What is the Maximum Leverage in Forex Trading?
When trading forex and choosing a broker you’ve probably asked yourself what the maximum forex leverage is.
In regulated markets, the maximum leverage in forex for brokers is different compared to unregulated offshore markets and there are many high leverage forex brokers that offer extreme leverage ratios.
In this guide, we are going to dive deeper to find out more about the maximum leverage in forex.
Short Summary
- The known maximum leverage in forex is currently 1:8888 and is offered by a broker called CM Index.
- Different regulations such as CFTC Regulations (United States) and ESMA Regulations (European Union) allow a maximum forex leverage of 1:10 up to 1:50.
- Off-shore unregulated brokers offer up to 1:3000 and 1:5000 leverage.
Maximum forex leverage explained
The maximum leverage in forex is currently 1:8888 and is offered by CM Index, an off-shore forex broker that offers high leverage trading to retail traders.
This level of leverage is at the extreme end and can only be found on off-shore brokers, however, 1:8888 leverage is not very common.
A more common maximum forex leverage offered by off-shore forex brokers is 1:3000 or 1:5000.
The leverage ratio is the amount of capital that your broker provides in order for you to increase your trade size.
In order to use leverage, a trader must provide the margin requirement, also called collateral, that is set by the broker.
Together, leverage and the margin requirement make up the building blocks of a forex position.
A good high leverage trading strategy should also be in place to both save you from outsized losses and set you up for a good risk reward ratio.
When using the maximum forex leverage, you increase your leverage ratio to whatever the highest forex leverage is available by the broker.
This can be anything from 1:100 leverage up to 1:8888.
Maximum leverage in forex for different regulations
Depending on which jurisdiction you live in, there might be a slight difference in how much leverage your forex broker will provide you.
The maximum forex leverage for different regulations ranges from 1:10 up to 1:5000.
The below table shows the maximum forex leverage for ESMA regulations, CFTC regulations, and Off-shore unregulated brokers.
| Regulation | Fores Pairs | Maximum Leverage |
|---|---|---|
| ESMA Regulations (European Union) | Major currency pairs | Up to 30:1 |
| Minor currency pairs | Up to 20:1 | |
| Exotic currency pairs | Up to 10:1 | |
| CFTC Regulations (United States) | Major currency pairs | Up to 50:1 (for retail traders) |
| Minor/exotic currency pairs | Up to 20:1 (for retail traders) | |
| Off-shore Unregulated | All Trading Pairs | Up to 8888:1 |
How does max leverage in forex trading work?
In the forex market, it is common for brokers to offer 1:200 leverage which is seen as a high ratio for retail traders.
Here is an example of how maximum leverage in forex works:
Let’s say that you choose a high leverage ratio of 1:200.
This means that for every $1000 you deposit in your trading account, you are able to open trades valued up to $200,000.
With this buying power, you can open 2 standard forex lots.
Out of the total $200,000 trade value, only $1000, or 0.005% is your own deposited money.
Related: If you want to know how to calculate your forex leverage, use our forex leverage calculator.
The added capital from your forex broker is applied to the position at the moment you open the trade.
When the trade is canceled later on, the leverage is paid back to the broker.
Maximum forex leverage is used for traders that either want to trade with high risk, have a strong conviction of the market direction, or have a very small account balance.
The best leverage for forex depends on many factors, such as:
- Market
- Experience
- Trading Strategy
When I trade the JPY/USD trading pair with high leverage, I always make sure to check that the broker has negative balance protection and that I deposit only the amount of money I am willing to lose.
What are the risks of max forex leverage trading?
Striving to use the highest leverage in forex can be a dangerous task and make sure that you know the risks of leverage trading before testing.
The main risks of using maximum forex leverage are the following:
- Overleveraing
- Outsized losses
- Going into debt
- Liquidation
- Difficult to control
Overleveraging happens when a trader uses too much leverage in a single trade and it becomes difficult to control.
What could happen is that you end up losing more than you have invested and your account balance becomes negative.
It is also common knowledge how leverage affects losses, especially when trading forex with max leverage.
Liquidation is another detrimental outcome of using too much buying power in the forex markets.
If you are affected by a liquidation caused by leverage, you need to take a step back and re-write your trading strategies.
One way to avoid many of these pitfalls when using maximum forex leverage is to use our liquidation price calculator.
What are the benefits of max forex leverage?
The benefits you get from using max forex leverage as a trader can sometimes outweigh the drawbacks.
Sometimes, the best leverage for $200 is more than 1:200 if you have found a trading setup that has a skewed risk reward ratio.
Related: Use our risk reward calculator to see how profitable your trading setup is.
The main benefits are:
- Increased profits
- Enabling underfunded traders
- Flexibility
As forex traders, we often stumble upon good forex setups and at that moment we need to be properly funded to take advantage of the situation.
If have not yet made your full deposit and you are about to miss your trade setup, it can be smart to use maximum forex leverage to not lose it.
In this case, a high forex leverage ratio will compensate for the lack of funds in your forex account.
This is a good way to day trade with leverage and should be in every trader’s arsenal of trading strategies.
What is the lowest leverage in forex trading?
If you wonder if you can trade forex without leverage, the answer is yes.
The lowest leverage in forex trading is 1:1 leverage, however, many forex brokers have a limit on how little leverage you can use.
This is suitable for beginner traders that don’t want to take the leap and trade their live account with maximum forex leverage.
The benefit you gain from using 1:1 leverage is that your losses can never exceed your account balance since there is no margin call level or liquidation level.
The downside is that your profit potential is severely limited.
The way leverage trading affects forex profits is by multiplying the profit by the leverage ratio.
For example, if you make a profit of $100 on a trade without leverage, you can directly increase the profit by 500% by using a leverage ratio of 1:5.
The difference between the lowest forex leverage and the maximum forex leverage is huge and each trader should decide for himself which is better.
FAQ
The highest leverage in forex should only be used by professional traders with proven track records. Retail traders with less experience should start with a lower ratio to build confidence and trading skills.
The leverage you choose is always going to be 100%. Another question is whether the amount of leverage is 100% of your margin capital or more. This happens naturally when you choose more than 1:2 leverage.
Professional traders use anywhere from 1:10 up to 1:200 leverage depending on the market, experience, and trading strategy.
A leverage ratio higher than 1:500 is considered very high and should be avoided by beginner traders.
Conclusion
The maximum leverage in forex often acts as a two-edged sword that can both help a trader when in need of cash but it can also create outsized losses if the trader is not prepared well.
The more experienced you in trading the forex market the more you can push your buying power to fulfill your trading goals.
Balancing the rewards and risks of using the high forex leverage is what’s ultimately going to swing your way.
Unexperienced traders should start out small and work their way up the leverage ladder until they have gained sufficient knowledge.
