I would choose position size before deciding how much leverage to use. Reversing that order encourages a common mistake: filling the account’s available margin simply because the platform permits it. The margin requirement tells you how much capital is reserved for a position, not how much that position can lose.
Current published limits by account route
| Route | Published maximum | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| International ECN | Up to 1:500 | Equity tier, symbol and account settings can lower it. |
| UK / EU retail | Up to 1:30 | Instrument categories can have lower limits. |
| Eligible UK / EU professional | Support lists up to 1:500 | Classification requirements and different protections apply. |
The entity ECN table and leverage support page are the sources for these figures. An older announcement about 1:1000 should not override today’s account table. Use the entity directory and account comparison to identify which terms actually apply.
International equity tiers
| Published equity band | Listed leverage ceiling |
|---|---|
| Up to $25,000 | 1:500 |
| $25,000 to $100,000 | 1:200 |
| $100,000 to $1,000,000 | 1:100 |
| Above $1,000,000 | Negotiated |
The public table repeats some boundary amounts between adjacent bands. At exactly a threshold, confirm the assigned account limit rather than infer which inequality the system uses. The equity band is also not the only constraint: instrument specifications and existing exposure can affect required margin.
Changes in equity or an account setting can alter how much free margin remains. Before requesting a leverage change, examine existing positions and ask whether the new requirement applies immediately. Do not move money between accounts merely to circumvent a risk limit.
The same position at two leverage settings
Take an illustrative 0.01 standard lot of EUR/USD, equal to EUR1,000, with EUR/USD at 1.10. Its USD exposure is $1,100. For a simple fixed-leverage example:
| Setting | Illustrative required margin | Value of a 20-pip movement |
|---|---|---|
| 1:100 | $1,100 ÷ 100 = $11 | $2 before costs |
| 1:500 | $1,100 ÷ 500 = $2.20 | $2 before costs |
The price movement is 0.0020 USD per EUR; multiplied by EUR1,000 it gives $2. Changing leverage did not change that position size. Actual FXOpen symbol margin rules, conversion and rounding can differ from this simplified calculation. Use the margin calculator as a planning check and verify the platform’s estimate before submitting an order.
The dangerous step would be increasing the position fivefold because the required margin became smaller. That would also increase the value of each pip fivefold. Lower required margin creates capacity; using that capacity creates exposure.
Margin call and stop-out are ratios
Current ECN tables list a 100% margin-call level and 50% stop-out level. Margin level is equity divided by used margin, multiplied by 100. It is not the percentage of the original deposit remaining.
For illustration, if used margin is $200 and equity falls to $100, margin level is 50%. If used margin were $50 instead, the same $100 equity would produce a 200% margin level. The ratio cannot tell you the original deposit or total amount already lost.
A stop-out process can close positions under the applicable rules, but a gap or limited liquidity can affect the price obtained. It is not a guaranteed stop-loss order. Read the actual contract, including the order in which positions may be closed.
Negative balance protection is a separate term
UK and EU customer terms describe protection for retail clients. We did not establish an equivalent current international guarantee from the reviewed contract, and a broad marketing statement is not enough to extend UK or EU conditions to that account.
Professional classification may change protections as well as leverage. Treat it as a legal and financial classification decision, not an uncomplicated way to unlock a larger number. The UK and EU guides identify the relevant terms.
A step-by-step margin check
- Choose the amount of money you are prepared to risk on the idea, within the account’s overall risk plan.
- Set a stop based on the trade logic and calculate position size using the correct pip or tick value.
- Check the minimum lot and volume step. If rounding up exceeds the planned risk, reduce the trade or do not take it.
- Confirm the symbol’s actual margin calculation and account leverage.
- Allow for spread, commission, financing and adverse movement across all open positions.
- Practise reading equity, used margin and free margin on demo before repeating the workflow with money.
Read the cost guide alongside this check. A stop-distance calculation that ignores commission can understate planned loss, especially on small or short-term trades.
If the platform says there is not enough money
Check the requested volume, account currency, free margin, open positions and exact symbol first. A balance can look sufficient while existing exposure has already used the available margin. A different contract size or a lower instrument leverage limit may also explain the rejection.
Do not keep increasing leverage until the order passes without understanding the size. Save the rejection text and symbol specification for support. The useful outcome is a correct calculation, not merely an accepted order.
Frequently asked questions
What is FXOpen’s maximum leverage?
Current international ECN tables advertise up to 1:500. UK and EU retail tables list up to 1:30. Equity tiers, instruments and classification can impose lower or different limits.
Does 1:500 make a trade safer than 1:100?
No. For the same position, the price risk is unchanged. The higher ratio reduces required margin and can make it easier to take excessive exposure.
Does 50% stop-out mean I can only lose half my deposit?
No. It refers to equity relative to used margin, not the amount of the initial deposit. Execution conditions also affect liquidation results.
Can I assume a current 1:1000 offer applies?
No. The older announcement conflicts with current 1:500 international account tables. Confirm the actual setting and instrument terms.
Sources and review method
Checked 11 September 2026. This guide uses current public documentation and the dated notices below. We did not open a funded FXOpen account, measure execution, test a withdrawal or contact support as a customer. Screenshots show public pages; diagrams and worked examples are explanatory.
Official broker websites
Read the current terms and restrictions for your actual residence. These links do not establish that a broker or service is available or authorised where you live.
Forex and CFD trading carries a significant risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone. These are affiliate links; we may earn a commission if you use them.