1-Ounce Gold (1OZ) Futures Contract Specifications

Understanding the contract specifications for 1-Ounce Gold (1OZ) futures (1OZ) is essential for effective trading and risk management. This comprehensive guide covers all the critical details you need including tick values, contract sizes, trading hours, and position sizing strategies to help you trade 1-Ounce Gold (1OZ) futures successfully.

What Are 1-Ounce Gold (1OZ) Futures?

1-Ounce Gold Futures (1OZ) are the smallest gold futures contract available, representing exactly one troy ounce of gold. This cash-settled contract provides ultra-accessible gold exposure with a straightforward $1-for-$1 price movement ($0.25 per $0.25 move). Trading nearly 24/7 on Globex since July 2026, 1OZ is perfect for small accounts, incremental position building, or learning gold trading without the capital requirements of larger contracts.

The 1-Ounce Gold (1OZ) futures contract (1OZ) is traded on major exchanges and provides traders with opportunities to profit from price movements in the metals market. Understanding the contract specifications is crucial for proper position sizing and risk management when trading these instruments.

Gold Contract Size Comparison

Contract	Contract Size	Point Value	Tick Size	Tick Value
Gold (GC)	100 troy ounces	$100.00 per point	0.10 USD per troy ounce	$10.00 per tick
Micro Gold (MGC)	10 troy ounces	$10.00 per point	0.10 USD per troy ounce	$1.00 per tick
1-Ounce Gold (1OZ)	1 troy ounce (cash-settled to GC settlement price)	$1.00 per dollar	$0.25 USD per troy ounce	$0.25 per tick

Note: The 1-Ounce Gold contract is cash-settled and provides straightforward $1-for-$1 gold exposure, making it perfect for small accounts and precise position sizing without physical delivery concerns.

Contract Size

Contract Size: 1 troy ounce (cash-settled to GC settlement price)

Example: This contract size allows traders to gain exposure to metals with controlled leverage and risk. Understanding the contract size is fundamental to calculating your position size and managing your trading capital effectively.

Tick Value and Increment

Tick Size: $0.25 USD per troy ounce
Tick Value: $0.25 per tick
Point Value: $1.00 per dollar

These specifications make 1-Ounce Gold (1OZ) futures suitable for traders seeking exposure to metals markets.

The tick value represents the minimum price fluctuation, which directly impacts your profit and loss calculations. Knowing these values is essential for setting stop losses and calculating risk per contract.

Trading Hours

1-Ounce Gold (1OZ) futures trade with extended hours, providing flexibility for traders in different time zones and allowing you to react to global market events.

Exchange: COMEX
Trading Hours: Nearly 24/7 on Globex (closed Saturday 2:00-4:00 AM CT and Monday-Friday 4:00-4:02 PM CT for maintenance)
Time Zone: Central Time (CT)

Trading Symbol

Platform Symbol: 1OZ

Margin Requirements

To trade 1-Ounce Gold (1OZ) futures, you'll need to meet specific margin requirements. Margin requirements can vary based on your broker and account type.

Initial margin is the amount required to open a position, while maintenance margin is the minimum account balance needed to keep the position open. Check with your broker for current margin rates.

Why Trade 1-Ounce Gold (1OZ) Futures?

Smallest gold contract with 1-ounce size for maximum accessibility
Cash-settled with no physical delivery concerns
Straightforward $1-for-$1 price exposure
Nearly round-the-clock trading for global market access
Perfect for small accounts and precise gold position sizing

Risk Management for 1-Ounce Gold (1OZ) Futures

Effective risk management is crucial when trading 1-Ounce Gold (1OZ) futures. Here are key considerations:

Position Sizing: Never risk more than 1-2% of your account on a single trade. Use our position size calculator to determine the appropriate number of contracts.
Stop Loss Orders: Always use stop loss orders to limit potential losses. Calculate your stop loss distance based on the point value and tick size.
Account Balance: Ensure you have adequate capital to meet margin requirements and handle drawdowns. Consider starting with micro contracts if you're new to futures trading.

From the makers of this calculator

Automate your position sizing in NinjaTrader

Edge Trader Tools brings the same position sizing logic you use here directly into your trading platform. Set your risk amount and stop loss, and ETT calculates the exact contract quantity for you—no more spreadsheets or manual math.

Learn more about ETT

Position Sizing for 1-Ounce Gold (1OZ) Futures

Proper position sizing is crucial when trading 1-Ounce Gold (1OZ) futures. Use our position size calculator to determine the optimal number of contracts based on your risk tolerance and account size.

Position Size Calculator Example

For 1-Ounce Gold (1OZ) futures (1OZ):

Tick Size: $0.25 USD per troy ounce
Tick Value: $0.25 per tick
Point Value: $1.00 per dollar

If you want to risk $50 with a $5 stop loss:

Risk per Contract = Stop Loss in Points × Point Value = 5 × 1.00 per dollar = $5.00

Maximum Contracts = Risk Amount ÷ Risk per Contract = $50 ÷ $5.00 = 10 contracts

Actual risk with 10 contracts: $50.00

Try our position size calculator for precise calculations →

Related Futures Contracts

Explore other futures contracts in the Metals category and beyond:

View All Contracts Position Size Calculator

Previous: Micro Gold (MGC)Next: Crude Oil (CL)

From the makers of this calculator

Stop doing position math by hand

Edge Trader Tools calculates contracts from your risk and stop right on your NinjaTrader chart. One-click order entry with built-in position sizing.

Learn more about ETT

Calculate Your Position

Use our free calculator to determine optimal position sizes for this contract.

Try Calculator →