NQ & MNQ Tick Value Calculator
By CK · Futures trader since 1998
Short answer: NQ and MNQ both move in 0.25-point ticks. On NQ (E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures), one tick is $5.00 and one point is $20 per contract. On MNQ (Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures), one tick is $0.50 and one point is $2 per contract. One point is always 4 ticks. These are CME Group contract specifications (source: CME Group, NQ contract specs; CME Group, Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100 contract specs).
Education only. Futures trading involves substantial risk of loss. Not financial advice.
Prop-firm evaluations and funded accounts are typically simulated. CK Trader Pro and NQ Live Trading aren’t owned, run or endorsed by any prop firm.
Reviewed: November 1, 2026. Contract numbers checked against CME Group’s contract specs linked above.
Points to ticks to dollars: the quick-answer table
Find your move in points, then read across. Each row is per one contract.
| Points | Ticks | NQ ($20 per point) | MNQ ($2 per point) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25 | 1 | $5 | $0.50 |
| 0.5 | 2 | $10 | $1.00 |
| 1 | 4 | $20 | $2.00 |
| 2 | 8 | $40 | $4.00 |
| 5 | 20 | $100 | $10.00 |
| 10 | 40 | $200 | $20.00 |
| 15 | 60 | $300 | $30.00 |
| 20 | 80 | $400 | $40.00 |
| 25 | 100 | $500 | $50.00 |
| 40 | 160 | $800 | $80.00 |
| 50 | 200 | $1,000 | $100.00 |
| 100 | 400 | $2,000 | $200.00 |
Source for the specs behind the table: CME Group, linked above. The table excludes commissions, fees and slippage.
Ticks to points to dollars
Going the other way? Here are common tick counts.
| Ticks | Points | NQ ($5 per tick) | MNQ ($0.50 per tick) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.25 | $5 | $0.50 |
| 4 | 1 | $20 | $2.00 |
| 10 | 2.5 | $50 | $5.00 |
| 20 | 5 | $100 | $10.00 |
| 40 | 10 | $200 | $20.00 |
| 100 | 25 | $500 | $50.00 |
NQ & MNQ tick value calculator
Education only. This calculator is a learning tool, not financial advice and not a trade recommendation. Futures trading involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone. Results are estimates from the numbers you enter and exclude commissions, fees and slippage. Prop-firm rules differ and change; always confirm the current rules in your firm's own documentation. Firm rules change; verify your own firm's current rules. This calculator presets no firm numbers. Prop-firm evaluations and funded accounts are typically simulated.
Enter a distance, or an entry and an exit price, to see the dollar value. Or enter a risk budget and a stop distance to see how many contracts fit. Results are estimates from the numbers you enter and exclude commissions, fees and slippage. The calculator is a learning tool, not financial advice and not a trade recommendation. It presets no prop-firm numbers. Firm rules differ and change, so always confirm your own firm’s current rules in its own documentation.
How many ticks is 10 points on NQ?
40 ticks, or $200 per contract. NQ’s tick is 0.25 points, so 10 points ÷ 0.25 = 40 ticks. Each tick is $5.00, so 40 × $5 = $200. The same 10 points is $20 on one MNQ.
How many ticks is 10 points on MNQ?
Also 40 ticks, but $20 per contract. MNQ uses the same 0.25-point tick as NQ. Each MNQ tick is $0.50, so 40 × $0.50 = $20.
How many ticks are in one NQ point?
Four. One point ÷ 0.25 = 4 ticks. That’s $20 on NQ (4 × $5) and $2 on MNQ (4 × $0.50). If you remember one number from this page, make it 4.
How much is 1 point in NQ futures worth?
$20 per NQ contract and $2 per MNQ contract. Half a point is $10 on NQ and $1 on MNQ. Two points is $40 and $4. Use the table above for anything in between.
What are the NQ tick value and the MNQ tick value?
NQ: $5.00 per tick. MNQ: $0.50 per tick. Both tick sizes are 0.25 points. For a deeper look at the full spec sheet, including hours and contract months, read NQ futures contract specs.
How do I convert NQ or MNQ points to ticks?
Multiply points by 4. Or divide by 0.25. Then multiply ticks by the tick value.
Illustration only: say a move runs 12.5 points. That’s 12.5 × 4 = 50 ticks. On NQ it’s 50 × $5 = $250 per contract. On MNQ it’s 50 × $0.50 = $25 per contract.
How many MNQ equal one NQ?
Ten MNQ carry the same dollars per point as one NQ. 10 × $2 = $20. That’s why MNQ is the tool many traders use when a stop is too wide for one NQ contract. Prop firms and brokers may count micros differently toward contract limits. Rules vary by firm and change often, so check yours.
How do I turn a stop into a contract count?
Contracts = dollar risk ÷ (stop in points × dollars per point). Round down to a whole number.
Illustration only: say you plan to risk $250 and your stop is 25 points away. That’s 100 ticks. On NQ one contract risks 25 × $20 = $500, so $250 doesn’t fit one contract. On MNQ one contract risks 25 × $2 = $50, so $250 ÷ $50 = 5 MNQ. No stop guarantees a maximum loss: in a fast market an order can fill past the stop price. For more, read how to size NQ and MNQ trades from your stop or use the futures position sizing calculator.
What slippage does to the math
Slippage is the gap between the price you set and the price you get. It’s counted in ticks like everything else: one tick of slippage is $5.00 on an NQ contract and $0.50 on an MNQ contract. It can happen on entries and exits, and it tends to show up in fast moments around the open and scheduled news. See the 9:30 open and news plan. No stop guarantees a maximum loss: in a fast market an order can fill past the stop price.
A tool is only as good as the habit
I’ve been trading futures since 1998, and in my experience the traders who get hurt by the math aren’t bad at math. They just do it too late.
Have you ever noticed this about traders?
How many can tell you what their setup looks like, but can’t tell you, without a tool, what a 15-point move costs on the contract they’re holding?
How many size a trade from how sure they feel, instead of from the stop?
And how many find out what a tick is worth only when the account statement shows it?
Here’s the point: the number should already be in your head before the order is. At a glance: 15 points is 60 ticks, $300 on NQ and $30 on MNQ.
What gets in a lot of traders’ way isn’t them. It’s the noise. It shows the big move and never shows the tick math. The CFTC urges people “to be skeptical when promoters… claim that their products and services will earn high profits with minimal risks” (source: CFTC Fraud Advisory). A calculator won’t make anyone profitable. It just takes a surprise off the table.
Remember this
Know the tick before you click.
So here’s my question: without scrolling up, what’s one point worth on the contract you trade?
Keep learning with these guides: NQ futures contract specs, NQ trading hours and rollover, the futures trading glossary and the prop firm drawdown calculator. For the full learning paths, start with futures trading education, day trading education, prop firm education and prop firm information. Wondering who we are? Read Is CK Trader Pro a prop firm?
If you’d like to watch tick math used in real time, there’s a free live NQ session on weekdays from 9:30 to 10:30 AM ET at nqlivetrading.com/live, run by the same company. Registration is required. Adults 21+. Sessions are education, not signals.
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FAQ
How many ticks is 10 points on NQ? 40 ticks. NQ’s minimum tick is 0.25 points, so 10 ÷ 0.25 = 40. At $5 per tick, that’s $200 per contract.
How many ticks is 10 points on MNQ? Also 40 ticks, because MNQ uses the same 0.25-point tick. At $0.50 per tick, 10 points is $20 per contract.
How many ticks are in one NQ point? Four. One point ÷ 0.25 = 4 ticks. On NQ that’s $20 (4 × $5). On MNQ it’s $2 (4 × $0.50).
How much is 1 point in NQ futures worth? $20 per contract on NQ, and $2 per contract on MNQ, per CME Group’s contract specifications.
What is the NQ tick value? What is the MNQ tick value? NQ: one 0.25-point tick is $5 per contract. MNQ: one 0.25-point tick is $0.50 per contract.
How do I convert NQ points to ticks? Multiply points by 4, or divide by 0.25. For example, 12.5 points is 50 ticks.
How many MNQ contracts equal one NQ? Ten MNQ contracts carry the same dollars per point as one NQ: 10 × $2 = $20. Prop firms and brokers may count them differently toward contract limits, so check your own rules.
Does the calculator include commissions, fees or slippage? No. Results are estimates from the numbers you enter and leave out commissions, fees and slippage. One tick of slippage costs $5 per NQ contract or $0.50 per MNQ contract each time it happens. No stop guarantees a maximum loss: in a fast market an order can fill past the stop price.
Trading futures involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Education only, not financial advice. All numbers in this page are illustrations or published exchange specifications, not results or recommendations. Rules and specifications can change; check the source before you trade. No stop guarantees a maximum loss. Prop-firm evaluations and funded accounts are typically simulated. Rules vary by firm and change often. CK Trader Pro and NQ Live Trading aren’t owned, run or endorsed by any prop firm. See our Risk Disclosure and Disclosures. CK Trader Pro is operated by CK TRADING INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY LLC.