Margin Call (มาร์จิ้นคอล)

A Margin Call is a warning from your trading account that your free money is running low. It appears when your margin level drops to a set threshold.

Margin level is calculated like this:

Margin level = Equity ÷ Used margin × 100%

Equity is your balance plus or minus the profit or loss on your open trades. Used margin is the money held aside to keep those trades open.

Simple example

You have 1,000 USD and open trades that use 500 USD of margin.

• Margin level = 1,000 ÷ 500 × 100% = 200%
• The trades lose 500 USD. Equity is now 500 USD.
• Margin level = 500 ÷ 500 × 100% = 100%

If the margin call level is 100%, you would get a warning at this point. If equity keeps falling, many accounts have a lower stop out level, such as 50%. At that level, trades are closed automatically, usually starting with the biggest losing one. Each broker sets its own levels, so check your account rules.

Why it matters

A margin call means your account is under pressure and you have little room left for further losses. To fix it, you can deposit more money, close some trades, or wait for the price to move back, which is not guaranteed.

Common beginner mistake

Opening a Lot size that is too large for the account, or using very high leverage, so that a small price move causes a margin call. Using a smaller Lot size and a Stop Loss helps keep your margin level healthier.