Crypto Risk Calculator

Calculate position size for a leveraged or spot crypto trade. Enter account balance, risk percentage, entry and stop price to find the correct quantity.

Enter 1 for spot trading. For leveraged futures/perpetuals, enter your leverage multiple.

Formula

Crypto position size formula

Risk Amount Account Balance × Risk% ÷ 100
Risk Per Coin |Entry Price − Stop Price|
Quantity Risk Amount ÷ Risk Per Coin
Margin Required Position Value ÷ Leverage

Worked Example

Given

$10,000 account · 1% risk · Entry $50,000 · Stop $47,500 · Leverage 5×

Risk Amount
$10,000 × 1% = $100
Risk Per Coin
$50,000 − $47,500 = $2,500
Quantity
$100 ÷ $2,500 = 0.04 BTC
Margin Required
($0.04 × $50,000) ÷ 5 = $400

Frequently Asked Questions

How does risk-based position sizing work for crypto?
Choose a fixed percentage of your account to risk on each trade (e.g. 1%). Calculate the dollar risk amount. Then divide by the per-coin risk (entry price minus stop price). The result is how many coins to trade so that if your stop is hit, you lose exactly your predetermined dollar amount.
How does leverage affect position size?
Leverage multiplies your buying power. At 5× leverage, your position value can be 5× your margin deposit. However, your dollar risk per trade stays the same — it is still determined by your account size and risk percentage. Leverage changes how much margin is locked up, not how much you risk.
What percentage of account should I risk per trade?
For crypto, 0.5%–2% per trade is a common range. Crypto volatility is higher than stocks or forex, meaning stop losses are often wider relative to the expected move. A 5% stop on a $50,000 BTC position is $2,500 per coin — at 1% account risk on a $10,000 account, you can only hold 0.04 BTC.
Does this work for perpetual swap contracts?
Yes. Enter your margin account balance, the leverage your perpetual contract uses, and the stop price at which your position would be closed (not the liquidation price). Set your stop conservatively above your liquidation price to avoid forced liquidation before your intended exit.