Forex Margin Level Calculator
Calculate margin level and see how close you are to a margin call or stop-out.
Please note: Forex trading carries a high risk of loss, amplified by leverage. Exchange rates must be entered manually — no live market data is used.
What the Forex Margin Level Calculator does
Margin level is equity divided by used margin, as a percentage. It falls as open losses accumulate. Brokers use it to decide when to issue a margin call and when to force-close positions.
Formula
Equity = Balance + Unrealised P&LMargin level = Equity ÷ Used margin × 100Free margin = Equity − Used margin
Inputs explained
| Input | Unit | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account balance | selected currency | Yes | Accepts more than 0. |
| Used margin | selected currency | Yes | Accepts more than 0. |
| Unrealised P&L | selected currency | Optional | Negative for an open loss. Accepts 0 or more. |
| Margin call level | % | Optional | — |
| Stop-out level | % | Optional | — |
| Currency | one of 10 options | Optional | — |
How to use it
- Choose Currency.
- Enter Account balance and Used margin.
- Optionally add Unrealised P&L, Margin call level and Stop-out level.
- Select Calculate.
Worked example
A $5,000 balance with $1,200 used margin and an open loss of $800.
- Balance
- 5000
- Used
- 1200
- Unrealised
- -800
Equity $4,200, margin level 350% — healthy, with $3,000 of loss still absorbable before a call.
Reading the result
- "Further loss before a margin call/stop-out" turns an abstract percentage threshold into a concrete dollar buffer, which is easier to act on than the raw margin-level percentage alone.
- Margin level does not fall in a straight line as losses grow — used margin stays fixed while equity (the numerator) shrinks, so the same-size loss has a bigger percentage-point impact the closer the account gets to its threshold.
Assumptions and limitations
- "Used margin" is treated as fixed for this snapshot — it does not update if other positions are opened or closed, so the free-margin buffer shown only holds for the account exactly as entered.
Common mistakes
- Assuming the "further loss before stop-out" figure is a hard floor you control — a broker's forced closure fills at market, which can land at a worse price than this model assumes.
- Treating a healthy-looking margin level as permission to hold through further drawdown — the level itself is a moving number, not a fixed one, and it can deteriorate faster than expected as losses accelerate.
Frequently asked questions
What happens at stop-out?
The broker begins closing your positions automatically, usually the largest loser first, until margin level returns above the threshold. You have no control over the fill price.