ATR Position Sizing Calculator - Tool for Sierra Chart

ATR Position Sizing Calculator - Professional Risk Management Tool

Transform your trading with precision-engineered position sizing based on Average True Range (ATR) volatility. Designed for professional traders who demand accurate risk management, optimal position sizing, and clear visual trade planning. Fully coded in native ACSIL, this calculator delivers real-time position sizing with institutional-grade precision.

🔍 How It Works

The ATR Position Sizing Calculator uses volatility-based risk management to determine optimal position sizes, ensuring consistent risk exposure across all your trades:

• ATR Volatility Measurement – Uses Average True Range to measure current market volatility over your specified period
• Dynamic Stop Loss Calculation – Automatically calculates stop loss levels based on ATR multipliers, adapting to market conditions
• Risk-Based Position Sizing – Determines exact contract/share quantities based on your account balance and risk percentage
• Risk-Reward Analysis – Calculates potential profit targets using ATR multiples and displays R:R ratios
• Real-Time Updates – Instantly adjusts calculations as market prices and volatility change
• Visual Trade Planning – Displays entry, stop loss, and target lines directly on your chart

The result is a professional-grade position sizing system that eliminates guesswork and ensures consistent risk management across all market conditions.

📊 Visual Trade Management

This study provides crystal-clear visual feedback for complete trade planning:

• Entry Line – Shows your planned entry price (manual or current market price)
• Stop Loss Line – ATR-based stop loss level automatically calculated
• Target Line – ATR-based profit target with configurable multiplier
• Interactive Dashboard – Real-time position sizing information displayed on chart
• Directional Support – Handles both LONG and SHORT positions with proper stop/target placement

Color-Coding System:

• Green Line – Entry price level
• Red Line – Stop loss level
• Cyan Line – Target profit level
• White Text – Position sizing dashboard with black background for clarity

⚙️ Core Features

✅ Account Balance Integration – Input your actual trading capital for accurate sizing
✅ Risk Percentage Control – Set your desired risk per trade (0.1% to 10%)
✅ Flexible ATR Periods – Customize ATR calculation period (5 to 100 bars)
✅ ATR Multiplier Controls – Separate multipliers for stop loss and target levels
✅ Manual Entry Pricing – Override current price with specific entry levels
✅ Long/Short Position Support – Proper calculations for both directions
✅ Customizable Dashboard – Position and hide dashboard anywhere on chart
✅ Toggle Visual Elements – Show/hide entry, stop, and target lines independently
✅ Instrument Flexibility – Works with any liquid futures, forex, or stock instrument
✅ Optimized ACSIL Code – High-performance execution with minimal system resources

🧮 Position Sizing Formula

The calculator uses professional risk management formulas:

Risk Amount = Account Balance × Risk Percentage
Price Risk per Contract = |Entry Price - Stop Loss Price|
Ticks at Risk = Price Risk ÷ Tick Size
Dollar Risk per Contract = Ticks at Risk × Tick Value
Position Size = Risk Amount ÷ Dollar Risk per Contract

ATR-Based Levels:
Stop Loss = Entry ± (ATR × Stop Multiplier)
Target = Entry ± (ATR × Target Multiplier)
Risk:Reward Ratio = Target Distance ÷ Stop Distance

🧠 Who It's For

• Professional Traders – Maintain consistent risk management across all positions
• Swing Traders – Size positions based on volatility for optimal risk/reward
• Day Traders – Quick position sizing calculations for fast-moving markets
• Portfolio Managers – Ensure position sizes align with overall risk parameters
• New Traders – Learn proper position sizing fundamentals with visual feedback

🎯 Trading Applications

• Risk Management – Never risk more than your predetermined percentage per trade
• Volatility Adaptation – Position sizes automatically adjust to current market volatility
• R:R Optimization – Visualize and optimize your risk-to-reward ratios
• Trade Planning – Complete trade setup with entry, stop, and target before execution
• Consistency – Maintain uniform risk exposure across different instruments and timeframes

📊 Dashboard Information Display

The real-time dashboard shows:

• Account balance and risk percentage
• Risk amount in dollars
• Entry, stop loss, and target prices
• ATR value and multipliers used
• Position size in contracts
• Risk per contract and total trade risk
• Potential profit and R:R ratio
• Long/Short direction indicator

📁 What's Included

• ATRPositionSizing_64.dll – Ready-to-use compiled study for Sierra Chart

🔧 Installation Instructions

1. Copy the .dll file into your SierraChart\Data folder
2. Open Sierra Chart → Analysis → Studies
3. Click Add Custom Study
4. Locate ATR Position Sizing Calculator and add it to your chart
5. Configure your account balance, risk percentage, and tick value
6. Start sizing positions like a professional trader

⚙️ Key Settings

• Account Balance – Your trading capital ($1,000 to $10,000,000)
• Risk Percentage – Risk per trade (0.1% to 10%, default: 0.5%)
• ATR Period – Volatility calculation period (default: 14)
• ATR Stop Multiplier – Stop distance (default: 1.5x ATR)
• ATR Target Multiplier – Profit target distance (default: 3.0x ATR)
• Tick Value – Dollar value per tick for your instrument (see tick values below)

📋 Common Tick Values by Instrument

Configure these tick values in the study settings:

• ES (S&P 500 E-mini) – $12.50 per tick
• NQ (Nasdaq 100 E-mini) – $5.00 per tick
• YM (Dow Jones E-mini) – $5.00 per tick
• RTY (Russell 2000 E-mini) – $5.00 per tick
• CL (Crude Oil) – $10.00 per tick
• GC (Gold) – $10.00 per tick
• SI (Silver) – $25.00 per tick
• 6E (Euro FX) – $12.50 per tick
• 6B (British Pound) – $6.25 per tick
• 6J (Japanese Yen) – $12.50 per tick
• NG (Natural Gas) – $10.00 per tick

For other instruments: Check your broker's platform or CME Group contract specifications to find the correct tick value. This is crucial for accurate position sizing calculations.

⚠️ Important: This tool calculates position sizes based on your risk parameters - it does not provide trading signals. Always verify tick values for your specific instruments and test calculations before live trading. Proper risk management and trading discipline are your responsibility.