Micro vs Mini Futures
A reference for the point and tick values of the main E-mini and Micro futures contracts, and how contract size interacts with a prop firm's drawdown and contract limits.
Updated 2026-10-16 · 5 min read
Why micros exist
A Micro contract is one tenth the size of its E-mini counterpart. A smaller contract lets you size positions in finer steps, which matters when the maximum drawdown is a few thousand dollars. At Strike Funded micros are always 10 per mini: a 2-mini limit is 20 micros.
Point and tick values
| Contract | Tick size | Tick value | Value per point |
|---|---|---|---|
| ES (E-mini S&P 500) | 0.25 | $12.50 | $50 |
| MES (Micro S&P 500) | 0.25 | $1.25 | $5 |
| NQ (E-mini Nasdaq-100) | 0.25 | $5.00 | $20 |
| MNQ (Micro Nasdaq-100) | 0.25 | $0.50 | $2 |
| RTY (E-mini Russell 2000) | 0.10 | $5.00 | $50 |
| M2K (Micro Russell 2000) | 0.10 | $0.50 | $5 |
| YM (E-mini Dow) | 1.00 | $5.00 | $5 |
| MYM (Micro Dow) | 1.00 | $0.50 | $0.50 |
| CL (Crude oil) | 0.01 | $10.00 | $1,000 |
| MCL (Micro crude oil) | 0.01 | $1.00 | $100 |
| GC (Gold) | 0.10 | $10.00 | $100 |
| MGC (Micro gold) | 0.10 | $1.00 | $10 |
Values are the exchange's contract specifications; check the CME Group site for the current specifications.
Sizing against a drawdown
Divide the room above your drawdown floor by the dollars a normal stop loss costs per contract. A 10-point stop on ES costs $500 per contract; on MES it costs $50. With a $1,000 drawdown, one ES contract and a 10-point stop uses half of the room, while 4 MES contracts with the same stop use $200. Micros let you scale the risk to the account instead of the other way round.
Contract limits at Strike Funded
| Account | Minis | Micros |
|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | 2 | 20 |
| $50,000 | 4 | 40 |
| $100,000 | 6 | 60 |
| $150,000 | 8 | 80 |
| $250,000 | 10 | 100 |
The limit is the same in the evaluation and when funded. Related contracts are counted together when checking hedging between funded accounts (NQ/MNQ, ES/MES, YM/MYM).
Sizing examples
Suppose a stop loss of 20 points on NQ. One NQ contract risks 20 × $20 = $400. The same stop on MNQ risks 20 × $2 = $40, so 4 MNQ contracts risk $160. On a $50,000 account with a $2,000 drawdown, 4 MNQ use 8% of the room for that trade, while 1 NQ uses 20%. Micros give finer control; minis give larger steps.
Commissions and contract counts
Commissions are normally charged per contract. Because a micro is one tenth the size, trading the same notional in micros means ten times the contracts and ten times the per-contract commission, so compare the cost per contract before choosing. The contract limit also counts every micro: at Strike Funded 10 micros equal one mini toward the cap.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ES and MES?
MES is one tenth of ES: $5 per point instead of $50, and a $1.25 tick instead of $12.50.
Can I trade micro futures at a prop firm?
At Strike Funded, yes: MES, MNQ, M2K, MYM, MCL and MGC are available depending on account size, with 10 micros per mini toward the contract limit.
How much is one point of NQ worth?
$20 per point for NQ and $2 per point for MNQ.
Keep reading
- Futures Prop Firms: The Complete Guide
- Trailing Drawdown Explained
- Futures Trading Hours and the End-of-Day Rule
Strike Funded accounts are simulated: no personal capital is placed at risk and no live market execution takes place. Trading futures involves substantial risk; this page is educational, not financial advice, and nothing here promises results.