How to Calculate Lot Size for DE40 (DAX 40): Contracts, Margin and Position Sizing
BY TIOmarkets
|March 25, 2026The DAX 40, traded as DE40 at TIOmarkets, is one of the most actively followed equity indices in Europe.
It tracks the 40 largest companies listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and is known for its responsiveness to both European economic data and global risk sentiment.
Before entering a trade on DE40, understanding how lot sizes work, how to calculate point value, and how to size a position relative to your risk tolerance is essential groundwork.
Tiomarkets also offers a lot size calculator.
This article explains the DE40 contract structure, how to calculate the monetary value of a price move, how margin is calculated, and how to apply a position sizing formula with a worked example.
DE40 Contract Size and Lot Structure
Index CFDs are measured in contracts rather than currency units. For DE40 at TIOmarkets, one standard lot equals 10 contracts. The minimum trade size is 0.01 lots, which equals 0.1 contracts.
The lot structure for DE40 is as follows. A standard lot is 1.0 lots, representing 10 contracts. A mini lot is 0.1 lots, representing 1 contract. The minimum trade size is 0.01 lots, representing 0.1 contracts.
Contracts are the unit through which your exposure to the index is expressed. The monetary value of each price move is calculated by multiplying the number of contracts by the point move and the value per point, which is covered in the next section.
Point Value for DE40
For DE40, the value of a one-point move is EUR 1 per contract. This means for a standard lot of 10 contracts, a one-point move in the DE40 price is worth EUR 10.
For a mini lot (0.1 lots, 1 contract), a one-point move is worth EUR 1. For the minimum trade size (0.01 lots, 0.1 contracts), a one-point move is worth EUR 0.10.
DE40 is denominated in euros. Traders holding EUR-denominated accounts will see their profit and loss reflected directly in euros. Traders holding accounts in other base currencies, such as USD, will have their profit and loss converted from EUR to their account currency at the prevailing exchange rate at the time the position is closed. Because exchange rates fluctuate, the exact value of a point move in your account currency will vary. TIOmarkets' Profit Calculator can help you estimate trade outcomes in your account currency.
How to Calculate Margin for DE40
The margin requirement for DE40 is 1%, which corresponds to leverage of up to 1:100. Margin is calculated on the notional value of the position, which is determined by the current DE40 price multiplied by the number of contracts.
The formula for required margin is:
Required margin = (Number of contracts × Current price) × Margin percentage
For a standard lot (10 contracts) at a DE40 price of 22,000:
10 × 22,000 × 0.01 = EUR 2,200
For a mini lot (0.1 lots, 1 contract) at the same price:
1 × 22,000 × 0.01 = EUR 220
For the minimum lot size (0.01 lots, 0.1 contracts):
0.1 × 22,000 × 0.01 = EUR 22
Because DE40 is priced in euros, the margin requirement is also expressed in euros. For accounts held in other base currencies, the required margin will be converted at the prevailing exchange rate. As the DE40 price moves, the margin requirement changes accordingly. Leverage is subject to change depending on market conditions and applicable regulatory requirements.
TIOmarkets' Margin Calculator allows you to enter the instrument, lot size, leverage, and account currency to calculate the required margin directly.
Position Sizing Formula for DE40
Position sizing determines how many lots to trade based on your account size, your risk per trade, and the distance of your stop-loss in points.
The formula is:
Lot size = (Account balance × Risk per trade) ÷ (Stop-loss in points × Point value per lot in account currency)
Because DE40 point value is denominated in euros, traders with non-EUR accounts need to convert the point value to their account currency before applying the formula. The worked example below uses a EUR account for clarity, followed by a note on the conversion step for non-EUR accounts.
Worked example (EUR account):
Suppose you have a EUR 10,000 account and you are willing to risk 1% per trade. Your stop-loss is set at 50 points on DE40. Point value per standard lot is EUR 10.
Risk amount: EUR 10,000 × 0.01 = EUR 100
Lot size: EUR 100 ÷ (50 × EUR 10) = EUR 100 ÷ EUR 500 = 0.20 lots
Rounding to an available lot size, you would trade 0.20 lots (2 contracts). A 50-point adverse move would result in a loss of approximately EUR 100, consistent with your 1% risk target.
For non-EUR accounts:
If your account is denominated in USD, you need to convert the point value from EUR to USD before running the formula. For example, if the EUR/USD rate is 1.08, the point value per standard lot in USD is EUR 10 × 1.08 = USD 10.80. You would then substitute USD 10.80 as the point value in the formula. Because exchange rates change, this conversion should be recalculated for each trade. TIOmarkets' Pip Value Calculator can assist with this step.
How Spreads and Commissions Affect DE40 Position Sizing
Every DE40 trade incurs costs at the point of entry that should be factored into your position sizing and risk calculations.
On the Standard account, DE40 spreads start from 1.1 points, though spreads are variable and will typically be higher than the minimum figure shown, particularly during periods of lower liquidity or around major economic announcements. There is no commission on the Standard account.
On the Raw account, spreads start from 0.0 points with a commission of USD 6 per round turn lot. The commission is charged in full when the position is opened and covers both the opening and closing of the trade. For a 0.20-lot position, the commission would be 0.20 × USD 6 = USD 1.20, charged at opening.
On the VIP Black account, spreads start from 0.3 points with no commission. Spreads are variable across all accounts.
When running the position sizing formula, adding the estimated spread to your stop-loss distance in points gives a more accurate picture of total risk from entry to stop. For instance, if your stop-loss is 50 points and the spread at entry is 2 points, your effective risk from entry to stop is 52 points.
DE40 Trading Hours
DE40 is available to trade Monday through Friday from 01:00 to 24:00 server time. It is closed on Saturday and Sunday. With a 23-hour daily session, DE40 has one of the longest continuous trading windows of the index CFDs available at TIOmarkets, covering the European session open through to the close of the US session each day.
Overnight financing applies to DE40 positions held open at the daily rollover. Overnight financing on index CFDs is generally calculated on a different basis from forex triple swap mechanics. Current financing rates should be checked directly inside the trading platform.
Trading DE40 at TIOmarkets
DE40 is available on Standard, Raw, and VIP Black accounts on MT4 and MT5, with a minimum trade size of 0.01 lots and a margin requirement of 1%. Hedging is permitted on all account types.
Traders interested in a swap-free account should contact TIOmarkets directly to discuss Islamic account eligibility and applicable instruments.
Copy trading is also available for traders who prefer to follow strategy providers rather than manage their own positions.
FAQ
Risk disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Never deposit more than you are prepared to lose. Professional client’s losses can exceed their deposit. Please see our risk warning policy and seek independent professional advice if you do not fully understand. This information is not directed or intended for distribution to or use by residents of certain countries/jurisdictions including, but not limited to, USA & Countries included in the OFAC sanction list. The Company holds the right to alter the aforementioned list of countries at its own discretion.
TIOmarkets offers an exclusively execution-only service. The views expressed are for information purposes only. None of the content provided constitutes any form of investment advice. The comments are made available purely for educational and marketing purposes and do NOT constitute advice or investment recommendation (and should not be considered as such) and do not in any way constitute an invitation to acquire any financial instrument or product. TIOmarkets and its affiliates and consultants are not liable for any damages that may be caused by individual comments or statements by TIOmarkets analysis and assumes no liability with respect to the completeness and correctness of the content presented. The investor is solely responsible for the risk of his/her investment decisions. The analyses and comments presented do not include any consideration of your personal investment objectives, financial circumstances, or needs. The content has not been prepared in accordance with any legal requirements for financial analysis and must, therefore, be viewed by the reader as marketing information. TIOmarkets prohibits duplication or publication without explicit approval.
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