The UK100 CFD tracks the FTSE 100 and is quoted in pounds, so its point value is in sterling and a dollar account carries a GBP/USD conversion on every trade. The contract size is set by your broker. This calculator starts from 1 lot = £1 per index point, the default in Fips's pip engine, and lets you change the contract size to match your platform. The worked examples below assume GBP/USD at 1.3000, which makes one point on 1.00 lot worth $1.30.
UK100 (FTSE 100) CFD contract facts
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Underlying | FTSE 100 index |
| Quote currency | GBP |
| Contract size | broker-dependent; the calculator's default is £1 per index point per lot |
| Micro lot (0.01) at the default | £0.01 per point |
| Move of 1 point, 1 lot | £1, which is £1 × GBP/USD in dollars ($1.30 at 1.30) |
| Move of 100 points, 1 lot | £100 |
| MT5 point | 0.1 index point on a one-decimal quote |
| Cash session | London Stock Exchange, 08:00–16:30 UK time |
Check the contract size before you size anything. In MT5, right-click the symbol in Market Watch, open Specification and read "Contract size". If it says 1, one lot moves £1 per point. If it says 10, one lot moves £10 per point and every lot size on this page has to be divided by ten. Enter your broker's figure in the calculator's contract size field and it does that for you.
Computing the point value yourself
Point value per lot (GBP) = contract size × £1
Point value per lot (USD) = contract size × £1 × GBP/USD rateAt the default contract size and an assumed GBP/USD of 1.30, one point on 1.00 lot is $1.30. The rate is an assumption for the examples, not a quote. The calculator converts with the latest ECB reference rate and shows its date under the result. The pip value calculator gives the value per point and per 1.00 move for any lot size.
One more unit to watch: if your platform quotes UK100 with one decimal, MT5's "points" are tenths of an index point, so a 30-point stop appears as 300 points in the order window.
The lot size formula for UK100
Lot size = (Account balance × Risk %) ÷ (Stop in index points × Point value per lot)The complete lot size guide uses the same formula on other indices. Lot sizes are rounded down to 0.01, as the calculator does.
Example 1 — $10,000 account, 1% risk, 30-point stop, £1 per point, GBP/USD 1.3000 (assumed):
- Risk amount: $100
- Loss per lot: 30 × £1 = £30 = $39.00
- Lot size: $100 ÷ $39.00 = 2.564, rounded down to 2.56 lots
- At a contract size of 10: 0.25 lots
Example 2 — £5,000 account, 1% risk, 50-point stop, £1 per point:
- Risk amount: £50
- Loss per lot: £50, no conversion
- Lot size: 1.00 lot
Example 3 — $100,000 prop-firm account, 0.5% risk, 40-point stop, £1 per point, GBP/USD 1.3000 (assumed):
- Risk amount: $500
- Loss per lot: £40 = $52.00
- Lot size: 9.62, rounded down to 9.61 lots
Funded accounts add a daily loss limit on top of the risk per trade; prop firm daily drawdown explains it and prop firm rules compares firms.
Quick reference: UK100 lot size at 1% risk (£1 per point, GBP/USD 1.3000 assumed)
| Account | 15-point stop | 30-point stop | 50-point stop | 100-point stop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | 0.51 | 0.25 | 0.15 | 0.07 |
| $5,000 | 2.56 | 1.28 | 0.76 | 0.38 |
| $10,000 | 5.12 | 2.56 | 1.53 | 0.76 |
| $50,000 | 25.64 | 12.82 | 7.69 | 3.84 |
| $100,000 | 51.28 | 25.64 | 15.38 | 7.69 |
For 0.5% risk, roughly halve each figure; for 2%, roughly double it. For a contract size of 10, divide by ten.
What makes the FTSE 100 different
- It is a sterling instrument. On a dollar account the risk of a fixed position changes with GBP/USD even when the index does not move. Small day to day, noticeable on large positions.
- It often moves against the pound. Many FTSE 100 companies earn much of their revenue outside the UK, so a weaker pound has often coincided with a firmer index. A long UK100 and a short GBP/USD can overlap more than they look.
- Two opens matter. The London cash open at 08:00 UK time and the US open in the London afternoon both tend to bring bursts of activity. A stop sized for the quiet midday hours can be too tight at either open.
- Bank of England decisions and UK data move it directly, alongside global risk sentiment and the large energy, mining and bank constituents.
- Cash-index CFDs carry dividend adjustments. When index constituents go ex-dividend, brokers adjust open positions. It is not a trading loss, but the price drop can reach a stop placed too close.
Common UK100 sizing mistakes
- Ignoring the contract size. A position sized for £1 per point on a £10 contract risks ten times the plan. It is the most expensive mistake on index CFDs.
- Confusing MT5 points with index points. On a one-decimal quote, 300 MT5 points is 30 index points.
- Forgetting the conversion on a dollar account. At GBP/USD 1.30, £1 per point is $1.30; sizing at $1 makes the position 30% too large.
- Forex-sized stops. A stop of a few points sits inside ordinary noise around the London open.
- Holding through ex-dividend dates with a tight stop. Check the broker's dividend calendar for index CFDs.
Track your FTSE 100 trades in Fips
The calculator on this page is free and needs no account. Fips, the trading journal it belongs to, is in private beta with access by waitlist. In the trading journal, MT4 and MT5 accounts sync through the read-only investor password and cTrader through view-only access; other platforms come in by CSV import or manual entry, and Fips never asks for your login password. Tagging UK100 trades by session shows whether your stops survive the London open or only the afternoon.
Frequently asked questions
How much is 1 point on UK100?
At the calculator's default contract size, £1 per point per lot, which is $1.30 at GBP/USD 1.30. Brokers set their own contract size, so check "Contract size" in the MT5 symbol specification.
What lot size should I use on a $10,000 UK100 account?
At 1% risk and a 30-point stop, £1 per point and GBP/USD at 1.30, 2.56 lots. At a contract size of 10, 0.25 lots.
Is UK100 the same as FTSE 100, UK 100 or FTSE?
Yes. Brokers list the FTSE 100 CFD under different tickers; the index is the same. The contract size and quote decimals are what differ between brokers.
Does the calculator convert pounds to dollars?
Yes, with the latest daily ECB reference rate, shown with its date under the result. It is not a live quote; if the rate cannot be loaded, the calculator asks you to enter it.