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Essential

Lot

A standardized trading unit. In forex, a standard lot is 100,000 units of the base currency.

Quick answer

A lot is a standard forex position size: 100,000 units for a standard lot, 10,000 for mini, 1,000 for micro. Every position-size calculation starts with the lot.

Definition

A lot is a standardized unit of measurement for a trading position. In forex, a standard lot equals 100,000 units of the base currency. Lots help standardize trading and calculate position sizes consistently. Lot size decides the dollar value of every pip and therefore the risk of the trade. On EUR/USD a standard lot is $10 per pip, a mini lot $1, a micro lot $0.10: position sizing starts by choosing the lot that keeps a losing trade inside your plan.

Types of Lot

Standard Lot

100,000 units - 1 pip ≈ $10

Mini Lot

10,000 units - 1 pip ≈ $1

Micro Lot

1,000 units - 1 pip ≈ $0.10

Nano Lot

100 units - 1 pip ≈ $0.01

Trading Tips

1

Start with micro lots when learning

2

Calculate lot size based on risk percentage

3

Different instruments may have different lot sizes

Related Terms

Sources

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