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

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

Micro E-mini S&P 500 Futures (MES) are 1/10th the size of the standard E-mini S&P 500 Futures, providing traders with a more accessible way to gain exposure to the S&P 500 Index. These contracts are perfect for smaller accounts or for traders who want more precise position sizing.

Contract Size

Contract Size: $5 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: $1.25 per tick
  • Point Value: $5.00 per point

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

Trading Hours

Micro E-mini S&P 500 (MES) 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: MES

Margins

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

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

  • Lower capital requirements than standard E-mini contracts
  • Perfect for smaller accounts or precise position sizing
  • Same trading hours and price movements as the standard E-mini contract
  • Ideal for new traders learning futures trading
  • Allows for more granular risk management

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

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

  • Tick Size: 0.25 index points
  • Tick Value: $1.25 per tick
  • Point Value: $5.00 per point

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

Risk per Contract = Stop Loss in Points × Point Value = 10 × 5.00 per point = $50

Maximum Contracts = Risk Amount ÷ Risk per Contract = $500 ÷ $50 = 10 contracts