Futures Tick Value Calculator: ES, NQ, CL, GC and More

Futures Tick Value Calculator

Free futures tick value calculator. Pick a contract such as ES, MES, NQ, CL or GC, enter entry, exit and contracts, and see ticks and profit or loss.

Beginner3 min readUpdated 3 Oct 2026

Lesson 4 of 19

Every futures contract moves in fixed steps called ticks, and each tick is worth a set amount of money. An E mini S&P 500 tick is worth $12.50; a crude oil tick is worth $10; a micro contract tick is a tenth of its full size cousin. Knowing these values is essential for setting stops, sizing positions and understanding what a move in points means for your account. This calculator includes common US contracts and lets you enter any other contract's tick size and value.

Calculator#

Contract Side Entry price Exit price Contracts Custom tick size Custom tick value ($)

Calculator: Turn on JavaScript to use it, or use the formula below

How it works#

Ticks = (Exit price - Entry price) / Tick size   (reversed for a short)
Profit or loss = Ticks × Tick value × Contracts
Point value = Tick value / Tick size

Custom tick size and value are used only when "Custom contract" is selected. Fees and commissions are not included. See Tick Size and Tick Value.

Common contract values#

Contract	Tick size	Tick value	Point value
ES (E mini S&P 500)	0.25	$12.50	$50
MES (Micro E mini S&P 500)	0.25	$1.25	$5
NQ (E mini Nasdaq 100)	0.25	$5.00	$20
MNQ (Micro E mini Nasdaq 100)	0.25	$0.50	$2
CL (Crude oil, 1,000 barrels)	0.01	$10.00	$1,000 per $1
GC (Gold, 100 ounces)	0.10	$10.00	$100 per $1
ZN (10 year note)	1/64 of a point	$15.625	$1,000

Exchanges occasionally change contract specifications, so confirm them on the exchange's website before trading. See Contract Specifications.

Using tick value to size positions#

To risk a fixed amount, divide your dollar risk by the stop distance in ticks times the tick value. Risking $250 with a 20 tick stop on MES ($1.25 per tick) allows 250 divided by 25, or 10 contracts. On ES, the same stop costs $250 per contract, so only 1 contract fits. See Position Size Calculator and Fixed Percentage vs Fixed Dollar Risk.

Things to remember#

Margin is not risk: the exchange margin is a deposit, not the maximum loss. See Futures Margin: Initial and Maintenance.
Fees per contract add up for active traders; count them in ticks. See Commissions and Fees.
Slippage of a tick or two is common in fast markets. See Slippage.
Overnight gaps can jump past stops.
Contract months roll; check you are trading the active contract. See Rolling Futures Contracts.

Frequently asked questions#

How much is one tick on ES?#

One ES tick is 0.25 index points and is worth $12.50 per contract.

What is the difference between ES and MES?#

MES is the micro version of ES, one tenth the size, so each 0.25 point tick is worth $1.25 instead of $12.50.

How do I calculate futures profit?#

Divide the price change by the tick size to get ticks, then multiply by the tick value and the number of contracts.

Next, see how margin and leverage interact with the Margin and Leverage Calculator.

Check your understanding

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Next lessonMargin and Leverage CalculatorFree margin and leverage calculator. Enter your equity, position value and margin rate to see required margin, free margin, leverage and the move that wipes you out.