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E-mini S&P 500 (ES) Futures Contract Specifications

What Are E-mini S&P 500 (ES) Futures?

E-mini S&P 500 Futures (ES) provide traders with exposure to the S&P 500 Index, a benchmark for 500 large-cap U.S. companies. These contracts are ideal for traders looking to hedge portfolio risk or speculate on the movements of the broader U.S. equity market.

Contract Size

Contract Size: $50 multiplied by the S&P 500 Index value

Example: This contract size allows traders to gain exposure to stock indices with controlled leverage and risk.

Tick Value and Increment

  • Tick Size: 0.25 index points
  • Tick Value: $12.50 per tick
  • Point Value: $50.00 per point

These specifications make E-mini S&P 500 (ES) Futures suitable for traders seeking exposure to stock indices markets.

Trading Hours

E-mini S&P 500 (ES) Futures trade with extended hours, providing flexibility for traders in different time zones.

  • Trading Hours: Sunday to Friday, 5:00 PM to 4:00 PM CT (with a 1-hour daily trading halt from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM CT)
  • Time Zone: Central Time (CT)

Trading Symbol

Platform Symbol: ES

Margins

To trade E-mini S&P 500 (ES) Futures, you'll need to meet specific margin requirements. Check with your broker for the latest margin rates and details.

Why Trade E-mini S&P 500 (ES) Futures?

  • High liquidity for efficient trade execution
  • Smaller contract size compared to full-size S&P 500 Futures makes ES accessible to more traders
  • Exposure to the broader U.S. stock market within a single instrument
  • Suitable for both short-term trading strategies and long-term portfolio hedging
  • Protection against movements in the U.S. stock market

Position Sizing for E-mini S&P 500 (ES) Futures

Proper position sizing is crucial when trading E-mini S&P 500 (ES) 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 E-mini S&P 500 (ES) Futures (ES):

  • Tick Size: 0.25 index points
  • Tick Value: $12.50 per tick
  • Point Value: $50.00 per point

If you want to risk $500 with a 10-point stop loss:

Risk per Contract = Stop Loss in Points × Point Value = 10 × 50.00 per point = $500

Maximum Contracts = Risk Amount ÷ Risk per Contract = $500 ÷ $500 = 1 contract

Try our calculator for precise position sizing →
Micro E-mini S&P 500 (MES)