How much is one contract in futures?
A futures contract's value is typically its contract size multiplied by the current price. For example, if gold futures are trading at $1,900 an ounce, one futures contract representing 100 troy ounces would be valued at $190,000 ($1,900 x 100 = $190,000).
How much does it cost to trade futures? Fees for futures and futures options are $2.251 per contract, plus exchange and regulatory fees, and you pay the same commission whether you trade online or with the help of a broker. Note: Exchange fees may vary by exchange and by product.
What is a futures contract? A futures contract is a legally binding agreement to buy or sell a standardized asset on a specific date or during a specific month.
Contract size, or lot size, is the minimum tradable size of a contract. It is often one unit of the defined contract. For example, current contract size of PMEX sugar contract is 10 Tons. This implies that trading one contract creates a position of 10 tons of sugar.
| Last | Chg | |
|---|---|---|
| E-Mini S&P 500 Future Dec 2024 | $5,614.75 | -1.00 |
| E-Mini S&P 500 Future Mar 2025 | $5,673.25 | -0.75 |
| E-Mini S&P 500 Future Jun 2025 | $5,727.00 | 2.00 |
| E-Mini S&P 500 Future Sep 2025 | $5,775.00 | -63.25 |
Some small futures brokers offer accounts with a minimum deposit of $500 or less, but some of the better-known brokers that offer futures will require minimum deposits of as much as $5,000 to $10,000.
Minimum Account Size
A pattern day trader who executes four or more round turns in a single security within a week is required to maintain a minimum equity of $25,000 in their brokerage account. But a futures trader is not required to meet this minimum account size.
The futures value is the current futures price multiplied by the contract size. The futures value is the agreed amount that will be paid for the asset/commodity on maturity of the futures contract.
A tick is the minimum number in price a security can move on an exchange. Tick sizes vary by market and investment. For example, an e-mini S&P 500 futures contract has a designated tick size of $0.25, gold futures have a tick size of $0.10, and stocks trading above $1 have a minimum tick size of one cent.
When trading futures or equities, the "handle" refers to the whole dollar part of the asset's price, found to the left of the decimal. This is also called the whole dollar value, the big figure, or the big fig.
How much is a 1 ES contract worth?
For /ES, the contract size is $50 times the index value. So, for example, if the SPX is at 5,100, the contract value is $255,000. The minimum tick is one-quarter of an index point, or $12.50 per contract.
E-Mini Nasdaq 100 Index Futures Contract Specifications
The value for a 1-point move in the standard contract is $20 or $2 for the 1/10 size micro contract. Retail traders typically buy and sell the E-mini Nasdaq 100 index futures contracts to speculate if the price will go up or down.
| Symbol | Minimum tick size | |
|---|---|---|
| Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100 | /MNQ | 0.25 = $0.50 |
| Micro Gold | /MGC | 0.10 = $1.00 |
| Micro Silver | /SIL | 0.005 = $5.00 |
| Micro Copper | /MHG | 0.0005 = $1.25 |
Contract size definition
For instance, in forex the standard size of one contract is typically 100,000 units of the currency. Whereas for stocks, the typical size of a futures contract is 100 shares. A benefit of having contract sizes is that traders and investors know how much of a market they trading are.
Lots in futures refer to the minimum units of the underlying asset traded in a futures contract. For example, Nifty futures have a lot size of 75, allowing the trading of 75 Nifty index units per contract.
What Is A Point? Futures traders usually refer to price movements in terms of points. This is the minimum price fluctuation on the left side of the decimal point. Taking the S&P 500 E-Mini (ES) futures price as an example, a one point move would be if price went from from 1314.00 to 1315.00.
Definition of '80% Rule'
The 80% Rule is a Market Profile concept and strategy. If the market opens (or moves outside of the value area ) and then moves back into the value area for two consecutive 30-min-bars, then the 80% rule states that there is a high probability of completely filling the value area.
This can be a risky form of trading, but it also has the potential to generate large profits. If you are starting with a small amount of capital, such as $10 to $100, it is still possible to make money on futures trading.
According to our rankings, Interactive Brokers stands out for having the lowest fees for futures trading. Interactive Brokers offers highly competitive commissions, charging only $0.85 per contract for opening a position and an identical $0.85 for closing it, with a monthly trading volume under $1,000.
By focusing on a single market, you can get up to speed quicker. Trading futures for a living is a compelling idea — but to do it successfully, you'll need sufficient startup capital and a well-designed trading plan.
Is trading futures worth it?
While futures can pose unique risks for investors, there are several benefits to futures over trading straight stocks. These advantages include greater leverage, lower trading costs, and longer trading hours.
How much funds do I need to trade futures? Trading in futures contracts involves margin payment. The volume of margin will depend on the stake size. However, most brokers will ask for at least 10 percent upfront margin to place a trade.
A future contract's notional value is it's contract size multiplied by it's current price. It indicates the value of the underlying asset based on quantity and how much it is trading for, which helps you make decisions about a position and trade.
There is no legal minimum on what balance you must maintain to day trade futures, although you must have enough in the account to cover all day trading margins and fluctuations which result from your positions. These can vary by broker however some require as little as $500 to open an account.
Price limits are the maximum price range permitted for a futures contract in each trading session. These price limits are measured in ticks and vary from product to product. When markets hit the price limit, different actions occur depending on the product being traded.
