Calculate profit and loss for futures contracts with professional accuracy. Supports all major contracts including equity indices, commodities, currencies, and crypto.
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Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price on a specific future date. They're traded on exchanges and offer leverage.
Each futures contract has specific terms that determine profit/loss calculations. Understanding these is crucial for accurate P/L estimation.
Futures trading involves substantial risk due to leverage. Proper risk management is essential for long-term success.
Most actively traded futures contracts across different asset classes
Common questions about futures trading and P/L calculations
ES futures profit = (Exit Price - Entry Price) × $50 × Number of Contracts. For example, if you buy 1 ES contract at 4500 and sell at 4510, your profit is: (4510 - 4500) × $50 × 1 = $500.
Remember: For short positions, the calculation is reversed (Entry Price - Exit Price).
A point is a whole number move in price (e.g., 4500 to 4501 = 1 point). A tick is the minimum price increment. For ES futures, 1 point = 4 ticks (0.25 each), so 1 tick = $12.50.
ES Example:
• 1 point = $50 | 1 tick = 0.25 points = $12.50
• Price move from 4500.00 to 4500.75 = 3 ticks = $37.50 per contract
Micro contracts (MES, MNQ, MYM) are 1/10th the size of standard contracts, making them perfect for:
Example: 1 MES contract at 10-point move = $25 profit vs. 1 ES contract = $250 profit
Margin requirements vary by contract and broker, but here are typical day trading margins:
Standard Contracts:
• ES: ~$500-800 per contract
• NQ: ~$800-1,200 per contract
• CL: ~$400-600 per contract
Micro Contracts:
• MES: ~$50-80 per contract
• MNQ: ~$80-120 per contract
• MCL: ~$40-60 per contract
Warning: Overnight margins are typically 2-3x higher than day trading margins.
Most futures trade nearly 24 hours with brief maintenance breaks:
ES, NQ, YM, RTY: Sunday 6 PM - Friday 5 PM ET (17-minute break daily at 5 PM)
CL (Crude Oil): Sunday 6 PM - Friday 5 PM ET (45-minute break daily at 5 PM)
GC (Gold): Sunday 6 PM - Friday 5 PM ET (45-minute break daily at 5 PM)
Currency Futures: Sunday 6 PM - Friday 5 PM ET
Note: Times are subject to change and may vary by broker. Always verify current trading hours.
Our calculator uses official contract specifications from CME Group and other major exchanges, making it highly accurate for P/L estimation. However, real trading involves additional costs:
Always factor in these additional costs when planning your trades.