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Forex Pip Value Explained: How to Calculate and Use It in Trading

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    • Forex pip value has become one of the most fundamental concepts that every trader should know about before entering the world of trading. If you are a beginner trying to understand the basics or a seasoned trader working on your strategy, knowing what pip value is and how it works is significant for proper risk management and trade planning. A reliable trading platform provides real-time pop value calculations, while a forex trading platform also includes features such as automated calculators and trade execution on the basis of risk percentage. Furthermore, using a pip value calculator also helps you to quickly understand how much money you are risking and earning with each trade. In this blog, we will understand the concept of forex pip value in detail and how it is calculated.  

    What does a pip mean in forex trading? 

    • A pip in forex trading refers to “percentage in point” or “price interest in point”, and shows the smallest standardized price fluctuation that a currency pair can make as per the latest market convention. A pip is a fundamental unit mainly used by traders to measure changes in exchange rates, profit and loss, and manage risk. For most of the major currencies, a pip is equivalent to 0.0001, that is, the fourth decimal place. For instance, if the EUR/USD moves from 1.1000 to 1.1001, then this movement is one pip.  
    • For the currency pairs involving Japanese yen, a pip is o.o1 that is the second decimal place. For instance, if USD/JPY moves from 110.00 to 110.01, then this is one pip.  
    • As per Finance Magnates, in the start of 2025, global FX volumes have increased with the average daily volumes in the USA and Asia increasing. This high level of activity has underscored the ongoing relevance of pip value for calculating exposure as well as managing risk in highly evolving market.  

    What is the pip value? 

    • Pip value refers to the monetary worth of a single pip movement in a forex trade. It mainly quantifies how much profit and loss you can make when the price moves by one pip, based on your trade size, the currency pair, and the current exchange rate. Pips are the standardized unit for calculating how much the price of a currency pair has moved. Knowing a pip value will enable you to set concise stop-loss and take-profit orders. This also ensures you can manage risk as per your trading plan and account size, which prevents unexpected large losses. Pip value also helps you to determine how much to trade. By understanding the value of each pip, you can easily calculate the current position size to keep up with the risk within acceptable limits in each trade.  

    How to evaluate the pip value? 

    • The calculation of pip value is based on whether the quote currency, that is the second currency in the pair, matches the account currency.  
    • If your account is in USD and USD is the quote currency, such as EUR/USD, GBP/USD.  
    • Then, you can calculate the pip value by using  
    • Pip value= Lot size * pip size 
    • For a standardized lot (100,000) units, one pip (0.0001) in EUR/USD equals to $10 
    • 100,000 * 0.0001= $10 
    • So, a 10,000-unit (mini lot) position would have a price of $1.  
    • Pip value= Lot size * Pip size/exchange rate 
    • For instance, a standard lot in USD/CAT at an exchange rate of 1.2829 
    • 10,000 * (0.0001/1.2829) = $7.79 

    Factors that impact the pip value  

    • There are multiple factors that determine the monetary value of a pip in forex trading: 

    Exchange rate 

    • The present exchange rate of the currency pair impacts the pip value from the quote and base currency of the pair; the pip value should be converted to your account currency. This conversion can also impact on the pip value due to fluctuations as exchange rates change.  

    Quote currency  

    • When the quote currency matches your account currency, then the pip value is usually fixed for the standardized lot sizes. If not, an additional conversion will be needed, which makes the pip value variable.  

    Lot size 

    • The number of units traded, such as standard lots, micro, and mini, directly impacts pip value. Large lot sizes also increase the value of a pip proportionally. For instance, a standard lot with 100,000 units will have a pip value ten times more than that of a lot.  

    Account currency 

    • The pip value will be converted into your account currency when your trading account is mainly denominated in a currency that is different from the base or quote currency of the pair. This conversion can let the pip value fluctuate as the exchange rates change.  

    Significance of the forex pip value in trading  

    • The value of a pip is significant for forex trading success because it creates a direct impact on how traders measure, manage, as well as control their profits, losses, and exposure to risk.  

    Risk management  

    • Understanding the pip value is significant for setting up the right stop-loss and take-profit orders. This also ensures that traders can easily define their maximum risk per trade and preserve their capital from major losses.  
    • It also helps in understanding the correct position size on the basis of risk tolerance and account size, which ensures regular and disciplined trading.  

    Universal management  

    • Pip value also offers a standardized way to discuss as well as compare trades, despite of the currency pair and market volatility. This consistency is necessary for clear communication as well as effective evaluation in the global forex market.  

    Profit and loss calculation 

    • Pip value also allows traders to quantify exactly how much is attained or lost for each pip fluctuation in a currency pair. For instance, if you trade 1 standard lot of EUR/USD (where the pip value is approximately $10, a 15 pip move leads to $150 profit or loss, based on the direction of the trade.  

    Common mistake traders make with the pip value  

    Miscalculating pip values 

    • Several traders forget that the pip value fluctuates based on the currency pair, the present exchange rate, and the lot size. For instance, a pip in EUR/USD is not worth when compared to the same as a pip in the USD/JPY currency pair. A pip value rises or decreases with the trade size.  

    Selecting the incorrect lot sizes 

    • Some traders usually select lot sizes without understanding how it impacts the pip value. Trading larger lots increases both gains and losses, so not aligning lot size with the risk tolerance can quickly lead to huge losses.  

    Not cross-verifying calculations 

    • If you are not cross-checking the pip value calculation before entering in the traders, this will result in unexpected outcomes. Keeping a calculation log, or even using a pip calculator to double-check, is recommended.  

    Conclusion  

    • Understanding and correctly calculating forex pip value is a main skill for any forex trader. It also empowers you to effectively manage risk, increase trade size, and plan entries as well as exits from the trades effectively. If you are scalping small moves or are swinging for long-term gains, then pip value should be a crucial part of your trading decision-making procedure. If you are searching for a reliable resource to streamline your trading efforts, then consider Thaurus. Thaurus also provides professional trading insights and calculator tools to stay ahead in the world of trading. Their services are created for both beginners and seasoned traders, making sure that you have all the tools you need to move ahead.  
    • Contact us, and our team will get back to you in 24 hours.  
    Author: Thaurus
    Thaurus is a leading trading platform specialising in stock, forex and commodities trading. Thaurus provides users with deep insights into market dynamics and investment strategy. Backed by a team of experienced experts, Thaurus is dedicated to empowering the investing community with financial knowledge and ability to navigate through the complexities of financial markets.