Futures Calculator: Ticks, Points & P&L

Work out exactly what a futures trade is worth. Pick a CME contract, enter your entry and exit, and this free futures calculator converts the move into ticks, points, and dollar P&L — using the exact exchange tick values for NQ, ES, CL, GC and their micros.

Trade details

Result

Gross P&L (long)
$1,000.00
Move
50 pts
Ticks
200
Per contract
$1,000.00

NQ moves in 0.25 increments worth $5.00 per tick ($20.00 per full point). Gross of commissions and fees.

CME Futures Tick Values

ContractTick sizeTick valuePoint value
ES (E-mini S&P 500)0.25$12.50$50.00
NQ (E-mini Nasdaq-100)0.25$5.00$20.00
MES (Micro E-mini S&P 500)0.25$1.25$5.00
MNQ (Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100)0.25$0.50$2.00
CL (Crude Oil)0.01$10.00$1,000.00
GC (Gold)0.1$10.00$100.00

Standard CME/COMEX/NYMEX contract specs. Backtest these exact contracts on NQ, ES, and CL with real historical data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you calculate futures P&L?

P&L = price move in points × dollar value per point × number of contracts. For a long position: (exit price − entry price) × point value × contracts. Example: buying 2 NQ at 20,000 and selling at 20,050 is 50 points × $20 × 2 = $2,000 profit before fees.

How much is one tick on NQ, ES, CL, and GC?

NQ: 0.25 points = $5.00 per tick. ES: 0.25 points = $12.50 per tick. CL: 0.01 = $10.00 per tick. GC: 0.10 = $10.00 per tick. The micros are one-tenth: MNQ $0.50 and MES $1.25 per tick.

What is the difference between tick value and point value?

A tick is the smallest price increment a contract can move; a point is a full 1.00 move in price. NQ moves in 0.25-point ticks worth $5 each, so a full point = 4 ticks = $20. Point value = tick value × ticks per point.

Do micro futures use the same math?

Yes — MNQ and MES tick at the same 0.25-point increments as NQ and ES, but each tick is worth one-tenth: $0.50 on MNQ and $1.25 on MES. Micros let you trade the same setups with a tenth of the dollar risk, which is why prop firms and beginners favor them.

Does this calculator include commissions and fees?

No — results are gross P&L. Round-trip costs (commission + exchange fees) typically run a few dollars per contract depending on your broker, so subtract them for net P&L. On micros, fees are proportionally larger relative to tick value, which matters for high-frequency scalping.

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TestMax replays real 1-second futures data so you can place these exact trades on NQ, ES, CL, and GC — with P&L, fills, and analytics tracked automatically. Free to start.

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