# Position size calculator for prop firm accounts

> Size from the drawdown, not from the account size. Pick an account or type your figures, set your stop in ticks, and decide how many full losses in a row the account must survive.

**In short.** Divide the drawdown by the number of full losses the account must survive, then by the risk of one contract (stop in ticks × tick value, plus fees). On a 2,000 dollar drawdown with a 40-tick stop and 8 losses to survive, that is 1 NQ contract (200 dollars of risk) or 12 MNQ.

## The formula

Contracts = drawdown ÷ (losses to survive × (stop in ticks × tick value + fees)), rounded down.

## The same stop on every contract

Max drawdown ($): $2,000 · Stop (ticks): 40 · Full losses to survive: 8.

| Contract | Tick value | Risk per contract | Contracts |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| NQ (E-mini Nasdaq-100) | 0.25 = $5 | $200 | 1 |
| MNQ (Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100) | 0.25 = $0.50 | $20 | 12 |
| ES (E-mini S&P 500) | 0.25 = $12.50 | $500 | 0 |
| MES (Micro E-mini S&P 500) | 0.25 = $1.25 | $50 | 5 |
| YM (E-mini Dow) | 1 = $5 | $200 | 1 |
| MYM (Micro E-mini Dow) | 1 = $0.50 | $20 | 12 |
| RTY (E-mini Russell 2000) | 0.1 = $5 | $200 | 1 |
| M2K (Micro E-mini Russell 2000) | 0.1 = $0.50 | $20 | 12 |
| CL (Crude Oil) | 0.01 = $10 | $400 | 0 |
| MCL (Micro Crude Oil) | 0.01 = $1 | $40 | 6 |
| GC (Gold) | 0.1 = $10 | $400 | 0 |
| MGC (Micro Gold) | 0.1 = $1 | $40 | 6 |

## Questions traders ask

### How many contracts should I trade on a 50K prop firm account?

It depends on the drawdown and your stop, not on the 50K. With a 2,000 dollar drawdown, a 40-tick stop and 8 losses to survive, the budget per trade is 250 dollars: 1 NQ (200 dollars per contract) or 12 MNQ (20 dollars each). A tighter stop or fewer losses to survive allows more.

### How much is one tick worth on NQ, MNQ, ES and MES?

NQ: 0.25 point, 5 dollars. MNQ: 0.25 point, 0.50 dollar. ES: 0.25 point, 12.50 dollars. MES: 0.25 point, 1.25 dollar. Ten micros carry the same exposure as one mini.

### How many losses in a row should a prop firm account survive?

A common rule of thumb is 8 to 10 full losses. Losing streaks of 6 to 8 trades happen even to traders with a positive edge, and an evaluation is lost at the first touch of the floor.

### Does a trailing drawdown change the position size?

Yes. With an intraday trailing drawdown, open profit that comes back also eats your room, so size as if a full give-back were a loss. The calculator uses the drawdown you have left: update it after every session.

A calculator, not advice: check the figures against the firm's own rules page before you buy.

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