XAUUSD Position Size Calculator
Work out your gold lot size from your account balance, the percentage you are willing to risk and your stop-loss — before you enter the trade.
- Amount at risk
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- Stop distance
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- Value of a $1 move
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- Risk at rounded size
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- Potential reward
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- Risk : reward
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Lots are rounded down to 0.01 so you never risk more than you chose. Results ignore spreads, commission, swaps and slippage, which can increase real losses — especially around news and weekend gaps. Educational tool only, not financial advice.
How the calculation works
Position sizing turns a decision you've already made — where is my idea wrong? — into a trade size. The stop comes first; the size follows from it. Never the other way round.
- Amount at risk = balance × risk %. For example, $5,000 × 1% = $50.
- Stop distance = the gap between entry and stop in dollars. For example, $4,000 − $3,995 = $5.00.
- Value per $1 move = ounces per lot × lots. At 100 oz, 1 lot moves $100 per $1 in gold.
- Lot size = amount at risk ÷ (stop distance × ounces per lot). Here: $50 ÷ ($5 × 100) = 0.10 lots.
Notice what happens if you widen the stop to $10 with the same $50 risk: the size halves to 0.05 lots. A wider stop doesn't mean more risk — it means a smaller position.
Common sizing mistakes on gold
- Choosing the lot size first, then squeezing the stop to fit. The stop should sit where the idea is invalid.
- Forgetting gold's speed. A $5 stop on a quiet Asian session and on a CPI release are very different risks.
- Assuming the contract size. Some brokers don't use 100 oz per lot — check yours.
- Raising size after losses to win it back. That's how a bad week becomes a damaged account.
For the full method, read XAUUSD risk management and position sizing and risk management for volatile gold markets.
Frequently asked questions
How is the XAUUSD lot size calculated?
Lot size = amount you’re willing to risk ÷ (stop distance in dollars × ounces per lot). With a standard contract of 100 oz, a $1.00 move in gold changes the value of 1 lot by $100. So risking $100 with a $5.00 stop gives 100 ÷ (5 × 100) = 0.20 lots.
Is one lot of gold always 100 ounces?
No. Many brokers use 100 oz per standard lot, but some use different contract sizes. Check your broker’s contract specification and change the “ounces per lot” field if needed.
What percentage should I risk per trade?
There is no correct number for everyone. Many educational sources discuss risking a small fixed percentage, often 0.5–2% of the account, so that a run of losses doesn’t do serious damage. Choose what you can accept losing several times in a row.
Does this calculator account for spreads, commission or slippage?
No. It shows risk at your stop price only. Spreads, commission, swaps and slippage — especially around news or weekend gaps — can make a real loss larger than the calculated amount.
My account isn't in US dollars. Can I still use it?
XAUUSD profit and loss is in US dollars. If your account is in another currency, convert your risk amount to USD first, enter it as the balance and risk, then convert the result back.