Quick answer
One MNQ futures tick is 0.25 index points and $0.50 per contract. Four ticks make one point, so one point is $2 per MNQ contract. NQ uses the same 0.25-point tick but pays or loses $5 per tick and $20 per point. Check current CME and broker contract specifications before using either value in a live plan.
A practical workflow
- Step 1
Identify the symbol
Confirm that the instrument is MNQ, not NQ or a CFD with different contract terms.
- Step 2
Measure the move
Subtract the entry from the stop or target in index points, using the actual price scale.
- Step 3
Convert points to dollars
Multiply the point distance by $2 for one MNQ contract, or divide by 0.25 and multiply the ticks by $0.50.
- Step 4
Apply the contract count
Multiply by the number of contracts, then allow for fees, slippage, and a possible gap beyond the stop.
At a glance
| Nasdaq-100 contract | Minimum tick | Dollar value |
|---|---|---|
| MNQ · Micro E-mini | 0.25 point | $0.50 per tick; $2 per point |
| NQ · E-mini | 0.25 point | $5 per tick; $20 per point |
Why an MNQ tick is worth fifty cents
CME specifies the Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100 contract at $2 times the index and a 0.25-point minimum price increment. Multiplying $2 per point by 0.25 point yields $0.50 per tick. Four ticks equal one full index point, so four × $0.50 equals $2.
This calculation uses the outright futures contract. Options on MNQ, spread trades, or broker-specific synthetic instruments can have different tick conventions. Read the exact instrument specification rather than assuming a matching ticker means matching economics.
- Contract multiplier: $2 per index point
- Minimum tick: 0.25 index point
- Tick value: $0.50 per contract
- Four ticks: $2 per contract
A five-point stop: MNQ versus NQ
A five-point stop contains 20 ticks. One MNQ contract therefore has $10 of price risk before costs (20 × $0.50). One NQ contract has $100 (20 × $5). Ten MNQ contracts have the same price exposure as one NQ contract in this simplified calculation, but brokerage fees and margin can differ.
If a trader chooses a $50 maximum price risk, a five-point stop would permit at most five MNQ contracts before costs. This is arithmetic, not a recommendation: the stop may slip, fees add cost, and margin is a separate constraint.
- 5 points ÷ 0.25 = 20 ticks
- 1 MNQ: 20 × $0.50 = $10
- 1 NQ: 20 × $5 = $100
- Check the full risk, including execution costs
Tick value, point value, notional value, and margin
Tick value measures the smallest standard price movement in account dollars. Point value measures a full index-point movement. Notional contract value is the current index level multiplied by the contract multiplier; it changes when the index level changes. Margin is collateral required by the exchange or broker and can change independently of the planned stop loss.
A low margin requirement does not cap losses. A stop order can fill beyond its intended price during a fast or gapping market. Size from the amount you can afford to lose under realistic conditions, not merely from the number of contracts your account can open.
Use the right calculator for the question
Use the futures tick calculator when you know a point movement and want ticks and dollars. Use the futures position-size calculator when you know the entry, stop, account balance, and chosen risk percentage and need a whole-contract quantity. Use the futures profit calculator when you want a direction-aware entry-to-exit P/L scenario including an estimated round-trip fee.
Those are separate questions. Keeping them separate avoids accidentally treating a target value as a risk budget or a tick value as a margin figure.
- Points to ticks: futures tick calculator
- Stop distance to quantity: position-size calculator
- Entry and exit to estimated P/L: profit calculator
Common questions
How many ticks are in one MNQ point?
Four. The minimum tick is 0.25 index points, and 1 ÷ 0.25 = 4.
How much is a ten-point MNQ move?
Ten points are 40 ticks and $20 per MNQ contract before fees. Direction determines whether that is a gain or loss.
Is MNQ one-tenth of NQ?
For the standard outright price multiplier and tick value, yes: MNQ is $2 per point and NQ is $20 per point. Margin and fees need separate verification.
Does tick value include commissions?
No. Tick value describes contract price sensitivity; commissions, spread, and slippage are separate costs.
Platform references
Educational decision support. Chart analysis cannot guarantee a result, and all prices, contract values, and execution conditions require independent verification.