Trading futures and options involves more than just the price of the contract — you need to set aside margin to hold the position, and every trade attracts brokerage plus a set of statutory charges like STT, exchange transaction charges, GST and stamp duty that add up, especially for frequent traders.
Enter the contract price, lot size, number of lots, an approximate margin percentage and your broker’s flat brokerage per order to estimate the notional value of your position, the margin you’ll need, and the total round-trip transaction cost.
F&O Margin & Brokerage Calculator
Estimate notional value, approximate margin required and total transaction cost for a futures trade.
Margin % is a rough estimate — actual SPAN + exposure margin is set by the exchange/broker and varies by contract and volatility; check your broker’s margin calculator before trading. Charges shown are approximate: STT 0.02% on sell-side futures turnover, exchange transaction charges ≈ 0.0019%, GST 18% on (brokerage + exchange charges), SEBI charges and stamp duty are nominal. Actual charges depend on your broker and instrument.
How margin and charges are estimated
Notional value is simply price × lot size × number of lots. The actual margin required for a futures position is set by the exchange (SPAN margin plus exposure margin) and varies by contract, volatility and your broker, so the percentage here is only a rough planning estimate — always check your broker’s official margin calculator before placing a trade. Charges are estimated using typical current rates: STT of 0.02% on the sell-side turnover for futures, exchange transaction charges of roughly 0.0019% of turnover, 18% GST on brokerage plus exchange charges, and small SEBI and stamp duty charges.
Why F&O costs matter
Because F&O trading often involves larger notional values and frequent entries and exits, transaction costs can quietly eat into profits even when your view on the market is correct. Comparing the total estimated cost of a trade against your expected profit target is a useful sanity check before entering any futures position.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
Is the margin percentage shown here exact?
No, it’s an approximation. Actual margin (SPAN + exposure margin) is set by the exchange and your broker, changes with market volatility, and can differ significantly by contract — always confirm with your broker’s margin tool before trading.
Does this calculator cover options trading?
This version is built around futures-style notional and margin math. Options premium, margin for writing options, and options-specific STT rates differ and are not modelled here.
What is STT on futures?
Securities Transaction Tax on futures is currently charged at 0.02% of the sell-side turnover, payable when you sell (or square off) a futures contract.
Why is brokerage counted twice?
A round-trip trade involves both a buy order and a sell order (or vice versa for a short position), and most brokers charge their flat fee per executed order, so both legs are added together.