Trading risk utility
Crypto Position Size Calculator
Calculate how much crypto to buy or short from your account balance, chosen risk, entry and stop price.
Formula and model limits
Risk budget = Account balance × Risk percentage / 100
Position size = Risk budget ÷ |Entry price − Stop price|
Assumes an exact stop fill. Actual losses can exceed this budget. Only linear asset quantities are supported; fees, inverse contracts and liquidation require separate modeling.
How to calculate crypto position size
Position sizing begins with a chosen risk budget. This calculator converts a percentage of the account balance into that budget, then divides it by the distance between entry and stop. It assumes an exact stop fill; this is not a guaranteed maximum loss.
Worked BTC example
Suppose an account contains $1,000, risk is limited to 2%, entry is $63,500 and the stop is $61,900.
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Risk budget | $1,000 × 2% | $20.00 |
| Risk per BTC | $63,500 − $61,900 | $1,600 |
| Position size | $20 ÷ $1,600 | 0.012500 BTC |
| Position value | 0.0125 × $63,500 | $793.75 |
If price reaches the stop without slippage, the price movement produces an estimated $20 loss. Fees or execution beyond the stop can make the realised loss larger.
What the result does not include
- Trading fees, spread and slippage.
- Funding payments or exchange-specific contract multipliers.
- Liquidation price, maintenance margin or isolated/cross-margin rules.
- Tax, currency conversion or a gap through the stop.
Position sizing questions
Does leverage change the position size result?
With asset quantity fixed, leverage changes required margin, not this price-distance calculation. Liquidation rules can still affect whether a planned stop is reached before liquidation. Fees depend on the product, rate and traded notional; increasing leverage does not automatically increase fees for the same fixed notional.
Can this calculator be used for a short trade?
Yes. Select Short and enter a stop above the entry price. The calculation uses the absolute price difference while the validation checks that the stop is on the correct side.
Why is the position value larger than the account balance?
That can happen when a tight stop produces a large notional position. It does not mean the position is affordable or safe. Spot buying power, leverage limits, fees and liquidation distance must be checked separately.