# 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.

Source: https://learn.tradelabsai.com/tools/futures-tick-value-calculator/  
Track: Calculators · Level: Beginner · Updated: 2026-10-03  
Publisher: TradeLabs AI (https://tradelabsai.com). Education, not financial advice.  
Cite as: TradeLabs Learn, "Futures Tick Value Calculator", https://learn.tradelabsai.com/tools/futures-tick-value-calculator/

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

*Interactive calculator: use it at https://learn.tradelabsai.com/tools/futures-tick-value-calculator/*

## 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](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/futures/tick-size-and-tick-value/).

**Example: Two E mini contracts**
A trader buys 2 ES contracts at 5,000.00 and sells at 5,010.00. ES moves in ticks of 0.25 points worth $12.50 each, so a full point is worth $50. The 10 point move is 40 ticks. Profit is 40 times $12.50 times 2, or $1,000, before costs. The same move on 2 MES contracts, worth $1.25 a tick, would make $100. Micro contracts let smaller accounts trade the same market with one tenth of the risk. See [Futures Trading](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/markets/futures-trading/).

## 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](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/futures/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](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/tools/position-size-calculator/) and [Fixed Percentage vs Fixed Dollar Risk](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/risk/fixed-percentage-risk/).

## Things to remember

1. **Margin is not risk:** the exchange margin is a deposit, not the maximum loss. See [Futures Margin: Initial and Maintenance](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/futures/futures-margin/).
2. **Fees per contract** add up for active traders; count them in ticks. See [Commissions and Fees](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/orders/commissions-and-fees/).
3. **Slippage** of a tick or two is common in fast markets. See [Slippage](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/markets/slippage/).
4. **Overnight gaps** can jump past stops.
5. **Contract months** roll; check you are trading the active contract. See [Rolling Futures Contracts](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/futures/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](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/tools/margin-and-leverage-calculator/).

## Continue learning

- Next lesson: [Margin and Leverage Calculator](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/tools/margin-and-leverage-calculator/)
- Previous lesson: [Pip Value Calculator](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/tools/pip-value-calculator/)
- Related: [Pip Value Calculator](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/tools/pip-value-calculator/): Free forex pip value calculator. Work out what one pip is worth in US dollars for any lot size and currency pair, including JPY pairs and crosses.
- Related: [Tick Size and Tick Value](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/futures/tick-size-and-tick-value/): Tick size is a future's smallest price move; tick value is what it is worth per contract. Learn to calculate P&L, risk per trade and position size from ticks.
- Related: [Contract Specifications](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/futures/contract-specifications/): Contract specifications define a futures contract's size, tick, months, hours and settlement. Learn every field, with examples for E-mini S&P, crude oil and gold.
- Related: [Futures Trading](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/markets/futures-trading/): How futures trading works day to day: choosing contracts, margin, tick values, trading hours, rolling, costs and risk, with a worked Micro E-mini trade.
- Related: [Futures Margin: Initial and Maintenance](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/futures/futures-margin/): Futures margin is a performance bond, not a loan. Learn initial and maintenance margin, day trading margin, margin calls, SPAN and how to avoid forced liquidation.
- Related: [Position Size Calculator](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/tools/position-size-calculator/): Free position size calculator. Enter your account size, risk percentage, entry and stop to see how many shares, contracts or coins to trade.