What is the margin on a micro futures contract?

It’s set by your broker and the exchange, and day-trade and overnight amounts differ. Enter your broker’s figure; this page doesn’t pre-fill it.

How much is one MNQ tick worth?

MNQ moves in 0.25-point ticks at $2 per point, so one tick is $0.50 per contract.

How is micro futures notional value calculated?

Price × multiplier × contracts. MES at 5,000 with a $5 multiplier is $25,000 per contract.

Are micros exactly one-tenth of the E-minis?

The equity index micros have one-tenth the multiplier. Broker margins are often close to one-tenth but not always, so use your broker’s number.

Where do I calculate E-mini or full-size margin?

Use the futures margin calculator for NQ, ES, YM, RTY, CL and GC.

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Micro Futures Margin Calculator

Notional value, dollars per point and tick, and how much of your account the margin uses, for MNQ, MES, MYM, M2K, MCL and MGC. Enter your broker’s margin; rates vary by broker.

Micro futures position

Micro contract

Price

Contracts

Account size ($)

Your broker’s margin per contract ($)

Multipliers and tick sizes are standard CME specs for these micros, typed in by hand, not a live feed. Margin isn’t pre-filled: day and overnight rates differ by broker and change often.

Notional value

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$ per point (total)

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$ per tick (total)

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Margin required

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Remaining buying power

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Margin as % of account

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What micro futures margin means

Margin on a futures contract is a performance bond your broker holds while the position is open, not a down payment on the full value. Micro contracts are one-tenth the size of their E-mini counterparts for the equity indexes (MNQ vs NQ, MES vs ES, MYM vs YM, M2K vs RTY), so both the notional value and the dollar swing per point are a tenth as large. Broker margins for micros are usually smaller too, but not always exactly one-tenth, which is why this page asks for your broker’s number instead of guessing.

How the numbers are calculated

Notional = price × multiplier × contracts. MNQ at 20,000 with a $2 multiplier is $40,000 per contract. $ per point = multiplier × contracts, and $ per tick = multiplier × tick size × contracts: one MNQ tick is 0.25 points, or $0.50. Margin required = your broker’s per-contract margin × contracts, and the last two boxes compare that to your account size.

Micro contract specs used

MNQ $2 per point (tick 0.25 = $0.50). MES $5 per point (tick 0.25 = $1.25). MYM $0.50 per point (tick 1 = $0.50). M2K $5 per point (tick 0.10 = $0.50). MCL 100 barrels, so $100 per $1.00 move (tick $0.01 = $1.00). MGC 10 troy ounces, so $10 per $1.00 move (tick $0.10 = $1.00). Check the exchange’s contract page if a spec changes.

Margin is not your risk

A small margin requirement doesn’t mean a small risk. Your loss on a trade is set by how far price moves against you times the dollars per point, not by the margin posted. Size the trade from your stop: the position size calculator turns account risk into a contract count, and the futures P&L calculator shows the dollar result of a move. For full-size and E-mini contracts (NQ, ES, YM, RTY, CL, GC), use the futures margin calculator.

Limits

This page doesn’t pull live prices or margins. If remaining buying power goes negative, the margin you entered doesn’t fit in the account: reduce contracts or confirm your broker’s rate. Educational math only, not trading advice. Futures trading carries substantial risk of loss.

FAQ

What is the margin on a micro futures contract?: It’s set by your broker and the exchange, and day-trade and overnight amounts differ. Enter your broker’s figure; this page doesn’t pre-fill it.
How much is one MNQ tick worth?: MNQ moves in 0.25-point ticks at $2 per point, so one tick is $0.50 per contract.
How is micro futures notional value calculated?: Price × multiplier × contracts. MES at 5,000 with a $5 multiplier is $25,000 per contract.
Are micros exactly one-tenth of the E-minis?: The equity index micros have one-tenth the multiplier. Broker margins are often close to one-tenth but not always, so use your broker’s number.
Where do I calculate E-mini or full-size margin?: Use the futures margin calculator for NQ, ES, YM, RTY, CL and GC.