Educational content. This article shows how much margin one lot locks on each Vanto instrument at the maximum leverage of its asset class, using a dated snapshot of the live feed. It does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation. CFD trading carries significant risk of loss and may not be suitable for all investors.
At the maximum leverage available on each asset class, one lot of EURUSD locks about USD 227 of margin, one lot of XAUUSD about USD 832, one lot of US500 about USD 77 and one lot of BTCUSD about USD 8,417. This article lists the figure for every instrument, explains why the numbers fall where they do, and shows how to recompute them when prices move.
The concept of margin is defined in what is margin in trading, and the way contract size builds the notional value is covered in what is contract size in trading. This page does not repeat either; it is the reference table that applies both to the full instrument list.
How the Margin Figure Is Calculated
The margin required for a position is its notional value divided by the leverage applied to it:
Margin = contract size x price x lots / leverage
Notional value is stated in USD here, converting from the quote currency of each instrument at the September 2026 snapshot. The leverage is the maximum available on the asset class:
| Asset class | Maximum leverage |
|---|---|
| Forex | 1:500 |
| Metals (XAUUSD, XAGUSD) | 1:500 |
| Indices | 1:100 |
| Energies (UKOIL, USOil, NGas) | 1:100 |
| Cryptocurrencies | 1:10 |
Two limits on reading the table. The leverage applied to a specific account can be lower than the class maximum, and the trading platform shows the figure that applies. And the numbers are for a single lot on a USD account; a smaller position locks a proportionally smaller amount.
Forex: Margin Follows the Base Currency
Every forex pair at Vanto has a contract size of 100,000 units of the base currency. The notional value of a lot is therefore fixed by the base currency alone, and every pair sharing a base currency locks the same margin. GBPJPY and GBPUSD need the same collateral per lot; EURJPY and EURGBP do too.
| Base currency | Pairs | Notional of 1 lot (USD) | Margin at 1:500 (USD) | Margin for 0.01 lot (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GBP | 8 (GBPAUD, GBPCAD, GBPCHF, ...) | 132,423 | 265 | 2.65 |
| CHF | 1 (CHFJPY) | 119,997 | 240 | 2.40 |
| EUR | 11 (EURAUD, EURCAD, EURCHF, ...) | 113,490 | 227 | 2.27 |
| USD | 10 (USDCAD, USDCHF, USDCNH, ...) | 100,000 | 200 | 2.00 |
| CAD | 2 (CADCHF, CADJPY) | 70,482 | 141 | 1.41 |
| AUD | 6 (AUDCAD, AUDCHF, AUDJPY, ...) | 70,022 | 140 | 1.40 |
| NZD | 4 (NZDCAD, NZDCHF, NZDJPY, ...) | 56,560 | 113 | 1.13 |
Source: Vanto calculator data, snapshot 2026-09-29 11:35 UTC. Notional values use mid prices converted to USD and are rounded.
The table has a practical use. A trader who sizes a position on EURUSD and then switches to GBPUSD at the same lot size locks about 17% more margin, because the GBP notional is larger. A switch to AUDUSD locks about 38% less. The pip value and the price move differ too, but the deposit is decided by the base currency. The forex cross pairs guide covers the same effect for the pip value.
Metals and Energies
Metals carry the high 1:500 cap; energies the 1:100 cap. Contract sizes differ widely, so the margin does not follow the price.
| Instrument | Contract size | Notional of 1 lot (USD) | Margin at cap (USD) | Margin for minimum lot (USD) | Minimum lot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XAUUSD | 100 | 415,860 | 832 | 8.32 | 0.01 |
| XAGUSD | 5,000 | 304,755 | 610 | 6.10 | 0.01 |
| UKOIL | 100 | 9,653 | 96.53 | 9.65 | 0.1 |
| USOil | 100 | 9,029 | 90.29 | 9.03 | 0.1 |
| NGas | 100 | 319 | 3.19 | 3.19 | 1 |
Source: Vanto calculator data, snapshot 2026-09-29 11:35 UTC.
Gold and silver look alike in the chart and differ in the table. A silver lot holds 5,000 ounces against 100 for gold, so at a price near USD 61 a silver lot has a notional value of about USD 305,000 and locks about USD 610, while a gold lot near USD 4,159 has about USD 416,000 and locks about USD 832. Natural gas sits at the other end: a contract of 100 units at a price near USD 3.18 locks about USD 3.19, and its minimum lot is 1.
Indices
All indices have a contract size of one index point, so the notional value of a lot equals the index level converted to USD. The 1:100 cap then sets the margin at 1% of that level.
| Instrument | Contract size | Notional of 1 lot (USD) | Margin at cap (USD) | Margin for minimum lot (USD) | Minimum lot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US30 | 1 | 51,635 | 516 | 5.16 | 0.01 |
| US100 | 1 | 30,421 | 304 | 3.04 | 0.01 |
| DE40 | 1 | 29,066 | 291 | 2.91 | 0.01 |
| ES35 | 1 | 22,427 | 224 | 2.24 | 0.01 |
| SWI20 | 1 | 16,814 | 168 | 168 | 1 |
| UK100 | 1 | 14,216 | 142 | 1.42 | 0.01 |
| CN50U | 1 | 13,900 | 139 | 1.39 | 0.01 |
| FR40 | 1 | 9,197 | 91.97 | 0.92 | 0.01 |
| US500 | 1 | 7,709 | 77.09 | 0.77 | 0.01 |
| STOXX50 | 1 | 7,229 | 72.29 | 72.29 | 1 |
| AUS200 | 1 | 6,111 | 61.11 | 0.61 | 0.01 |
| HKG50 | 1 | 3,122 | 31.22 | 0.31 | 0.01 |
| US2000 | 1 | 2,832 | 28.32 | 28.32 | 1 |
| NL25 | 1 | 1,275 | 12.75 | 0.13 | 0.01 |
| CHNHS | 1 | 1,041 | 10.41 | 0.10 | 0.01 |
| SGP20 | 1 | 418 | 4.18 | 0.04 | 0.01 |
| JP225 | 1 | 418 | 4.18 | 4.18 | 1 |
| VIX | 1 | 17.55 | 0.18 | 1.76 | 10 |
Source: Vanto calculator data, snapshot 2026-09-29 11:35 UTC. Index names follow the MT5 symbol; several indices trade under a second alias in the feed.
The range is wide. A lot of US30 locks about USD 516, while a lot of SGP20 locks about USD 4. The minimum lot is 0.01 for most indices but 1 for JP225, SWI20, STOXX50 and US2000, and 10 for VIX, so the margin for the smallest position is not a 0.01 fraction on those symbols. The index guides (how to trade the DAX 40, how to trade the CAC 40) use the same contract-size logic.
Cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrencies carry the lowest cap, 1:10, and a contract size of one coin. The margin is therefore 10% of the coin price for each coin in the position.
| Instrument | Contract size | Notional of 1 lot (USD) | Margin at cap (USD) | Margin for minimum lot (USD) | Minimum lot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BTCUSD | 1 | 84,175 | 8,417 | 84.17 | 0.01 |
| ETHUSD | 1 | 2,724 | 272 | 2.72 | 0.01 |
| BCHUSD | 1 | 313 | 31.29 | 0.31 | 0.01 |
| SOLUSD | 1 | 120 | 11.96 | 11.96 | 1 |
| LTCUSD | 1 | 68.87 | 6.89 | 0.34 | 0.05 |
| LINKUSD | 1 | 15.42 | 1.54 | 1.54 | 1 |
| AVAXUSD | 1 | 11.64 | 1.16 | 0.12 | 0.1 |
| UNIUSD | 1 | 9.14 | 0.91 | 0.91 | 1 |
| XRPUSD | 1 | 1.51 | 0.15 | 7.56 | 50 |
| DOTUSD | 1 | 1.21 | 0.12 | 0.12 | 1 |
| ADAUSD | 1 | 0.25 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 1 |
| DOGEUSD | 1 | 0.10 | 0.0095 | 0.38 | 40 |
Source: Vanto calculator data, snapshot 2026-09-29 11:35 UTC. Twelve of the thirteen cryptocurrencies are listed; SHIBUSD is omitted while its specification is being checked.
Bitcoin is the reason the crypto cap matters. A BTCUSD lot has a smaller notional value than a XAUUSD lot (about USD 84,175 against about USD 415,860) but locks about ten times as much margin (about USD 8,417 against about USD 832), because leverage is 1:10 rather than 1:500. The minimum lot also varies: XRPUSD starts at 50 lots and DOGEUSD at 40, so the smallest XRPUSD position locks about USD 7.56, more than a full lot of many other symbols would suggest. The crypto-specific mechanics are covered in crypto CFD trading.
What the Margin Does and Does Not Tell You
The margin is the deposit that keeps a position open, not the size of the risk. A position with a notional value of USD 415,860 can gain or lose far more than the USD 832 locked against it, and the loss can exceed the deposit if the market moves against the position beyond the margin available. That is what the margin call level and the stop-out level are for. At Vanto the margin call level is 100% and the stop-out level is 50% on both account types; how the two work is explained in what is stop-out level in trading.
The correct order is to decide the acceptable loss first and then check that the margin for the resulting lot size fits comfortably inside the account. The margin table answers only the second question. For the first, see what is a lot and what is minimum lot size in trading.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much margin does 1 lot of gold need?
At the 1:500 cap and the September 2026 snapshot, one lot of XAUUSD (100 troy ounces) has a notional value of about USD 415,860 and locks about USD 832. The figure changes with the gold price: at 10% higher prices the margin is 10% higher.
Is the margin the same for every forex pair?
No, but it is the same for every pair with the same base currency. All EUR-base pairs lock about USD 227 per lot at this snapshot, all GBP-base pairs about USD 265 and all USD-base pairs USD 200.
Does the margin change when the price moves?
Yes. Margin is a fixed percentage of notional value, and notional value moves with the price and, for non-USD instruments, with the exchange rate. The contract size and the leverage cap stay the same.
Why does Bitcoin need more margin than gold?
Because of the leverage cap, not the notional value. Gold is capped at 1:500 and Bitcoin at 1:10, so a smaller Bitcoin position locks about ten times more collateral.
Where can I check the exact margin for a position?
In the MT5 symbol specification and order window, and in the Vanto trading calculator, which computes the margin, pip value and swap for any instrument and lot size at the live price.
Check the Margin Before Sizing a Position
The trading calculator recomputes every figure in this article at the current price and for any lot size. Instrument details by class are on the forex, commodities, indices and cryptocurrencies pages, and the account terms are on the account types page.
Risk warning. Trading securities, futures, options, and contracts for differences are complex financial instruments that require knowledge and understanding. Prices can fluctuate significantly and securities may become valueless. Investors may incur losses exceeding the potential for profits. Trading on margin can result in losses greater than the amount initially deposited. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance. The information in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation, or an offer to buy or sell any financial instrument. Consider whether CFD trading is appropriate for your circumstances and seek independent advice if necessary.