Investments
Stock Margin Calculator
Find the exact margin required to take a position — intraday equity, delivery, futures, or options. Based on current SEBI peak margin rules (no more 20x leverage games).
Inputs
Margin requirement
Leverage rules (post Sep 2021 SEBI peak margin)
- • Equity delivery: 100% margin (full payment), T+1 settlement
- • Intraday (MIS): ~5x leverage, must square off by 3:20 PM
- • Futures: SPAN + exposure margin (~15–18%), so ~6x leverage
- • Option buyer: Pay premium, no margin
- • Option seller: SPAN margin like futures + extra for risk
- • SEBI rule (2021): No more 20–30x intraday leverage; brokers strictly enforce
Higher leverage = higher risk. ₹1L margin controlling ₹5L position means a 20% adverse move wipes out your capital. Use stop-loss religiously.
FAQs
How much margin is required for intraday trading?
Post Sep 2021 SEBI rules, intraday margin is ~20% of trade value (5x leverage). Earlier you got 20–30x at some brokers — that's gone now.
What is SPAN margin in F&O?
SPAN (Standard Portfolio Analysis of Risk) is the margin required to cover one-day worst-case loss. Plus there's exposure margin. Together typically 12–18% of contract value for index futures.
Why does options buying need no margin?
When you buy an option, your max loss is the premium paid. So you just pay the premium upfront — no further margin needed. Selling options requires SPAN margin since loss can be unlimited.
What happens if I don't maintain margin?
Broker auto-squares off your position. You pay all the losses + brokerage on the auto-square-off trade. Always keep 20–25% buffer beyond required margin.