Gold lot size (XAUUSD): point value and sizing by risk
Updated 13 October 2026
Gold is one of the most popular instruments for manual traders and one of the most common sources of sizing mistakes: it has its own contract size, and multi-dollar moves happen within minutes. Here is what a point is worth and how to size the trade.
What a gold move is worth at 1 lot
At most brokers 1 lot of XAUUSD is 100 ounces. So a $1 move (say from 4130.00 to 4131.00) at 1 lot makes or loses $100; at 0.10 lot, $10; at 0.01 lot, $1.
100-ounce contract, 2-digit quotes (4130.25)
| Point | 0.01 |
|---|---|
| Point value per 1 lot | $1 |
| A $1 move = 100 points | $100 per 1 lot |
| A $1 move at 0.01 lot | $1 |
If your broker quotes gold with 3 digits (4130.255), a point is 0.001 and worth $0.10 per lot — the same stop has ten times as many points. Other contract sizes exist too (10 or 1 ounce). Before sizing, open the symbol Specification: contract size, tick size and tick value.
How to size a gold trade
It is easiest to measure the stop in dollars of price: stop = |entry − stop|.
Lot = Risk amount ÷ (Stop in dollars of price × Contract size)
$5,000 account, 1% risk
| Risk amount | $50 |
|---|---|
| Entry / stop | 4130.00 / 4122.00 → $8 |
| Loss at 1 lot | $8 × 100 = $800 |
| Lot | 50 ÷ 800 = 0.0625 → 0.06 (down to the 0.01 step) |
| Actual risk | $48 |
The general formula with points and point value is in How to calculate lot size by risk.
Why gold risk overshoots more often
- Small account, wide stop. With $1,000 and 1% risk ($10), a $10 stop already needs the 0.01 minimum. Any wider stop, and even the minimum lot risks more than planned.
- Spread and slippage. Gold spreads are wider than on the major pairs and widen further around news — see trading the news.
- Swap. Holding gold overnight often costs noticeable money — check the swap in the Specification.
- Mixing up 2 and 3 digits when moving between brokers.
The quick way
The lot calculator has a gold mode: balance, risk, entry and stop — and you have the lot. In the terminal, the TradeDeck panel reads the contract size and tick value from your broker’s Specification: drag the stop line on the chart and the lot is re-sized with every move.
Questions
What is one point of gold worth?
With a 100-ounce contract and 2-digit quotes, $1 per 1 lot and $0.01 per 0.01 lot. With 3-digit quotes, ten times less per point.
What lot size for gold on a $1,000 account?
It depends on the stop, not the account. At 1% risk ($10) and a $5 stop, 0.02 lot fits: 10 ÷ (5 × 100) = 0.02.