Margin Calculator

A margin calculator shows the upfront capital you need to take and hold a position. For futures and option writing it combines SPAN margin (the exchange’s risk-based requirement) with an exposure margin buffer; option buyers pay only the premium. Pick a segment, enter price and quantity, and ATS estimates the total margin per lot.

Pick a stock and enter lot size and number of lots to estimate the margin required.

Key takeaways

  • Total margin = SPAN margin + exposure margin; the calculator estimates both as a percentage of contract value.
  • Futures need roughly 16% of contract value at ATS’s indicative rates (≈12.5% SPAN + 3.5% exposure).
  • Equity intraday (MIS) needs about 20% (≈5x leverage); equity delivery (CNC) needs the full 100% of trade value.
  • Buying options costs only the premium; selling/writing options needs SPAN + exposure margin like futures.

About the Margin Calculator

Margin is the upfront money the exchange requires you to deposit to open and hold a leveraged position. The ATS Margin Calculator estimates that requirement across equity intraday, equity delivery, futures and options so you can size a trade to your available capital before placing the order.

For futures and short (written) options the total margin is made up of two parts: SPAN margin — the exchange’s core risk-based requirement, derived from a portfolio risk model — and exposure margin, an additional buffer charged on top of SPAN. Buying an option is different: you simply pay the full premium, with no SPAN margin.

The figures here are transparent indicative estimates expressed as a percentage of contract value. Real SPAN and exposure margins are published by the exchange and change every day with volatility, so always confirm the exact requirement on your trading platform before you trade.

Indicative margin by segment (% of contract value)
SegmentSPANExposureApprox. total
Equity Intraday (MIS)~20%~20% (≈5x leverage)
Equity Delivery (CNC)Full value100% of trade value
Futures~12.5%~3.5%~16% of contract value
Options — BuyFull premiumPremium paid
Options — Sell / Write~12.5%~3.5%~16% of contract value

Worked example (futures)

  • Wipro futures, lot size 3,000 units, price ₹300 → contract value = 3,000 × ₹300 = ₹9,00,000.
  • SPAN margin ≈ 12.5% = ₹1,12,500; exposure margin ≈ 3.5% = ₹31,500.
  • Total indicative margin ≈ ₹1,44,000 — about 16% of the contract value.
Rates updated: June 2026. Reviewed by ATS Share Brokers Pvt Ltd — Authorised Member of NSE, BSE & MCX. Figures are indicative and statutory rates, exchange charges and SPAN/exposure margins are set by SEBI and the exchanges and change from time to time. See our disclaimer — verify the exact numbers on your trading platform before you trade.

Frequently Asked Questions

A margin calculator estimates the upfront money you must deposit to open and hold a leveraged position in futures or options across equity, currency and commodity segments. It helps you size trades to your available capital before you place an order.

SPAN margin is the exchange’s core risk-based requirement, calculated from a portfolio risk model. Exposure margin is an additional buffer charged on top of SPAN to cover extra risk. Your total margin is SPAN plus exposure.

Indicatively about 16% of the contract value at ATS — roughly 12.5% SPAN plus 3.5% exposure. For a ₹9,00,000 contract that is around ₹1,44,000. The actual SPAN is set by the exchange and changes daily.

Yes. Buying an option costs only the premium you pay. Selling or writing an option carries much larger risk, so it requires SPAN plus exposure margin similar to a futures position.

Yes. Equity intraday (MIS) needs roughly 20% of trade value (about 5x leverage), while equity delivery (CNC) requires the full 100% because you take delivery of the shares into your demat account.

No — they are transparent indicative estimates as a percentage of contract value. Real SPAN and exposure margins are published daily by the exchange and depend on volatility; always confirm the exact requirement on your trading platform before trading.

Other ATS calculators