What are futures contract margins?

Futures margins are the minimum funds required to open and maintain a futures position. Initial margin is the deposit to open a trade; maintenance margin is the minimum balance to keep it open.

What is the difference between initial and maintenance margin?

Initial margin is the amount required to enter a futures position. Maintenance margin is the lower threshold—if your account falls below it, you receive a margin call to add funds.

Do margin requirements change?

Yes. Exchanges and clearing firms adjust margin requirements based on market volatility, contract liquidity, and other risk factors. Check this page regularly for current rates.

Can I trade micro futures contracts with lower margins?

Yes. Micro contracts (e.g., Micro E-mini S&P 500) require significantly lower margins than standard contracts, making them accessible to smaller accounts.

Contract Margins

View margin requirements for all available futures contracts.

Margins are subject to change at any time without notice.

Contract margins in futures trading refer to the performance bond (or good-faith deposit) that traders must post to open and maintain a futures position. Unlike stocks, futures are leveraged, so margins let you control a large contract value with a small amount of capital. The more leverage/margin used, will increase profit and loss profile for your account.