Margin Calculator

Calculate the margin required when you open a position in a currency pair. Find out about margin and margin calls.

  1. Choose your primary account currency.
    (The tool will calculate the margin in this currency.)
  2. Select the position's currency pair from the list.
    (Its exchange rate then appears.)
  3. Select the margin ratio you've chosen for your account.
    Note: Margins for pairs that include one non-major currency are capped at 4% (25:1 leverage), regardless of your account preferences. (Read OANDA's margin policies.)
  4. Type in the number of units in the position.
  5. Use the Calculate button.
    The margin required is shown in the Margin Used field.
  6. After you've calculated a margin, you can change amounts or leverages to see an updated margin. (Click in another field if you don't see it update right away.)

This calculation uses the following formula:

({BASE} / {Home Currency}) * units) / (margin ratio)

For example, suppose:

Home Currency = USD
Currency Pair = GBP/CHF
Base = GBP; Quote = CHF
Base / Home Currency = GBP/USD = 1.5819
Units = 1000
Margin Ratio = 20:1

Then,

Margin Used = (1.5818 * 1000) / 20
= 79.095 USD