$500, 1% risk, $3.00 stop
Risk budget $5. Lots = 5 ÷ (3 × 100) = 0.016 → 0.01 lots (rounded down). The trade risks $3 (0.6%) — under plan, never over.
TOOLS · GOLD / XAUUSD
XAUUSD Lot Size Calculator
Gold is not a forex pair: one standard lot is 100 oz, so a $1.00 price move is worth $100 per lot — five to ten times what most traders expect from a major pair. This calculator is pre-set for that contract, so the lot size you get keeps your risk exactly where you planned it.
Lot size 0.03
Risk amount: $10.00 Value per $1.00 move at this size: $3.00
Rounded down to the 0.01-lot step so risk never exceeds your plan.
Stop distance is the price distance, e.g. entry 3,350.00 / stop 3,347.00 = $3.00. If you think in pips, a $0.10-pip convention means 30 pips = $3.00.
THE MATH
How gold lot size is calculated
Lots = (account × risk%) ÷ (stop distance in $ × $100). The $100 is fixed by the contract: 100 oz × $1.00. Three worked examples:
$10,000, 1% risk, $5.00 stop
Risk budget $100. Lots = 100 ÷ (5 × 100) = 0.20 lots. A $5.00 adverse move loses exactly $100.
$100,000 challenge, 0.5% risk, $8.00 stop
Risk budget $500. Lots = 500 ÷ (8 × 100) = 0.62 lots. Check it against your remaining daily loss room too.
QUICK REFERENCE
Gold lot size at 1% risk
| Account | Risk (1%) | $2 stop | $3 stop | $5 stop | $10 stop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | $1 | <0.01 | <0.01 | <0.01 | <0.01 |
| $500 | $5 | 0.02 | 0.01 | 0.01 | <0.01 |
| $1,000 | $10 | 0.05 | 0.03 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| $5,000 | $50 | 0.25 | 0.16 | 0.10 | 0.05 |
| $10,000 | $100 | 0.50 | 0.33 | 0.20 | 0.10 |
| $100,000 | $1,000 | 5.00 | 3.33 | 2.00 | 1.00 |
Values rounded down to the 0.01-lot broker step. "<0.01" means the stop is too wide for that account at 1% risk — tighten the stop, raise the risk % deliberately, or skip the trade.
Pip, point, or dollar — one convention, stated clearly
Half the confusion around gold position sizing comes from mixed units. On this page and in this calculator everything is a $ price move. If your platform shows pips: a common convention is 1 pip = $0.10, making a pip worth $10 per standard lot and $0.10 per 0.01 lot. If it shows points: 1 point = $0.01 = $1 per standard lot. When another calculator gives you a different gold lot size, it is almost always using a different pip definition — not different math. Full background in the pip glossary entry and the XAUUSD trading guide.
FAQ
Gold lot size questions
What lot size can I trade on gold with a $100 account?
At 1% risk you have $1 of risk budget per trade. The smallest size most brokers allow is 0.01 lots, where a $1.00 price move equals $1 — so 0.01 lots only fits a stop of about $1.00 of price distance. With a wider stop (e.g. $3–$5), the math gives less than 0.01 lots, which means the trade does not fit a $100 account at 1% risk. Some traders accept 2% risk instead; that allows a $2.00 stop at 0.01 lots.
How much is a pip worth on XAUUSD?
One standard lot of XAUUSD is 100 oz, so a $1.00 price move is worth $100 per lot. If your broker defines 1 pip as a $0.10 move, a pip is worth $10 per standard lot, $1 per mini lot (0.10), and $0.10 per micro lot (0.01). Some platforms count $0.01 'points' instead — that's $1 per point per standard lot. Always check which convention your broker displays.
What lot size for $50 of risk with a $2.50 stop on gold?
Lots = risk ÷ (stop distance × 100). That's 50 ÷ (2.50 × 100) = 0.20 lots. At 0.20 lots, a $2.50 adverse move loses exactly $50.
Can I use this calculator for FTMO and other prop firm accounts?
Yes — the position-sizing math is identical. On a funded account you should also check the trade against your remaining daily loss room, which is what the ZEROWFX prop firm daily loss calculator does.
Related tools & lessons
Lot Size Calculator (all pairs) Pip Value Calculator Prop Firm Daily Loss Calculator Lot Size & Risk Management Guide XAUUSD Trading Guide Best Time to Trade Gold What is XAUUSD? What is Lot Size?
Educational risk disclaimer: this calculator is for planning only. Check your broker's exact contract size, minimum lot step and spread. Trading involves risk; nothing here is financial advice or a guarantee of results.