How much is one point of MES worth?
One point of MES (Micro E-mini S&P 500) is worth $5 per contract. If the price moves 12 points, each contract makes or loses $60.
MES tick value and point value
Micro E-mini S&P 500. One point is worth $5 per contract and the 0.25 minimum tick $1.25. CME Group specifications, the same at any broker and prop firm.
- 1 point$5
- 1 tick (0.25)$1.25
- Ticks per point4
- 10 MES =1 ES
Contracts
0
- Actual risk
- —
- Risk per contract
- —
- Point value
- —
- Tick value
- —
MES profit and loss per point
| Move | 1 contract | 5 contracts | 10 contracts | 20 contracts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25 points (1 tick) | $1.25 | $6.25 | $12.50 | $25 |
| 1 point | $5 | $25 | $50 | $100 |
| 3 points | $15 | $75 | $150 | $300 |
| 6 points | $30 | $150 | $300 | $600 |
| 12 points | $60 | $300 | $600 | $1,200 |
| 30 points | $150 | $750 | $1,500 | $3,000 |
Before commissions. Profit and loss are symmetrical: the same move against you costs the same.
MES vs ES and MNQ
| Contract | Underlying | 1 point | 1 tick |
|---|---|---|---|
| MES | Micro E-mini S&P 500 | $5 | $1.25 |
| ES | E-mini S&P 500 | $50 | $12.50 |
| MNQ | Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100 | $2 | $0.50 |
MES lets you size risk in steps ten times smaller than ES: useful with small accounts or wide stops. MNQ tracks a different index: points are worth a different amount and the indices do not move alike, so compare risk in dollars, not points.
MES on a 50K funded account
Points of loss one MES contract can take before each limit. With more contracts, divide by the number of contracts.
| Program | Max loss | Points (1 contract) | Daily limit in points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topstep Trading Combine | $2,000 | 400 | 200 |
| Apex Trader Funding EOD Evaluation | $2,000 | 400 | 200 |
| Apex Trader Funding Intraday Evaluation | $2,000 | 400 | None |
| Lucid Trading LucidFlex / LucidPro / LucidDaily | $2,000 | 400 | 240 |
| Tradeify Growth | $2,000 | 400 | 250 |
| Tradeify Select | $2,000 | 400 | None |
Example: how many MES on a $50,000 account
With a $50,000 account and 1% risk per trade, you can lose $500 if the stop is hit. With a 6-point stop (24 ticks), each MES contract risks 6 × $5 = $30. That fits 16 contracts, risking $480.
If the market is choppier and the stop needs 12 points, the risk per contract doubles and 8 contracts fit: the money at stake is still $500, only the size changes. With 2% risk ($1,000) and the 6-point stop, 33 contracts fit.
How the MES tick value is calculated
The tick is the smallest price move: 0.25 points on MES. Its value is the point value times that size: $5 × 0.25 = $1.25, and one point has 4 ticks. To turn a stop in ticks into money, multiply the ticks by $1.25; to see how many points a given risk allows, divide the money by $5.
These figures are the contract specifications set by the exchange (CME Group), the same at every broker. What varies from one broker to another is the commission per contract and the margin required to open the position: check both before you trade.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MES tick value?
The minimum tick is 0.25 points, worth $1.25 per contract. One point has 4 ticks.
How many MES equal one ES?
Ten. MES is the micro of ES: it tracks the same index at one tenth of the point value ($5 versus $50).
How much do I make on 12 points of MES?
$60 per contract: 12 points × $5. With 5 contracts, $300. Your broker’s commissions come on top.