 is $200.
Set stop-loss. Assume your stop-loss is 50 pips away from your entry price.
Determine position size. Use the formula: Position Size = Risk Amount / Stop-Loss. So, $200 / 50 pips = 4 lots.
Enter the trade. Place a buy or sell order for 4 lots of EUR/USD with a stop-loss 50 pips away.
Monitor. Keep track of the trade to see if your position sizing works as planned.