Gold lot size calculator
Enter your balance, risk and stop. Get the exact XAUUSD lot size, rounded down so you never risk more than you planned.
| Risk | Lots | Loss if stopped |
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Educational tool, not financial advice. Results depend on your broker's contract size and are rounded down to the lot step.
The lot size formula
Lot size is how much you lose if the stop is hit, divided by how much one lot loses over that distance.
On most brokers one lot of gold is 100 ounces, so every $1 move in price is worth $100 per lot, $10 per 0.10 lot and $1 per 0.01 lot.
Full guide with more worked examples: XAUUSD lot size calculation.
$10,000 account, 1% risk
- Risk: 1% of $10,000 = $100
- Stop: entry 4,270.50, stop 4,247.50 = $23
- One lot loses $23 × 100 = $2,300
- Lots = 100 ÷ 2,300 = 0.043 → 0.04 lots (rounded down)
- Actual loss if stopped: 0.04 × 2,300 = $92
Why wide stops need small lots
Gold stops vary a lot. In our model the median stop is about $23, but some are over $70. A fixed lot size would make each loss a different size; fixed-risk sizing keeps every loss the same share of your account.
How do I calculate lot size for gold (XAUUSD)?
Divide the amount you are willing to lose by the stop distance times the contract size: lots = risk ÷ (stop distance in $ × contract size). With the usual contract of 100 oz per lot, a $10,000 account risking 1% ($100) with a $23 stop gives 100 ÷ (23 × 100) = 0.043, so you trade 0.04 lots.
How much is $1 move in gold worth per lot?
On most brokers 1 standard lot of XAUUSD is 100 ounces, so a $1 move in the gold price is worth $100 per lot, $10 per 0.10 lot and $1 per 0.01 lot. Always check the contract size in your platform, because some brokers use different sizes.
Where do I find the contract size in MT5?
In MetaTrader 5 open Market Watch, right-click XAUUSD and choose Specification. The Contract size line shows how many ounces one lot represents, usually 100.
Why round the lot size down?
Brokers only accept lot sizes in fixed steps, usually 0.01. Rounding down keeps your loss at or below the risk you chose. Rounding up would risk more than planned on every trade.
What if the calculator says my stop is too wide?
If even the smallest lot (usually 0.01) risks more than you want, the stop is too wide for your account size and risk. Skip the trade, use a cent account, or accept the higher risk knowingly. Never remove the stop to make the numbers fit.