Futures tick value & position size calculator
Convert a stop distance into dollars for ES, MES, NQ and MNQ. Enter your own budget, round-trip fees and total slippage allowance to estimate how many whole contracts fit.
Your estimate
Tick values at a glance
| Contract | Tick size | USD per tick | USD per point |
|---|---|---|---|
| ES | 0.25 points | $12.50 | $50 |
| MES | 0.25 points | $1.25 | $5 |
| NQ | 0.25 points | $5 | $20 |
| MNQ | 0.25 points | $0.50 | $2 |
How the calculation works
Estimated risk per contract = (stop ticks + total slippage ticks) × tick value + round-trip fees. Divide your budget by that amount and round down to a whole number of contracts. If one contract exceeds the budget, the result is zero.
Example: MES with a 20-tick stop, two ticks of slippage and $2 in fees produces an estimated $29.50 per contract. A $100 budget fits three contracts at an estimated $88.50 total. A 20-tick stop is five index points.
What this estimate does not cover
A stop order does not cap your actual loss. Gaps, fast markets and execution problems can produce losses beyond these assumptions. This is arithmetic for planning, not a recommendation to trade. Margin requirements, available buying power, broker limits and prop-firm rules are separate checks.
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Sources and related tools
Contract multipliers and tick sizes: CME Group contract FAQ. Reviewed September 23, 2026. Check current exchange and broker specifications before use.
Get the free NinjaTrader 8 Candle Countdown for time-based charts, or use our signal indicator evaluation guide to plan a more consistent simulation review.
NQ and MNQ calculator questions
How much is one NQ tick worth?
One NQ tick is 0.25 index points, worth $5 per contract. One full point is four ticks, worth $20 per contract. A 10-point move is therefore $200 per contract before fees and slippage. Select NQ above and enter a stop distance in ticks to estimate risk.
How much is one MNQ tick worth?
One MNQ tick is 0.25 points, worth $0.50 per contract. A full point is worth $2. For example, a 27-point move is 108 ticks and $54 per MNQ contract before costs; whether it is a gain or loss depends on your position and the direction of the move.
How do I convert points into ticks?
Divide the point distance by the contract's tick size. For the four contracts in this calculator, divide by 0.25, or multiply points by four. A 10-point stop becomes 40 ticks. Enter 40 in the stop-distance field, not 10.
How many futures contracts fit my risk budget?
Choose the exact contract symbol, enter your stop distance and include your own fee and slippage assumptions. The calculator rounds down to whole contracts. For example, a 40-tick MNQ stop, two total slippage ticks and $2 in round-trip fees give $23 estimated risk per contract. A $100 budget fits four contracts at $92 estimated risk. This does not check margin, account eligibility or actual execution.
Is this a futures profit calculator or a margin calculator?
This tool estimates stop-based risk and position size. For a gross price-move calculation, multiply ticks by tick value and contracts, then account for direction and costs. Margin is a separate broker or exchange requirement; it is not your maximum loss. The tool does not forecast profit or calculate buying power.
Contract references: CME E-mini Nasdaq-100 and CME Micro E-mini overview. Examples checked October 12, 2026.
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