Position Size Calculator
Size a position from a predefined dollar-risk budget rather than from intuition alone. Enter account value, the percentage you are willing to risk, entry price and stop price to estimate maximum shares and notional position value.
A stop order cannot guarantee the planned loss. Gaps and slippage can produce losses beyond the calculated risk budget.
How this tool works
Risk budget = account value × risk percentage. Risk per share = |entry − stop|. Maximum shares = floor(risk budget ÷ risk per share).
Example
A $50,000 account risking 1% has a $500 risk budget. With a $2.50 difference between entry and stop, the simplified position size is 200 shares.
Common questions
Does this guarantee the maximum loss?
No. Gaps, slippage and execution delays can produce losses larger than the planned stop distance.
Can I use this for options?
The basic share calculation is designed for linear positions. Options require position-specific risk modeling.