The DAX 40 CFD is a European-session instrument with a point value in euros: one lot moves €1 per point on most brokers, and the index typically covers 150–250 points between the Frankfurt open and the US close. Its two volatile windows — the European cash open and the US open — are what decide whether a stop survives. This calculator returns the lot size for your balance, risk and stop in points, treating a point as $1; the notes below cover the euro conversion and the sessions.
GER40 (DAX) CFD contract facts
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Standard lot | 1 contract, €1 per index point on most brokers (some use €5, €10 or €25) |
| Micro lot (0.01) | €0.01 per point |
| Move of 1 point, 1 lot | €1 — about $1.05–1.10 depending on EUR/USD |
| Move of 100 points, 1 lot | €100 |
| Typical spread | 0.8–2 points during European hours; wider overnight |
| Typical daily range | roughly 150–250 points; 400+ on ECB and US data days |
| Most liquid hours | Frankfurt cash open at 07:00 UTC through the US open at 13:30 UTC |
The calculator treats one point as $1 per lot. On a USD account the true figure is €1 converted at the current rate — multiply the result by 1 ÷ EUR/USD (about 0.92 at 1.09) for the exact dollar risk, or size on the $1 figure and accept a small overstatement of risk, which errs on the safe side.
The lot size formula for GER40
Lot size = (Account balance × Risk %) ÷ (Stop in points × point value)Example 1 — $10,000 account, 1% risk, 50-point stop, €1 ≈ $1.08:
- Risk amount: $100
- Loss per lot: 50 × $1.08 = $54
- Lot size: 1.85 lots (the calculator's $1 figure gives 2.00)
Example 2 — €5,000 account, 1% risk, 80-point stop:
- Risk amount: €50
- Loss per lot: €80
- Lot size: 0.63 lots
Example 3 — $100,000 prop-firm account, 0.5% risk, 60-point stop:
- Risk amount: $500
- Loss per lot: 60 × $1.08 = $64.80
- Lot size: 7.72 lots
Quick reference: GER40 lot size at 1% risk (€1 per point ≈ $1.08)
| Account | 30-point stop | 50-point stop | 80-point stop | 150-point stop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | 0.31 | 0.19 | 0.12 | 0.06 |
| $5,000 | 1.54 | 0.93 | 0.58 | 0.31 |
| $10,000 | 3.09 | 1.85 | 1.16 | 0.62 |
| $50,000 | 15.43 | 9.26 | 5.79 | 3.09 |
| $100,000 | 30.86 | 18.52 | 11.57 | 6.17 |
Halve for 0.5% risk; double for 2%.
What makes the DAX different
- Two opens. The Frankfurt cash open at 07:00 UTC and the US open at 13:30 UTC each produce a burst of range; the hours between are often quiet. A stop sized for 10:00 UTC is undersized at 07:05.
- It is a euro instrument. The point value is €1. A USD account's risk moves with EUR/USD; a small effect day to day, but it accumulates on large positions.
- The ECB and German data move it directly. ECB decisions, German IFO and ZEW surveys and eurozone inflation produce 150–300-point sessions; US data moves it too, through the US open.
- Overnight is thin and gappy. The CFD trades around the clock on most brokers, but between the US close and the Frankfurt open the spread widens and 100-point drifts on Asian news are common. Overnight stops need room.
- The contract multiplier varies more than on US indices. €1, €5, €10 and €25 per point are all in use. A "1-lot" trade can be twenty-five times the risk this page assumes — check the specification.
Common GER40 sizing mistakes
- Forex-sized stops. A 15-point stop is inside the Frankfurt open's first candle. Intraday traders typically use 40–100 points.
- Ignoring the multiplier. The single most expensive mistake on the DAX.
- Sizing at the open with a mid-session stop. Halve the risk for the first half-hour of each open, or wait.
- Stacking with US indices after 13:30 UTC. From the US open the DAX follows the S&P; a long DAX and a long SPX500 is one bet at double size.
- Forgetting the euro conversion on large positions. At 20 lots, a 2% move in EUR/USD is a 2% change in your dollar risk.
Track your DAX trades in Fips
Fips's free trading journal records every index trade with its point result, R-multiple and time of day, so you can separate your Frankfurt-open trades from your US-open trades and see which ones your stops actually survive. Connect an MT4, MT5 or cTrader account and trades import automatically. Backtest a DAX setup to find its worst losing streak on historical data, and use the economic calendar for ECB and German release dates.
Frequently asked questions
How much is 1 point on GER40?
€1 per lot on most CFD brokers — about $1.08 at EUR/USD 1.08. Some contracts pay €5, €10 or €25 per point.
What lot size should I use on a $10,000 DAX account?
At 1% risk and a 50-point stop, about 1.85 lots at €1 per point. At an 80-point stop, 1.16 lots. Check your broker's multiplier before you place the order.
What is a reasonable stop loss on the DAX?
Intraday setups commonly use 40–100 points, 4-hour setups 150–300, daily setups 350–700. Widen it at the two opens and on ECB days.
Is GER40 the same as DE40, DAX40 or GER30?
GER40, DE40 and DAX40 are the current 40-stock index under different tickers. GER30 and DE30 are older tickers from when the index had 30 constituents; the contract is the same index today.