Forex Options & Futures Margin Calculator
Determine initial margin, maintenance margin, and contract unit requirements for CME currency futures and Forex options contracts.
Understanding Futures Initial vs Maintenance Margin
Futures contracts require Initial Margin (collateral required to open a contract) and Maintenance Margin (minimum equity required to maintain open positions). Falling below maintenance margin triggers a margin call.
SPAN Margin System on Exchange Futures
Exchanges like CME use SPAN (Standard Portfolio Analysis of Risk) to calculate margin requirements dynamically based on overall portfolio option and futures risk offset.
How to Use This Futures Margin Tool
Select contract asset, choose number of contracts, and pick margin tier (Day Trading Margin vs Overnight Exchange SPAN Margin). The calculator computes required collateral.
Day Trading Margins vs Overnight Holding
Futures brokers frequently offer discounted intra-day margins (e.g., $500 per E-mini contract during day sessions) that revert to full exchange margins prior to daily session close.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SPAN margin?
SPAN is an automated exchange margin algorithm evaluating total portfolio risk across options and futures.
What happens during a futures margin call?
If equity drops below maintenance margin, the broker liquidates contracts if funds are not added immediately.