---
title: "Futures Education | ProFuturesTrader"
url: https://profuturestrader.com/education
description: "Plain-English guides to how futures contracts work: contract size, margin, rollover, and practicing on a demo. Educational only."
lang: en
---

# Futures Education

Short, plain-English guides to how common futures contracts work — contract size, margin, rollover, and how to practice on a demo. Educational only, not a recommendation.

Futures and options trading involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. You can lose more than you deposit.

Contract guides

## Futures Markets and Contracts

Plain-English contract guides covering market families, contract size, tick value, settlement, and risk.

Explore the guides
https://profuturestrader.com/education/futures-markets

Featured

## Platform videos (CQG Desktop)

Free CQG Desktop tutorials on charting, order entry, and the DOM.

Watch the videos
https://profuturestrader.com/platform-education

## Index products

Guide

### S&P 500 E-mini Futures (ES): A Practical Guide

Contract size, tick value, margin, rollover, and how ES compares with the Micro E-mini (MES).

Read the guide
https://profuturestrader.com/education/sp500-e-mini-futures

## Metals

Guide

### Micro Gold, Micro Silver, and 1-Ounce Gold Futures

How the smaller metals contracts are sized and how their tick values compare.

Read the guide
https://profuturestrader.com/education/micro-metals-gold-silver-1oz

## Energy

Guide

### Crude Oil Futures Basics

Contract units, tick values, and the reports that tend to move crude oil.

Read the guide
https://profuturestrader.com/education/crude-oil-futures-basics

## How futures work

Guide

### Margin and Leverage in Futures

Initial and maintenance margin, margin calls, and why leverage cuts both ways.

Read the guide
https://profuturestrader.com/education/margin-and-leverage

Guide

### Contract Rollover, First Notice Day, and Last Trading Day

Key contract dates and what rolling a position involves.

Read the guide
https://profuturestrader.com/education/contract-rollover

Guide

### Order Types and Stops

Market, limit, and stop orders, and why a stop is not a guarantee.

Read the guide
https://profuturestrader.com/education/order-types-and-stops

Guide

### Hedging Basics in Futures

How futures positions can offset existing risk, and their limitations.

Read the guide
https://profuturestrader.com/education/hedging-basics

Guide

### Futures vs. Stocks and ETFs

How futures differ from stocks and ETFs in sizing, hours, and settlement.

Read the guide
https://profuturestrader.com/education/futures-vs-stocks-and-etfs

## Tools to practice

Guide

### Reading the Economic Calendar

Which scheduled releases matter for futures and how to read the timing.

Read the guide
https://profuturestrader.com/education/reading-the-economic-calendar

Guide

### Platforms and the 28-Day Demo

An overview of available platforms and how to practice in a simulated account.

Read the guide
https://profuturestrader.com/education/platforms-and-the-28-day-demo

## Related on the site

- Blog (Educational): https://profuturestrader.com/blog
- Contract Specifications: https://profuturestrader.com/contract-specifications
- Contract Margins: https://profuturestrader.com/contract-margins
- Margin Calculator: https://profuturestrader.com/margin-calculator
- Economic Calendar: https://profuturestrader.com/economic-calendar
- 28-Day Demo: https://profuturestrader.com/demo
- Platforms: https://profuturestrader.com/platforms
- Platform Videos: https://profuturestrader.com/platform-education

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