The NASDAQ 100 CFD is sized in index points, not pips: one lot moves $1 per point on most brokers, and the index routinely covers 200–400 points in a US session. That makes the sizing simple — stop in points, $1 per point per lot — and makes the stops wide. This calculator returns the lot size for your balance, risk and stop in points; the notes below cover what is specific to trading the index.
NAS100 (US100) CFD contract facts
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Standard lot | 1 contract, $1 per index point on most brokers (check yours — some use $10 or $20) |
| Micro lot (0.01) | $0.01 per point |
| Move of 1 point, 1 lot | $1 |
| Move of 100 points, 1 lot | $100 |
| Typical spread | 1–3 points during US hours; wider overnight |
| Typical daily range | roughly 200–400 points; 600+ on Fed and earnings days |
| Most liquid hours | US cash session, 13:30–20:00 UTC; the first hour is the most volatile |
The calculator treats one "pip" as one index point at $1 per lot. If your broker's contract is $10 or $20 per point, divide the result by 10 or 20.
The lot size formula for NAS100
Lot size = (Account balance × Risk %) ÷ (Stop in points × $1)Example 1 — $10,000 account, 1% risk, 60-point stop:
- Risk amount: $100
- Loss per lot: $60
- Lot size: 1.67 lots
Example 2 — $5,000 account, 1% risk, 120-point stop:
- Risk amount: $50
- Lot size: 0.42 lots
Example 3 — $100,000 prop-firm account, 0.5% risk, 80-point stop:
- Risk amount: $500
- Lot size: 6.25 lots
Quick reference: NAS100 lot size at 1% risk
| Account | 40-point stop | 60-point stop | 100-point stop | 200-point stop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | 0.25 | 0.17 | 0.10 | 0.05 |
| $5,000 | 1.25 | 0.83 | 0.50 | 0.25 |
| $10,000 | 2.50 | 1.67 | 1.00 | 0.50 |
| $50,000 | 12.50 | 8.33 | 5.00 | 2.50 |
| $100,000 | 25.00 | 16.67 | 10.00 | 5.00 |
Halve for 0.5% risk; double for 2%.
What makes NAS100 different
- The open is a different market. The first 30–60 minutes after 13:30 UTC often contain half the day's range. A 40-point stop that is reasonable at 15:00 is inside the noise at 13:35.
- It is the most volatile major index. NAS100 typically moves 1.5–2 times as far as SPX500 in points-per-dollar terms because of its tech concentration. Size accordingly; do not reuse S&P stops.
- Earnings season changes the range. Reports from the largest constituents move the index in the after-hours session and gap the open. Positions held overnight in earnings weeks are positions sized for a gap.
- US data and the Fed dominate. CPI, payrolls and Fed decisions produce 300–600-point sessions; the index is the purest expression of rate sensitivity among the CFDs.
- Overnight is thin. Spreads widen to several points and the index can drift 100 points on Asian or European news with little volume. Overnight stops need room.
Common NAS100 sizing mistakes
- Pip-sized stops. A 10-point stop is inside the spread's news-hour range. Intraday traders typically use 40–100 points; swing traders 200–500.
- Reusing S&P or Dow stops. Each index has its own point value and range; a 30-point stop on SPX500 is a 100-point stop on NAS100.
- Wrong contract multiplier. If your broker pays $10 per point, a "1-lot" trade is ten times the risk this page assumes. Check the specification.
- Sizing into the open. The first candle of the US session is not the time for full size; many traders halve their risk until 14:00 UTC.
- Stacking with crypto or single stocks. Bitcoin and large-cap tech trade with NAS100 during US hours. Count the combined exposure.
Track your NAS100 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 see whether your open-hour trades outperform or underperform your mid-session trades and whether your stops survive the index's range. Connect an MT4, MT5 or cTrader account and trades import automatically. Backtest a NAS100 setup to find its worst losing streak on historical data, and use the economic calendar to keep CPI, payrolls and Fed dates in view.
Frequently asked questions
How much is 1 point on NAS100?
$1 per lot on most CFD brokers; $10 or $20 on some. A 100-point move is $100 per lot at $1 per point.
What lot size should I use on a $10,000 NAS100 account?
At 1% risk and a 60-point stop, 1.67 lots. At a 100-point stop, 1.00 lot. At a 200-point stop, 0.50 lots.
What is a reasonable stop loss on NAS100?
Intraday setups commonly use 40–100 points, 4-hour setups 150–300, daily setups 400–800. Widen it at the open and on data days.
Is NAS100 the same as US100 or USTEC?
Yes — different brokers use different tickers for the same NASDAQ 100 CFD. The contract multiplier can differ, so check the specification.