Gold Margin Calculator
How much margin will your broker lock to open a gold position? Enter lot size, gold price, your leverage and contract — get the required margin, notional value, and what it means for your balance.
Margin is not your risk. Margin is collateral your broker locks while the position is open — it is returned when you close (minus any loss). Your risk is decided by your stop-loss, not by margin. Size by risk first →
How the calculation works
Notional Value = Lots × Contract Size (oz) × Gold Price ($)
Required Margin = Notional Value ÷ Leverage
Free Margin = Balance − Required Margin (only if balance entered)
Worked examples
1.00 lot, 100 oz, $4,000, 1:500: 1 × 100 × 4000 ÷ 500 = $800.00
0.10 lot, 100 oz, $4,000, 1:500: 0.1 × 100 × 4000 ÷ 500 = $80.00
2.00 lots, 10 oz mini, $4,100, 1:200: 2 × 10 × 4100 ÷ 200 = $410.00
Assumptions & limitations
- Leverage is yours to enter — never assumed. Brokers offer 1:20 to 1:1000+ on gold; EU/UK/AU retail accounts are capped at 1:20. Use the exact figure from your account.
- 100 oz is a preset, not a rule. Check your broker's contract specification.
- Margin scales with gold price — unlike pip value, a higher XAUUSD price means more margin for the same lots.
- Initial margin only. Your broker's maintenance margin and stop-out level are separate and not calculated here.
- No live price feed. Type the current XAUUSD price manually.
- Results are educational only — not financial advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much margin do I need for 1 lot of XAUUSD?
It depends on price and leverage: at $4,000 gold and 1:500, one standard lot (100 oz) needs $800 margin. Formula: lots × contract × price ÷ leverage.
Does higher leverage mean lower margin?
Yes. Margin = notional ÷ leverage, so 1:1000 locks ten times less than 1:100 for the same position. But your risk is unchanged — leverage does not reduce losses.
Is margin the same as the money I risk?
No. Margin is locked collateral returned when you close the trade. Your risk is what you lose if your stop-loss is hit — size that with the Gold Lot Size Calculator.
Why does my broker require more margin than this shows?
Brokers add their own buffers: different leverage tiers per symbol, weekend margin rules, and stop-out levels. This calculator shows the theoretical initial margin — your broker's figure is final.
Does the gold price affect required margin?
Yes. Notional value = lots × ounces × price, so when XAUUSD rises, the same lot size locks more margin. (Pip value, by contrast, does not change with price.)
What leverage should I enter?
The exact leverage on your account — check MT5 (account details) or your broker's client portal. Never guess: wrong leverage = wrong margin figure.