How to Calculate Total Open Risk Across MT5 Positions

Exposure, margin and stop risk

Notional exposure is the value controlled by a position. Margin is collateral required by the broker. Loss to stop is a separate estimate of what could be lost if the position exits at the specified level. A screen showing free margin alone cannot answer how much is at risk across open trades. MT5 shows volume, entry and stop levels for positions; Market Watch exposes symbol specifications. The calculation also needs the account currency and, where relevant, a conversion rate.

Calculate one position first

For a linear CFD, start with price distance from entry to stop, multiply by monetary value per price change and by volume, then convert to account currency. Do not apply one fixed pip value to every symbol: contract size, tick size, tick value and profit currency vary. For a buy, the stop is ordinarily below entry; for a sell, above. Specify whether your metric measures loss from original entry or the possible change from current equity for a trade already in profit. Check a small worked example against your broker’s demo account.

Two-position example

Suppose you have already converted two stop-loss estimates to account currency: €42 for one position and €35 for another. Their theoretical combined loss is €77. With €100 of daily loss allowance left, the apparent headroom is €23 before fees or slippage. Adding “one lot plus half a lot” cannot produce this figure: lots are volume, not money. A third position with no stop must not be assigned zero risk; mark it as not bounded by a stop.

Correlation and account mode

Gold and dollar-linked positions may react to one macro event. Summing stop losses gives a conservative operational check, not a statistical drawdown forecast. Under hedging, multiple positions can coexist on one symbol; under netting, subsequent deals alter an aggregate position. Avoid double-counting partially closed trades and recalculate when volume or stops change. An opposite position does not automatically erase gap, spread or execution risk.

A pre-order risk check

Record current equity, daily loss limit, realized losses, floating P/L and existing stop-based risk. Add the proposed trade’s estimated loss before placing it. Keep separate flags for missing stops, aggregate risk above a threshold and daily drawdown. An alert may inform a decision; it does not necessarily prevent execution or guarantee an exit price. Prop challenge rules require their own current, official definitions of day boundary, equity treatment, commissions and maximum loss.

Choosing a tool

MT5 is the source for position levels and symbol specifications. A spreadsheet may be enough for a small account if conversions and stop changes are updated. A connected dashboard can reduce manual entry across positions or accounts, but test how it handles missing stops, partial closes and synchronization. If you also want to review behavior alongside risk, examine Disciply’s journal and discipline workflow against your own broker data rather than assuming every metric behaves identically.

Common questions