Position Sizing Examples: 10 Real Scenarios (Spot + Futures)
Learn position sizing with real examples. See how risk %, stop distance, and leverage affect position size for spot and futures trades.
The math is simple. The value is consistency. Use these examples as templates.
Example 1 (spot long)
Account $5,000. Risk 0.5% ($25). Entry 50, stop 49. Size = 25 units.
Example 2 (spot long, wider stop)
Same account and risk. Entry 50, stop 47.5. Size = 10 units.
Example 3 (spot short)
Account $12,000. Risk 1% ($120). Entry 200, stop 210. Size = 12 units.
Example 4 (futures long, leverage chosen last)
Account $10,000. Risk 1% ($100). Entry 100, stop 98. Size = 50 units. Choose leverage to manage margin.
Example 5 (too much leverage)
Same setup, 20× leverage. Liquidation moves closer. Risk did not change, but liquidation risk increased.
Example 6 (volatile crypto)
Account $8,000. Risk 0.75% ($60). Entry 1.20, stop 1.08. Size = 500 units.
Example 7 (tiny stop, large size)
Small stop distance means a large unit size, and fees matter more.
Example 8 (fees on small targets)
Model net outcomes with fees and slippage before committing.
Example 9 (open risk)
If you have 3 trades at 1R each, your open risk is 3R. Cap total open risk.
Example 10 (drawdown adjustment)
After a drawdown, reduce risk from 1% to 0.5% until stable.
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