Crypto Liquidation Calculator 2026
Calculate the exact liquidation price for any leveraged crypto position. Works for long and short, isolated and cross margin. Free, mobile-friendly, no registration. Real maintenance margin formulas verified against Bybit, OKX, and Binance documentation.
Inputs
How Liquidation Price Is Calculated
A position is liquidated when the loss equals your initial margin minus the maintenance margin requirement. The exact formula varies by exchange, but the universal version is:
Liquidation Price = Entry × (1 − 1/Leverage + Maintenance%)
Short position:
Liquidation Price = Entry × (1 + 1/Leverage − Maintenance%)
For a $10,000 long position on BTC at $50,000 with 10x leverage and 0.5% maintenance margin:
- Initial margin = $10,000 / 10 = $1,000
- Liquidation price = $50,000 × (1 − 0.1 + 0.005) = $45,250
- Distance to liquidation = 9.5%
Maintenance Margin by Exchange (Tier 1)
📊 MMR rates are tier-1 (smallest position size). Larger positions face higher MMR. Always verify on the exchange’s risk limits page before trading.
Isolated vs Cross Margin
🛡️ Isolated Margin
Only the margin allocated to this specific position is at risk. If liquidated, you lose only that allocated amount — your other balance stays safe. Best for: beginners, high-leverage trades, testing new strategies.
🔄 Cross Margin
All futures account balance is used as margin. Liquidation triggered later (more buffer), but if it happens, you lose the entire futures account. Best for: experienced traders managing multiple positions, hedging strategies.
5 Rules to Avoid Liquidation
- Use stop losses, always. Set a stop loss at 50-70% of your liquidation distance. If liq is at $45,250 and entry $50,000, set stop at $46,500 — you exit before the cascade.
- Lower leverage = wider safety zone. 100x liq is 1% away from entry. 5x liq is 20% away. Beginners should start at 2-3x to learn without burning capital.
- Add margin proactively. If price moves against you, add margin (or partially close) to push liq further. Don’t wait for the alert.
- Avoid trading during major news/events. CPI prints, FOMC, exchange announcements cause flash moves that wipe positions even with stops (slippage).
- Never use “all in” leverage. Risk-of-ruin math: 5 consecutive losses at 50% of capital = 3% remaining. Even good traders have streaks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a liquidation price?
It’s the price at which your leveraged position is forcibly closed by the exchange. Triggered when your margin balance falls below the maintenance margin requirement, you lose your initial margin (with isolated) or part of your account (with cross).
Are liquidation prices the same on every exchange?
No. Maintenance margin requirements (MMR) vary by exchange and by position size tier. Bybit, OKX, Bitget have ~0.5% MMR for tier-1 BTC futures. MEXC is slightly lower at 0.4%. Larger positions face progressively higher MMR — always check the exchange’s risk limits page.
Can my account go negative if I’m liquidated?
No, all top exchanges have insurance funds that absorb losses beyond your margin. You can lose 100% of margin allocated to the position (isolated) or your entire futures balance (cross), but you won’t owe the exchange money.
What’s the safest leverage for beginners?
2-3x. At 3x, BTC has to move 33% against you for liquidation. Crypto rarely moves that much in days. At 100x, even a 1% adverse move wipes you out. Most pros operate at 5-10x maximum.
Does this calculator account for funding rates?
No. Funding rates (paid every 8h on perpetuals) reduce or increase your effective margin over time. For positions held more than a day, factor in 0.01-0.1% funding per 8h. Use our Futures P&L Calculator for funding-aware estimates.
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