Step Index Lot Size Calculator

Work out the correct position size for Step Index before you open a trade — based on your account balance, risk tolerance, and stop-loss distance.

Recommended Lot Size
0.00
Amount at risk$0.00
Value per point (at this lot)$0.00
⚠️ Contract size varies by instrument and can change. Before trading, confirm the exact contract size for your chosen index by right-clicking it in your MT5 Market Watch → Specification. This calculator uses the value you enter above — it does not connect to your broker or account.
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What Makes Step Index Different

Step Index moves in fixed-size steps up or down with equal probability on each tick, which makes its movement size one of the more predictable among Deriv's synthetic indices — though the direction of each step remains random. This step-based structure is popular with traders who prefer working with a consistent, quantifiable unit of movement rather than the variable-sized moves seen on Volatility or Boom/Crash indices.

Predictable step size does not mean predictable direction, though — a series of steps in the same direction can still move price a meaningful distance, and position sizing should account for that possibility rather than assuming price will stay range-bound.

How This Calculator Works

Enter your account balance, the percentage you're willing to risk on the trade, and your stop-loss distance in points. The calculator divides your risk amount by the stop-loss distance multiplied by the contract size to suggest a lot size. Confirm Step Index's current contract size in your MT5 platform's symbol specification before trading, since this value is set by the broker and can change.

Frequently Asked Questions

What lot size should I use for Step Index?
It depends on your account balance, risk percentage, and stop-loss distance for the specific trade — use the calculator above rather than a fixed figure shared elsewhere.
Is Step Index good for beginners?
Its consistent step size is often seen as easier to reason about than the variable movement of other synthetic indices, which is why some newer traders start there, though direction is still random and losses are still possible on any given trade.

For a full walkthrough of the position-sizing formula behind this calculator, see ourcomplete guide to calculating lot size for synthetic indices, or read our risk management guide for broader principles.