Account percentage first
Define max % risk per trade in your plan (e.g., 0.5%). Every ticket references that number before looking at pip or tick distance.
Manual position sizing
How to size trades manually with the Smart Risk Tool math.
This page summarizes the Learn → Foundations risk modules. It keeps the math deterministic, avoids indicators, and never promises outcomes.
Sizing principles
Unit calculator
Translate % risk into contracts, micro lots, or binaries using the Smart Risk Tool, not intuition.
Variance buffer
Add a buffer if volatility expands. Beginners often skip this and accidentally double size in high range sessions.
Journal confirmation
Record the chosen size and guardrail in the trading-journal-template so any drift is obvious later.
Checklist
- Log the instrument, stop distance, and account balance in the Smart Risk Tool.
- Enter your risk % cap and confirm the resulting size is within broker minimums.
- If volatility > recent average, reduce size manually (document the reason).
- Paste the final size and risk % back into your journal and Pre-Trade Checklist notes.
Keep the numbers offline. Nothing here connects to brokers or execution systems.
Use Smart Risk Tool
Enter account balance, stop distance, and instrument so the tool outputs units. The math mirrors the Learn formulas exactly.
Open manual risk sizing toolCross-check discipline
After calculating size, capture it in the trading journal template and in your Pre-Trade Checklist notes. This keeps guardrails visible during Reality Check reviews.
Review the journaling templateSuggested internal links
- Smart Risk Tool: calculate contract/lot size before each order.
- Pre-Trade Checklist: document whether sizing respected the guardrail.
- Trade Quality Score: log if the plan, size, or emotional state drifted.
Keep the sizing math honest.
Apply this in ToolsEducational-only workflow. You remain responsible for execution choices.