Margin Calculator — Trading Margin
Check how much margin you need before placing an order. This calculator covers equity delivery, intraday, futures, and options segments with SPAN and exposure margin breakdowns. Knowing your margin requirement upfront prevents order rejections and helps you plan position sizes around your available capital. It also shows the leverage available for different trade types so you can assess risk before committing to a position.
Margin Calculator
Margin requirement
Results
Adjust the sliders and click Calculate
Frequently Asked Questions
What is margin in stock trading?
Margin is the capital your broker requires you to deposit before placing a trade. For intraday equity trades, brokers may let you trade with 5-10x leverage, meaning you only need a fraction of the trade value upfront. For futures, SEBI mandates SPAN margin plus exposure margin. For options buying, you pay the full premium, but option selling requires significant margin. Understanding margin requirements helps you size your positions correctly.
What happens if I get a margin call?
A margin call occurs when your account balance falls below the required maintenance margin due to adverse price movement. Your broker will ask you to deposit additional funds immediately. If you do not, the broker can square off your positions at market price to recover the shortfall. This can lock in losses you were hoping to ride out. Always maintain a buffer above the minimum margin to avoid forced liquidation.
How did the SEBI peak margin rules change things?
SEBI introduced peak margin rules requiring brokers to collect margins upfront based on the peak exposure during the day, not just the end-of-day position. This means brokers can no longer offer excessive leverage for intraday trading. The maximum leverage available has reduced across the board, making it important to check exact margin requirements before placing orders, especially for F&O trades.