What is the 1% Rule in Forex Trading?
Quick Answer: The 1% rule states you should never risk more than 1% of your account on a single trade. This risk management principle protects you from catastrophic losses - even 20 consecutive losses only cost 18% of your account at 1% risk vs 88% at 10% risk per trade.
The 1% Rule in Forex Trading
The 1% rule is a risk management guideline stating you should never risk more than 1% of your total account equity on any single trade. It's the single most important rule for survival in trading, protecting you from catastrophic losses.
Why 1% Matters
Consider the math of consecutive losses:
| Consecutive Losses | Risking 1% | Risking 5% | Risking 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 losses | -4.9% | -22.6% | -41.0% |
| 10 losses | -9.6% | -40.1% | -65.1% |
| 20 losses | -18.2% | -64.2% | -87.8% |
How to Apply the 1% Rule
Step-by-step position sizing calculation:
- Determine account size: $10,000 account
- Calculate 1% risk: $10,000 × 0.01 = $100 maximum risk
- Identify stop loss distance: 50 pips away from entry
- Calculate position size: $100 ÷ 50 pips = $2 per pip
- Convert to lot size: $2/pip = 0.2 standard lots (20,000 units)
The Survivability Advantage
Even with a 40% win rate (losing 6 out of 10 trades), the 1% rule keeps you alive. With proper risk/reward ratios (1:2 or better), you're profitable while surviving inevitable losing streaks. Contrast this with risking 10% per trade - just 10 consecutive losses wipes out 65% of your account. The 1% rule isn't about being conservative - it's about being around long enough to capitalize on your edge.
Advanced Guidance
Build a repeatable, rules‑based process so decisions are consistent across sessions and instruments. Start from context (higher‑timeframe structure, positioning, macro tone), then define precise triggers and invalidation on execution charts. Track spread and depth so your order type matches conditions. Pre‑compute scenarios (breakout, fakeout, mean‑revert) and map actions for each to reduce hesitation.
Execution Framework
- Plan entries at levels with confluence (structure, momentum, time‑of‑day).
- Place stops beyond the logical invalidation, not arbitrary distances.
- Target at least 2–3R; scale out methodically and trail remainder.
- Avoid thin liquidity windows unless the setup explicitly requires it.
- Record slippage and spreads; poor fills can erase edge.
Review Loop
- Journal setups by session and pair to learn where they excel.
- Tag trades by catalyst (news, trend continuation, range breakout).
- Recalculate expectancy monthly; prune underperforming variants.
Risk Controls
Keep daily loss limits, reduce size after consecutive losses, and pause during regime shifts. Survival enables compounding; treat discipline and execution quality as part of your edge.
Related Terms
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