Free Tool
Futures Tick Value Calculator
Every futures contract moves in fixed increments called ticks, and every tick has a fixed dollar value. Pick a contract, enter your entry and exit, and see the ticks moved, the value per tick and per point, and the profit or loss — for standard and micro contracts alike.
Tick size
0.25
Value per tick
$12.50
Value per point
$50.00
Points moved
10.00
Ticks moved
40.00
P&L per contract
$500.00
Total P&L (1 contract)
$500.00
You are long 1 ES contract from 6,000 to 6,010. That move is 40.00 ticks at $12.50 per tick, so the position makes $500.00 before commissions and fees.
How to Use It
- 1. Pick your contract — tick size and tick value load automatically, or choose Custom and enter your own specs.
- 2. Choose long or short — long profits when the price rises, short profits when it falls.
- 3. Enter entry and exit prices — use the quoting convention noted under the picker (grains quote in cents, treasuries in decimals).
- 4. Set the number of contracts — P&L scales linearly; two contracts double every tick.
How Tick Value P&L Is Calculated
Futures P&L is linear: every tick is worth the same amount no matter where the price is. The calculator does exactly three things:
- Ticks moved = (exit − entry) ÷ tick size (negated for shorts)
- P&L = ticks moved × tick value × contracts
- Value per point = tick value ÷ tick size
New to futures? Start with What Is a Futures Contract, then see Contract Specifications for where tick sizes come from, Margin and Leverage for how much capital a position actually requires, and Mark-to-Market for how these gains and losses settle in cash every day.
Tick Sizes & Values by Contract
The specs below are the exchange-defined tick size, the dollar value of one tick, and the dollar value of one full point for the most commonly traded U.S. futures contracts.
| Contract | Exchange | Tick size | Per tick | Per point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity Index | ||||
| ES · E-mini S&P 500 | CME | 0.25 | $12.50 | $50.00 |
| MES · Micro E-mini S&P 500 | CME | 0.25 | $1.25 | $5.00 |
| NQ · E-mini Nasdaq-100 | CME | 0.25 | $5.00 | $20.00 |
| MNQ · Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100 | CME | 0.25 | $0.50 | $2.00 |
| YM · E-mini Dow | CBOT | 1 | $5.00 | $5.00 |
| MYM · Micro E-mini Dow | CBOT | 1 | $0.50 | $0.50 |
| RTY · E-mini Russell 2000 | CME | 0.1 | $5.00 | $50.00 |
| M2K · Micro E-mini Russell 2000 | CME | 0.1 | $0.50 | $5.00 |
| Energy | ||||
| CL · Crude Oil (WTI) | NYMEX | 0.01 | $10.00 | $1,000.00 |
| MCL · Micro WTI Crude Oil | NYMEX | 0.01 | $1.00 | $100.00 |
| NG · Natural Gas (Henry Hub) | NYMEX | 0.001 | $10.00 | $10,000.00 |
| Metals | ||||
| GC · Gold | COMEX | 0.1 | $10.00 | $100.00 |
| MGC · Micro Gold | COMEX | 0.1 | $1.00 | $10.00 |
| SI · Silver | COMEX | 0.005 | $25.00 | $5,000.00 |
| HG · Copper | COMEX | 0.0005 | $12.50 | $25,000.00 |
| Interest Rates | ||||
| ZB · 30-Year U.S. Treasury Bond | CBOT | 0.03125 | $31.25 | $1,000.00 |
| ZN · 10-Year U.S. Treasury Note | CBOT | 0.015625 | $15.625 | $1,000.00 |
| ZF · 5-Year U.S. Treasury Note | CBOT | 0.007813 | $7.8125 | $1,000.00 |
| Currencies | ||||
| 6E · Euro FX | CME | 0.00005 | $6.25 | $125,000.00 |
| 6B · British Pound | CME | 0.0001 | $6.25 | $62,500.00 |
| Agriculture | ||||
| ZC · Corn | CBOT | 0.25 | $12.50 | $50.00 |
| ZS · Soybeans | CBOT | 0.25 | $12.50 | $50.00 |
| ZW · Wheat (Chicago SRW) | CBOT | 0.25 | $12.50 | $50.00 |
| Crypto | ||||
| BTC · Bitcoin | CME | 5 | $25.00 | $5.00 |
| MBT · Micro Bitcoin | CME | 5 | $0.50 | $0.10 |
Grain prices are quoted in cents per bushel and treasuries in decimalized 32nds. Specs can change — always confirm against the exchange’s official contract specifications before trading.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a tick in futures trading?
A tick is the smallest price increment a futures contract is allowed to move, set by the exchange in the contract specifications. The E-mini S&P 500 (ES), for example, moves in 0.25-point ticks, and each tick is worth $12.50 per contract. Prices can only trade on this grid — there is no such thing as an ES fill at 6000.10.
How do I calculate futures profit and loss from ticks?
Count the ticks between your entry and exit (price move divided by the tick size), then multiply: P&L = ticks moved × tick value × number of contracts. A long ES trade from 6000.00 to 6005.00 is 20 ticks × $12.50 = $250 per contract. Short positions profit when the price falls instead of rises.
What is the difference between a tick and a point?
A point is one whole unit of the quoted price; a tick is the minimum increment, which is often a fraction of a point. In ES there are four ticks per point (0.25 each), so one point is worth $50 while one tick is worth $12.50. In some contracts, like the E-mini Dow (YM), the tick and the point are the same size.
How are micro futures different from standard contracts?
Micro contracts (MES, MNQ, MCL, MGC, MBT and others) are one-tenth the size of their standard counterparts, so each tick is worth one-tenth as much — $1.25 per MES tick versus $12.50 per ES tick. The prices track the same index or commodity; only the dollar exposure per contract changes, which makes micros a common way to trade with less capital at risk.
Educational tool only. This calculator shows price-move P&L and excludes commissions, exchange fees, and margin requirements. Contract specifications are provided for education and may change; verify with the exchange. It is not financial advice.