AvaTrade's retail leverage limits under ESMA rules (EU, ADGM, ASIC).

AvaTrade's retail leverage limits under ESMA rules (EU, ADGM, ASIC).

There isn't one AvaTrade leverage figure. Its Help Center sets out ESMA-style limits for retail clients in the EU, ADGM and Australia, starting at 30:1 on major currency pairs. The forex table for its international company shows 400:1 on majors such as EUR/USD. Clients who qualify as Professional can use pre-ESMA leverage, such as 400:1 on forex, on MT5 accounts.

Leverage at AvaTrade is also set per instrument, so gold, indices, shares and crypto each have their own maximum.

EU, ADGM, ASIC retail30:1 majors; 20:1 other FX, gold, major indices
International (BVI) forex400:1 on majors (forex table)
Professional400:1 forex, 25:1 some crypto (MT5 only)
IndicesUp to 200:1 (Professional and non-EU)
Crypto (international)100:1 Bitcoin pairs, 50:1 others
Stop out50% retail, 20% professional and non-EU

Retail limits under ESMA rules

InstrumentMaximum retail leverage
Major currency pairs30:1
Other currency pairs, gold, major indices20:1
Commodities other than gold, other indices10:1
Individual shares5:1
Cryptocurrencies2:1

AvaTrade lists the pairs that get 30:1: CADCHF, CHFJPY, EURCAD, EURCHF, EURGBP, EURJPY, EURUSD, GBPCAD, GBPCHF, GBPJPY, GBPUSD, USDCAD, USDCHF and USDJPY. Its Help Center notes that these limits apply to EU, ADGM and ASIC retail accounts.

International company leverage

Clients registered with Ava Trade Markets Ltd in the British Virgin Islands see higher limits. On 1 October 2026, AvaTrade's forex table showed 400:1 with a 0.25% margin on majors including EUR/USD, GBP/USD and USD/JPY. Its crypto table showed 100:1 on BTCUSD, BTCEUR and BTCJPY and 50:1 on Ethereum, Ripple, Litecoin, Solana and Dogecoin. Indices go up to 200:1 on the US500, US30 and Tech100 for non-EU and Professional accounts.

The leverage you see depends on your region. Check the instrument details in your platform for the figure that applies to your account.

Professional leverage

Professional clients can use pre-ESMA leverage, such as 400:1 on forex and 25:1 on certain cryptocurrencies. You need to meet two of three criteria (trading activity, financial sector experience or a portfolio above €500,000), and Professional status is only available on MT5 accounts. Our AvaTrade account types guide explains how to apply.

What leverage means in margin

Leverage decides the margin you must put up. A standard lot of EUR/USD is €100,000, worth roughly $113,000 at the price AvaTrade showed. At 30:1 that needs about $3,770 of margin; at 400:1, about $283.

LeverageMargin rateMargin for 1 lot EUR/USD (about $113,000)
400:10.25%About $283
30:13.33%About $3,770
20:15%About $5,650

Lower margin doesn't change the size of the position or the money you make or lose per pip. It only changes how much of your balance is tied up, and how close you are to a stop out.

Margin can rise

AvaTrade says margin levels are fixed under normal conditions but can increase based on position size, news and volatility, and around earnings releases it may double margin on specific stocks. Used margin also floats with price: as an instrument's price rises, so does the notional value and the margin it uses.

Stop out levels

On MetaTrader accounts, AvaTrade closes positions when equity falls to 50% of used margin for retail clients and 20% for professional and non-EU clients, starting with the largest losing position. Our AvaTrade stop out guide explains the process and the MarginControl tool.

Using leverage safely

  • Size positions from your stop loss so a loss is a small share of your balance, whatever the leverage.
  • Keep free margin well above the stop out level, especially before news.
  • Use lower effective leverage than the maximum; 400:1 is a ceiling, not a target.
  • Remember that negative balance adjustments protect your account balance, not your deposit.

High leverage magnifies losses as much as gains. A 1% move against a position at 100:1 effective leverage wipes out the margin behind it.

Which leverage is right for you?

Beginners rarely need more than the 30:1 EU cap, and many experienced traders use far less. If you trade from outside the EU and Australia, 400:1 is available, but your risk per trade should still come from your stop, not your margin. Compare with Exness vs AvaTrade, where leverage differs sharply.

Effective leverage vs maximum leverage

Maximum leverage is what the broker allows; effective leverage is what you use. Divide the total value of your positions by your equity. On a $1,000 account, 0.10 lot of EUR/USD (about $11,300) is effective leverage of about 11:1, whatever the account maximum.

Position on a $1,000 accountPosition valueEffective leverage
0.01 lot EUR/USDAbout $1,130About 1:1
0.10 lot EUR/USDAbout $11,300About 11:1
0.50 lot EUR/USDAbout $56,500About 57:1

Effective leverage is what decides how hard a market move hits your account. Many experienced traders keep it in single figures.

Leverage on shares and commodities

Retail limits are lower outside forex: 10:1 on commodities other than gold and 5:1 on individual shares. Share margin can also rise sharply around company results, since AvaTrade says it may double margin on specific stocks before earnings releases to stop traders falling into negative equity. On MT5, selected shares can be traded in fractions down to 0.001 lot, which helps keep exposure small. Our AvaTrade platforms guide explains MT5.

AvaTrade's 400:1 is only useful as a way to keep margin free. Decide your risk in dollars from your stop loss first; the leverage setting should never be the thing that decides your position size.
Abir KhanWriter, FX Recap
Illustrative case: Mehmet, 35, Ankara

Mehmet traded with AvaTrade's international company at 400:1 and opened 2 lots of GBP/USD on a $2,000 account. A 60-pip move against him took his equity close to the 20% stop out. He now trades 0.3 lots with a 40-pip stop, risking about $120 per trade.

Frequently asked

What is the maximum leverage at AvaTrade?

It depends on your company and status. International clients see up to 400:1 on forex; EU, ADGM and ASIC retail clients are capped at 30:1 on major pairs; Professionals can use 400:1 on forex on MT5.

What leverage do EU retail clients get at AvaTrade?

30:1 on major pairs, 20:1 on other pairs, gold and major indices, 10:1 on other commodities and indices, 5:1 on shares and 2:1 on crypto.

What is AvaTrade's crypto leverage?

AvaTrade's international crypto table showed 100:1 on Bitcoin pairs and 50:1 on others. EU retail clients are limited to 2:1; Professionals can use 25:1 on certain crypto.

What leverage does AvaTrade offer on indices?

Up to 200:1 on the US500, US30 and Tech100 for Professional and non-EU accounts, and 20:1 for EU, ADGM and ASIC retail accounts.

Can I change my leverage at AvaTrade?

Leverage follows your company, status and instrument. Applying for Professional status on MT5 is the route to higher leverage for EU clients.

What is the stop out level at AvaTrade?

50% of used margin for retail clients and 20% for professional and non-EU clients on MetaTrader accounts.

Does higher leverage change my spread cost at AvaTrade?

No. The spread per lot is the same; leverage only changes the margin you need.

Why did my margin rise before a company's earnings at AvaTrade?

AvaTrade may double margin requirements on specific stocks before earnings releases, as a precaution against negative equity.