Sizing a copy: fixed lot, ratio, equity-proportional and risk %
In this lesson you'll learn
- How each sizing mode works
- Which mode fits which situation
- How to avoid copying someone else's risk level by accident
The provider sized for their account, not yours
A provider with $100,000 trading 1 lot risks something very different from you trading 1 lot on $2,000. Sizing rules translate their trades into a risk that fits your account.
The four modes
| Mode | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed lot | Same size every trade (e.g. 0.05) | Simple tests; providers with steady stops |
| Fixed ratio | A multiple of the master's size (0.5 = half) | Your own accounts of similar size |
| Equity-proportional | Scaled by your equity vs the master's | Following someone with a different account size |
| Risk % | Risks a set % of your equity, using the trade's stop loss | Most control; needs a stop loss on every trade |
Worked example
Master: $50,000, buys 1 lot EURUSD with a 30-pip stop (risk $300, 0.6%). You: $5,000.
- Equity-proportional: 5,000 ÷ 50,000 × 1 = 0.10 lot, risk $30 (0.6%).
- Risk 1%: $50 ÷ (30 × $10) = 0.16 lot.
- Fixed ratio 1: 1 lot, risk $300 = 6% of your account. Too much.
Try it
⚖️ Lot size calculator
Money at risk
Lot size
If this trade loses
Add limits on top
Whatever the mode, set a maximum lot size and a daily loss limit. They catch the unexpected, like a provider who suddenly trades ten times their usual size.
Common mistakes
- Using ratio 1 on a much smaller account.
- Using risk % when the provider doesn't always use stop losses.
- No maximum lot limit.
How this works when you copy trades
These four modes are Goldman Copier's sizing rules, with Max vol, Max pos, Daily loss %, Drawdown % and Equity stop available on every follower.
Check yourself
1. Master $50,000 trades 1 lot; you have $5,000. Equity-proportional gives…
2. Risk % sizing needs…
3. Ratio 1 on a much smaller account usually means…
Key takeaways
- Never copy someone else's lot size blindly.
- Equity-proportional or risk % fit different account sizes.
- Add maximum lot and daily loss limits on top.
Education, not advice. Goldman Academy teaches how markets and tools work. Nothing here is a recommendation to buy or sell, and no lesson promises profits. Trading leveraged products carries a high risk of losing money; only trade money you can afford to lose. · Written by Goldman Academy, reviewed by Faisal