Not enough money in MetaTrader 5

What is causing it

Your free margin is too low for the lot size and leverage.

Why this happens

The figure that decides whether an order is accepted is free margin, not balance. Free margin is your equity minus the margin already locked up by open positions, and the terminal checks the margin the new position would require against what is free before it sends the order. Because required margin scales with lot size and with the contract size of the instrument, a lot size that is fine on one symbol can be far too large on another with the same account balance.

Leverage is the other half of the calculation, and it is not always a single number. Many brokers apply tiered or stepped leverage, where larger exposure attracts a lower leverage and therefore a higher margin requirement, and many apply reduced leverage on indices, metals and shares compared with major forex pairs. Prop firm and some regulated retail accounts add their own restrictions on top. That is why the margin the platform demands can be much higher than the headline leverage suggests, and why the true figure has to be confirmed with your provider rather than assumed.

The fix, step by step

1. Reduce the lot size. Use our free position size calculator to size correctly.
2. Check your free margin in the Trade tab, not just the balance.
3. Close or reduce open positions to release margin.
4. Confirm your account leverage in the broker client area if the required margin looks too high.

How to confirm it is fixed

Look at the Trade tab in the Toolbox and read the free margin figure directly, then open your reduced position and check that free margin is still comfortably positive afterwards. Also watch the margin level percentage: if it sits close to your broker's margin call level immediately after opening, the position is still too large even though it was accepted.

Stopping it happening again

Size positions from risk rather than habit, so lot size follows from your stop distance and account size rather than a fixed number you always use. Leave a clear buffer of free margin instead of trading right up to the limit, because an adverse move reduces equity and can trigger a margin call on an otherwise reasonable position. Confirm the margin requirement for each instrument class with your broker if you trade more than forex.