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うさぎ先生
11/08/2026 17:30
Release： 11/08/2026 17:30
Update： 11/08/2026 17:30
うさぎ先生
Investment style : Trading System
Investment career : More than 10 years
Investment amount : 100,000 - 300,000 JPY
This is Usagi-sensei. Focusing on FX, I develop and validate indicators, trade assist tools, and automated trading EAs for MT5. Currently, I publish MT5 tools that make “market condition checks” and “multi-chart workflows” a bit easier in discretionary trading. When listing products, I strive to verify them in as close to real operating environments as possible, and clearly explain: - what can be done - what cannot be done - in what environments it was verified - what could not be verified I aim to provide tools that are easy to understand and use, not guarantees of profit or future price movements, but rather aids for checks and tasks during trading. If you have any questions about the products, please feel free to contact me.
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Understand the mechanism by which margin maintenance rate decreases in numbers

When you are holding a position, have you ever seen a message indicating that the "maintenance margin" is decreasing? We will check how maintenance margin is determined and what can cause it to drop, using provisional numbers.

What is the maintenance margin

The maintenance margin is a percentage that shows how much usable margin you have relative to the required margin.

  • Maintenance margin (%) = usable margin ÷ required margin × 100

In MT5, it is displayed under the "Trading" tab with names such as "Margin Level" and "Maintenance Margin" (the display names can vary depending on the broker and language settings).

Calculate with a hypothetical example

As a hypothetical example, suppose you hold a position with a required margin of 20,000 yen.

  • When usable margin is 100,000 yen: 100,000 ÷ 20,000 × 100 = 500%
  • If there is an unrealized loss and usable margin becomes 60,000 yen: 60,000 ÷ 20,000 × 100 = 300%
  • If there is further unrealized loss and usable margin becomes 30,000 yen: 30,000 ÷ 20,000 × 100 = 150%

Even if the quantity of the position does not change, the maintenance margin decreases simply because of unrealized losses.

Two causes of a drop in maintenance margin

  • Usable margin decreases: unrealized losses increase, or funds are withdrawn
  • Required margin increases: you add more positions, or the calculation value of required margin changes due to market movements

When you increase the number of positions, the denominator (required margin) becomes larger, which can cause the maintenance margin to drop sharply.

Relation to stop-out

For many brokers, if the maintenance margin falls below a certain level, a warning (margin call) is issued, or positions are forcibly closed (stop-out/forced liquidation). This level varies by broker and account type.

Check the broker’s official explanations to confirm the levels of the margin call and stop-out before you start trading.

Notes

  • Even if maintenance margin seems high, if you hold large lots without a stop loss, sudden market moves can cause maintenance margin to drop significantly in a short time
  • If the market is closed over weekends and prices gap, you may be liquidated beyond the stop-out level
  • When setting a maintenance margin guideline, adjust it to your trading rules and funds

Summary

Maintenance margin is "usable margin ÷ required margin." It drops when you increase positions or when unrealized losses grow. Since stop-out levels vary by broker, confirm them in advance.