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Futures contracts

How many contracts to trade without going over your risk. Official CME Group specifications: the same at any broker and any prop firm.

  • ECBOfficial exchange rates every day
  • CMEOfficial futures specifications
USD
points

Contracts

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Actual risk
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Risk per contract
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Point value
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Tick value
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Point and tick values

ContractPoint valueMinimum tickTick value
NQ E-mini Nasdaq-100$200.25$5.00
MNQ Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100$20.25$0.50
ES E-mini S&P 500$500.25$12.50
MES Micro E-mini S&P 500$50.25$1.25
YM E-mini Dow Jones$51$5.00
MYM Micro E-mini Dow Jones$0.501$0.50
RTY E-mini Russell 2000$500.1$5.00
M2K Micro E-mini Russell 2000$50.1$0.50
GC Gold (COMEX)$1000.1$10.00
MGC Micro Gold$100.1$1.00
CL WTI Crude Oil$1,0000.01$10.00
MCL Micro WTI Crude Oil$1000.01$1.00

A micro is worth exactly one tenth of the full-size contract: 10 MNQ equal 1 NQ. Source: CME Group contract specifications.

Frequently asked questions

How much is one point worth on NQ and MNQ?

One point of the E-mini Nasdaq-100 (NQ) is worth $20 per contract, and the minimum 0.25-point tick is worth $5. The micro (MNQ) is worth one tenth: $2 per point and $0.50 per tick.

How many NQ or MNQ contracts to risk $500 with a 20-point stop?

Each NQ risks 20 × $20 = $400, so 1 NQ fits. With micros, each MNQ risks $40: 12 MNQ fit, which gets closer to your risk ($480).

How much is one tick worth on ES and gold (GC)?

The E-mini S&P 500 (ES) moves in 0.25-point steps and each tick is worth $12.50 ($50 per point). COMEX gold (GC) moves in $0.10 steps and each tick is worth $10 ($100 per dollar).

Does the point value change with the broker or prop firm?

No. Futures trade on a regulated exchange (CME Group) and their specifications are the same at any broker and any prop firm, such as Topstep or Apex. What changes is the commission and how many contracts each account lets you trade.

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