Let’s face it, MT5 is a powerful platform. It’s the go-to for a huge number of traders because of its multi-asset support, fast execution, and flexibility.

But when it comes to position sizing MT5 doesn’t exactly hold your hand.
There’s no built-in “risk per trade” calculator. No visual sizing tool.
If you want to trade with precision, not just click and pray, you’ll need a proper position size calculator.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through:
- How to calculate Position Size for MT5
- The best position size calculator tools for MT5
- What makes them useful (or not)
- The limitations of MT5’s native order screen
- And the exact setup I use to calculate my lots before placing a trade
Does MT5 Have a Built-In Position Size Calculator?
Technically… no.
What MT5 gives you is a “Volume” field in the New Order window — but you have to know how many lots to enter. It doesn’t calculate that for you.

You’ll see:
- Volume (lots)
- Stop Loss (in price)
- Take Profit (in price)
- Margin required
- Tick size and value (buried in the contract spec)
But it won’t tell you:
How many lots to trade based on your account risk
How much you’re actually risking in currency terms
What that means in £, $, €, etc.
Which is why traders end up:
- Guessing
- Overleveraging
- Risking inconsistent amounts trade to trade
The 3 Best Position Size Calculators for MT5
🥇 1. PositionSizeCalculator.co.uk (External Web Tool)
Let’s get this out of the way, this is hands-down the best calculator for MT4 & MT5 for any broker calculations, and works for stocks and forex. It’s the one I use, daily.

While it’s not built into MT5, it’s browser-based, fast, and works really well alongside any broker or platform.
Why I love it:
✅ Works for forex, indices, gold, crypto, stocks
✅ You choose account size, risk %, stop size (in pips, points or price)
✅ Clean interface, no fluff
✅ Doesn’t depend on broker plugin
✅ You can save or copy results for tracking
How I use it with MT5:
- Mark my stop loss level on the chart
- Calculate how many pips/points that is
- Plug it into PositionSizeCalculator.co.uk
- Copy the lot size into the MT5 order screen
- Done — risk is locked in
Drawback: Not integrated directly into MT5 (but that’s also what makes it broker-neutral)
🥈 2. EarnForex MT5 Position Size Indicator (Custom Script)
This is a downloadable script you can install on MT5, developed by EarnForex.

How it works:
- You load the indicator onto your chart
- It asks for balance, risk %, and stop loss in pips
- It then shows the correct position size on screen
Pros:
✅ Works inside MT5
✅ Lightweight and accurate
✅ Can toggle between lots and units
✅ Free to download
Cons:
⚠️ Requires manual installation and updates
⚠️ No multi-asset support beyond forex
⚠️ Can clutter the chart if not positioned well
🥉 3. FXSSI Long/Short Size Calculator (MT5 Add-On)
FXSSI builds a suite of MT5 tools, and their Position Size Calculator is nicely integrated.

Features:
- Risk % or fixed currency amount
- Auto reads account balance
- Updates in real-time with price
- Works with most MT5 brokers
Pros:
✅ Great UI
✅ Works for major forex pairs
✅ Auto-adjusts with market movement
Cons:
⚠️ Mostly forex-focused
⚠️ May need separate registration with FXSSI
⚠️ Not compatible with all MT5 brokers
Honorable Mention: Broker-Side Tools
Some brokers offer their own position size calculators that plug into MT5 or run in web platforms:
- IG, Pepperstone, and Admirals all offer web-based risk tools
- Some even allow “One Click Trading” modules with risk % built in
- But these tools are only usable if you stay with that broker
If you trade across brokers or need multi-asset support, you’re better off with a standalone calculator like PositionSizeCalculator.co.uk.
How to Calculate Your Position Size in MT5 (Manually)
If you’re not using a plugin or external tool, and you’re trading directly inside MT5, you’ll need to calculate your position size manually (not fun but ok…)
Here’s how I do it… it’s not hard, but you’ve got to be methodical.
Step-by-Step: Manual MT5 Position Sizing
Let’s say you’re trading GBP/USD on a £10,000 account and risking 1% per trade.
1. Set your stop loss in pips
Let’s say it’s a 40-pip stop.
2. Decide your risk per trade
1% of £10,000 = £100
3. Find the pip value per lot
For GBP/USD, 1.00 lot = £10 per pip
4. Use the formula
Risk ÷ (Pip value × Stop loss)
= Lot size
So:
£100 ÷ (£10 × 40)
= 0.25 lots
You’d enter 0.25 in the MT5 “Volume” field.
But this only works if you know the pip value per lot. For instruments like gold, indices, or stocks, it’s rarely that clean.
That’s why most traders either:
- Memorise pip values for their preferred assets
- Or use a tool like our Position Size Calculator to avoid mistakes
MT5 Tip: Use the “Specification” Panel to Check Tick Size + Value
Before using any calculator, always check:
- What does 1 lot mean for this symbol?
- What’s the tick value and contract size?
- Does it match what your calculator assumes?
In MT5, just:
- Right-click the instrument in Market Watch
- Click “Specification”
- Look at Contract Size, Tick Value, and Margin Rate
If 1 lot = 100 ounces of gold, your calculator needs to match that — or your sizing will be off.
MT5 Needs Help, But We’ve Got You Covered
MT5 is powerful, no question. But when it comes to risk management, it leaves a lot to you.
No automatic sizing, no risk-to-reward presets… just a Volume field and best wishes.
If you want to trade properly:
- Use a calculator before you open your MT5 order window
- Base your lot size on stop distance, not gut feeling
- Check contract size before each new instrument
- And never assume 1 lot means the same thing across assets
Whether you use a web tool like PositionSizeCalculator.co.uk or a local script like EarnForex’s indicator, just don’t guess.
James is a full-time UK-based trader for prop firms and using private capital since June 2010. Based in the Edinburgh, Scotland he has been active in the UK finance space for the last 10 years and helps other UK traders and investors calculate lot sizing, position sizing and investing with helpful tools.