Overseas FX Lot Size by Account Balance: Working Back From Margin Level
Unsure how many lots you can trade safely for the funds you have?
In short, do not set lot size from your account balance. Work back from the maximum loss you accept on one trade and your stop-loss distance. Leverage only sets the maximum you can open, and risk is determined by lots.
This article gives a table by account balance and shows how to read the price range to stop-out.
In short: work back lot size from the stop-loss distance, not the balance
- Suitable lots = (balance x acceptable loss %) / (stop-loss pips x value of 1 pip)
- High leverage makes required margin small, but losses are determined by lot size
- Opening the maximum lots makes stop-out likely on a small adverse move
- Cashback is proportional to trading volume, but that is no reason to increase lots
The relationship between lot size and required margin
Required margin is found by multiplying the trade size by the rate and dividing by leverage. At USDJPY 150 and leverage of 1,000x, 1 lot (100,000 units) is ¥15,000.
| Lot size | Trade value | Required margin |
|---|---|---|
| 0.01 lots | ¥150,000 | ¥150 |
| 0.1 lots | ¥1,500,000 | ¥1,500 |
| 0.5 lots | ¥7,500,000 | ¥7,500 |
| 1 lot | ¥15,000,000 | ¥15,000 |
Maximum leverage differs by broker. As of our official checks, Axi is up to 1:1000, and XS, HFM, Exness and DecodeFX are up to 1:2000 (with conditions).
Lot size table by balance: ¥100,000, ¥300,000, ¥500,000 and ¥1M
We worked back suitable lots on USDJPY, taking an acceptable loss of 2% of the balance per trade and a stop-loss of 20 pips. 1 pip is ¥1,000 per lot.
| Account balance | Acceptable loss (2%) | Suitable lots | Required margin | Margin level right after opening |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¥100,000 | ¥2,000 | 0.1 lots | ¥1,500 | approx. 6,667% |
| ¥300,000 | ¥6,000 | 0.3 lots | ¥4,500 | approx. 6,667% |
| ¥500,000 | ¥10,000 | 0.5 lots | ¥7,500 | approx. 6,667% |
| ¥1,000,000 | ¥20,000 | 1.0 lots | ¥15,000 | approx. 6,667% |
If you widen the stop-loss to 40 pips, the lot size halves for the same acceptable loss. Keeping the loss amount constant is the idea behind this calculation.
For reference: the maximum lots at full leverage
| Account balance | Maximum lots you can open | Price range to stop-out (20% level) |
|---|---|---|
| ¥100,000 | approx. 6.66 lots | approx. 12 pips |
| ¥300,000 | approx. 20.00 lots | approx. 12 pips |
| ¥500,000 | approx. 33.33 lots | approx. 12 pips |
| ¥1,000,000 | approx. 66.66 lots | approx. 12 pips |
How to read margin level and the stop-out level
Margin level is equity divided by required margin. When it falls below the level the broker sets, positions are forcibly closed.
| Broker | Stop-out level |
|---|---|
| HFM | 20% (KATANA: 0%). Margin call is 50% (KATANA: 20%) |
| Exness | 0% (forced close-out at a 0% margin level) |
| XS, Axi, DecodeFX | Check the official site for your account and applicable conditions |
On an account with a 0% level, positions are not closed until just before your balance runs out. The price range you can withstand widens, but note that losses also become larger.
Why you should not increase lots just for cashback
Cashback is proportional to trading volume, but so are losses. If USDJPY moves 20 pips against 1 lot, the loss is ¥20,000.
To cover that with cashback, you would need about 133 USD per lot (¥20,000 / ¥150). Comparing this with the cashback amounts we post at launch will give you a sense of scale.
- Set lots from your acceptable loss and stop-loss distance, not from the cashback amount
- Think of cashback as the return of part of your trading cost, not as profit
- Before opening a position, check the price range you can withstand in the stop-out calculator
Enter your balance, acceptable loss and stop-loss distance to work back suitable lots.
Use the lot size calculatorFAQ
Q.How many lots is a guide for overseas FX with ¥100,000?
On USDJPY with a 2% acceptable loss and a 20-pip stop-loss, 0.1 lots is the calculated guide. The figures are examples and change if you change the stop-loss distance or acceptable loss. It is not a recommendation.
Q.With 1000x leverage, how many lots can I open at most?
At USDJPY 150 with a ¥100,000 balance, about 6.66 lots. However, you could withstand only about 12 pips before stop-out, which is not a level suited to real trading.
Q.What margin level percentage is safe?
We cannot give a single safe level. Rather than how high the margin level is, first check whether the loss if the price moves against you to your stop-loss is within your acceptable range. Also check the broker's stop-out level.
Sources
- HFM Trading Accounts (stop-out level and leverage) (checked 2026-09-01)
- Exness Help Center (Account Types) (checked 2026-09-03)
- Axi Trading Accounts (maximum leverage) (checked 2026-09-10)
This article is for information purposes only and is not investment advice. Conditions may change, so please check each broker's official page for the latest information. Offshore FX and CFD trading carries a risk of losses exceeding your principal.
