Tradovate Tick Size & Tick Value Reference
Mix up tick size and tick value and a stop you thought risked $150 quietly risks $600. Here's where Tradovate lists both for any contract, and how to turn them into real dollar risk.
Every futures contract moves in fixed price increments, and each increment is worth a set dollar amount. Mix those two numbers up and a stop you thought risked $150 quietly risks $600. This guide shows you where Tradovate lists the tick size and tick value for any contract, and how to turn them into real dollar risk before you click Buy or Sell.
Tick Size vs. Tick Value
Tick size is the smallest price increment a contract is allowed to move. ES (the E-mini S&P 500) ticks in 0.25-point steps, so a move from 5,510.00 to 5,510.25 is exactly one tick. Tick value is what that single tick is worth in your account. For ES, one tick equals $12.50.
Both numbers are fixed by the exchange that lists the contract (CME, NYMEX, COMEX, and so on), not by Tradovate and not by your broker or prop firm. That's why the tick size and tick value for a given symbol are identical everywhere it trades. You can look them up once and trust them.
The Formula Behind Tick Value
Tick value comes from two things: the tick size and the contract's point value (its multiplier).
Tick value = tick size × contract point value
ES works out to 0.25 × $50 = $12.50. NQ uses a $20 multiplier, so 0.25 × $20 = $5.00. Micro contracts are usually one-tenth of the mini they track, and nanos one-tenth of the micro again. That's why MES is $1.25 a tick against ES's $12.50. Same market, smaller bite.
How to Look Up Tick Size and Tick Value in Tradovate
Open the Contract's Details
In the Tradovate web or desktop app, type the contract symbol into the instrument search and open its contract information panel. The platform lists the specs for the exact contract month you're about to trade, so you're reading the live front-month rather than a generic placeholder.
Or Check the Margins for Available Markets and Contracts Page
Tradovate also publishes tick data outside the trading screen. Head to the Margins for Available Markets and Contracts reference page and search for your instrument. It's the fastest way to compare symbols side by side and see the tick size and tick value alongside each one's margin requirement.
Read the Tick Size and Tick Value
Pull the two numbers off the page. The tick size tells you how far price moves per tick; the tick value tells you what that tick is worth in dollars. Once you know a single ES tick is $12.50, the math on every stop and target gets a lot faster.
Convert Ticks Into Dollar Risk
Now do the part that actually protects your account. Multiply your stop distance in ticks by the tick value, then by how many contracts you're carrying. Say you're short two NQ with a 40-tick stop: 40 × $5.00 × 2 = $400 at risk. Run the same math on your target and you've got your reward-to-risk before the order leaves the DOM.
Ticks of stop × tick value × contracts = dollar risk
Common Tradovate Contracts: Tick Reference
Here are the tick specs for some of the most-traded futures on Tradovate. Micros sit right beside the mini they track so you can see the ten-to-one relationship at a glance.
| Contract | Symbol | Tick size | Tick value |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-mini S&P 500 | ES | 0.25 points | $12.50 |
| Micro E-mini S&P 500 | MES | 0.25 points | $1.25 |
| E-mini Nasdaq-100 | NQ | 0.25 points | $5.00 |
| Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100 | MNQ | 0.25 points | $0.50 |
| Crude Oil | CL | $0.01 | $10.00 |
| Micro WTI Crude Oil | MCL | $0.01 | $1.00 |
| Gold | GC | $0.10 | $10.00 |
| Micro Gold | MGC | $0.10 | $1.00 |
Every other symbol follows the same lookup, so check a new market's specs first instead of assuming they match a contract you already trade.
Why Tick Value Drives Your Position Sizing
Tick value is the number that connects your chart stop to your account balance. Decide the dollars you're willing to lose, divide by the tick value, and you've got your maximum stop in ticks. Fix the stop first instead, and tick value tells you how many contracts fit your risk budget.
This matters even more on a prop-firm evaluation, where the daily loss limit and trailing drawdown are hard walls. Those limits vary by firm and account size, so check your firm's current rules and size every position against the tick value, not a gut feel for how far price "usually" moves.
Automate the Sizing with PickMyTrade
Once you know a contract's tick value, you can hand the execution off. PickMyTrade routes your TradingView alerts straight into Tradovate and places each entry with its stop and target attached, turning your risk-per-tick math into a real bracket the instant a signal fires.
Turn Your Risk Math Into a Real Bracket
Once you know a contract's tick value, let PickMyTrade route your TradingView alerts into Tradovate and place each entry with its stop and target already attached.
Try It FreeFrequently Asked Questions
The exchange sets it. Tick size and tick value are fixed by the exchange that lists the contract, so they're the same on Tradovate as anywhere else the symbol trades.
A micro is a smaller version of the mini, usually one-tenth the value. That's why MES is $1.25 a tick while ES is $12.50, even though both move in 0.25-point steps.
Multiply the ticks in your stop by the tick value, then by the number of contracts. Forty ES ticks on one contract is 40 x $12.50 = $500.
This guide is for educational and informational purposes only and is not financial, investment, or trading advice. Trading futures and other leveraged products carries a substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor. PickMyTrade is an independent third-party automation platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Tradovate, Inc. "Tradovate" and all related names, logos, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Platform features and steps change over time, so always confirm the current process in the official Tradovate platform and documentation before acting.