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RISK · SIZING WITH FEES

Stop-Distance Position Sizing: A Worked Crypto Example With Fees Included

Sizing from the stop is the start. Including fees and slippage in the same formula keeps your real loss at the stop equal to your planned risk.

By ChartsPod Editorial Team · Reviewed by ChartsPod Research
Published · Updated · 5 min read

Short answer

Position size including costs = risk $ ÷ (stop distance per unit + entry fee per unit + exit fee per unit + expected slippage per unit). Worked example: $10,000 account, 1% risk ($100), BTC long at $60,000, stop $59,400 ($600), taker fee 0.05% per side ($30 + $29.70 per BTC), slippage $20 per BTC: size = 100 ÷ (600 + 59.70 + 20) = 0.147 BTC, versus 0.167 BTC ignoring costs. Ignoring costs would lose about $113 at the stop instead of $100.

Worked calculation

ItemPer BTC
Stop distance$600
Entry fee 0.05% × 60,000$30.00
Exit fee 0.05% × 59,400$29.70
Slippage allowance$20.00
Total loss per BTC at stop$679.70
Size for $100 risk0.147 BTC
Loss at stop ($)Loss at stop ($): 0.167 BTC, costs ignored 113.3 $; 0.147 BTC, costs included 99.9 $.LOSS AT STOP ($)0.167 BTC, costs ignored$113.30.147 BTC, costs included$99.9
Including costs keeps the loss at plan. Original ChartsPod editorial graphic.

When costs matter most

Costs are a larger share of the stop distance when stops are tight. With a $150 stop, the same costs are about 53% of the distance and size should drop by about a third. See Crypto Risk-Reward After Fees: Calculate the Real Break-Even Win Rate for the effect on break-even win rate.

Sizing with costsSizing with costs: Fee per side from venue schedule; Maker vs taker for each leg; Slippage from your own fills; Funding if held across settlements; Recompute when stop moves.SIZING WITH COSTSFee per side from venue scheduleMaker vs taker for each legSlippage from your own fillsFunding if held across settlementsRecompute when stop moves
Same formula every trade. Original ChartsPod editorial graphic.

Maker vs taker legs

If you enter with a limit order (maker) and exit at the stop with a market order (taker), use the maker fee for entry and the taker fee for exit. Many venues charge less for makers; check your fee tier. Using the right fee per leg makes the size calculation accurate rather than conservative or optimistic.

Conclusion

Related: Crypto Position Size From Stop Distance: A Worked Risk Example, ChartsPod Risk Planner: Position Size From Entry, Stop and Account Risk, Stop-Loss Trigger vs Fill Price: Plan for Slippage in Fast Markets.

Plan size with the position planner, then add costs.

Open the ChartsPod terminal

Include fees and slippage in the per-unit loss at your stop, so the real loss matches planned risk.

Test Stop-Distance Position Sizing on a perpetual chart; no account is needed to chart.

Launch ChartsPod

Questions readers ask

How do fees change position size?

They increase loss per unit at the stop, so size decreases.

How much do costs matter?

More with tight stops, where they're a larger share of distance.

Should I include funding?

Yes, if you expect to hold across funding settlements.

Sources and methodology

Standard sizing arithmetic; fee rates are illustrative, check your venue's schedule.

  1. ChartsPod: product overview, pricing and FAQ — free terminal, venues, modules, no order placement; checked 17 Oct 2026.
  2. Binance: USD-M Futures market data API — trades, depth, funding and open interest.

This article explains research tools and workflows. It is not financial advice, does not recommend buying or selling any asset and does not predict prices. Crypto derivatives carry a risk of rapid and total loss of margin.

CHARTSPOD EDITORIAL EDITION · RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ONLY · NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE.