How Does ‘Effective Leverage’ Differ from the Stated Leverage Limit?

The stated leverage limit is the maximum allowed by the exchange. Effective leverage, however, is the actual leverage a trader is using based on their total position value divided by the total equity in their account.

A trader might use 5x stated leverage but have a much lower effective leverage if they have significant excess margin.

What Is the Formula for Calculating Account Equity in a Margin Account?
What Is the Difference between an Equity Margin Call and a Portfolio Margin Call?
How Could a Derivatives Exchange Use ZKPs to Verify a Trader Has Sufficient Margin without Knowing Their Total Account Value?
What Is the Formula Used to Calculate the ‘Margin Ratio’?
How Is the “Collateral Ratio” Calculated in a Derivatives Trade?
What Is the Concept of ‘Effective Leverage’ in Derivatives Trading?
How Does a Trader Calculate the Effective Leverage When Using Cross Margin?
How Is the Equity in the Account Calculated for Margin Purposes?

Glossar