Check the margin call status of your stock brokerage account: current equity, the shortfall amount, the stock price that triggers a margin call, a comparison of two scenarios, and how much additional deposit or how much stock you need to sell to meet the maintenance margin requirement.
Educational estimate — not investment advice. Calculation results are illustrative and may differ from your broker's actual terms (house requirements, fees, and execution timing).
Mode 1 — Margin Call Status
The results are educational estimates, not investment advice. Your broker may apply higher maintenance terms (house requirements) than the common 25% figure.
Mode 2 — Margin Call Trigger Price
Mode 3 — 2-Scenario Comparator
Scenario A
Scenario B
Mode 4 — Solver: Deposit or Sell Shares
How the calculation works
Equity = market value of securities − margin loan. Required minimum equity = maintenance margin × market value of securities. Margin call = max(0; required minimum − current equity).
Trigger price = margin loan ÷ (1 − maintenance margin). At this point equity exactly equals the minimum requirement.
Solver: the additional deposit needed equals the margin call amount. Alternatively, sell shares worth V − equity ÷ maintenance margin and use all proceeds to repay the loan — equity is unchanged, but the market value shrinks so the minimum requirement falls. If equity is already zero or negative, selling shares alone cannot cover the shortfall.
Common regulatory figures: 50% initial margin (Federal Reserve Regulation T, in effect since 3 January 1974) and a 25% minimum maintenance margin for long positions (FINRA Rule 4210) — both at least in effect through October 2026 and subject to change. Brokers may set higher requirements.
Frequently asked questions
What is a margin call?
A margin call is a broker's demand when your margin account equity falls below the required maintenance margin. Equity is computed as the market value of securities minus the margin loan. When a margin call occurs, you must add funds (a cash deposit) or sell some securities until equity meets the requirement again. If it is not met within the broker's deadline, the broker may forcibly sell your securities (forced liquidation).
What is the difference between initial margin and maintenance margin?
Initial margin is the percentage of your own funds you must deposit when first buying stock on margin. In the United States, Federal Reserve Regulation T sets initial margin at 50% — a rule in effect since 3 January 1974 and, at least through October 2026, unchanged. Maintenance margin is the minimum equity percentage you must keep while the position is open; FINRA Rule 4210 sets a minimum of 25% of the securities' market value for long positions (in effect at least through October 2026). Many brokers set their own higher requirements, for example 30% or 40% (called house requirements). Both figures are general rules subject to change — always check your broker's margin account agreement.
How do you calculate a margin call?
The formula has three steps. First, compute equity: securities value minus the margin loan. Second, compute the required minimum equity: maintenance margin times the securities value. Third, margin call = required minimum equity minus current equity (zero if the result is negative, meaning no call). Example: $6,000 of stock bought with a $5,000 loan and a 25% maintenance margin. Equity = $6,000 − $5,000 = $1,000. Minimum requirement = 25% × $6,000 = $1,500. Margin call = $1,500 − $1,000 = $500.
At what stock price will a margin call occur?
The margin call trigger price can be computed as: margin loan divided by (1 − maintenance margin). Example: a $5,000 loan with 25% maintenance margin → $5,000 ÷ (1 − 0.25) = $6,666.67. That means if the total securities value falls to $6,666.67, equity exactly equals the minimum requirement; below that price a margin call is triggered. If you hold 100 shares, the per-share trigger price is $66.67. This formula assumes the loan is unchanged and there are no additional deposits.
What is the difference between a stock margin call and a futures margin call?
Both are demands for additional funds, but the mechanics differ. A stock margin call is equity-based: securities value minus the margin loan, under regulations such as Regulation T and FINRA Rule 4210. A futures margin call is per-contract: each futures contract requires its own initial and maintenance margin, and the account is marked to market daily so daily losses directly reduce the collateral. Futures leverage is generally far larger than stock leverage. To compute futures contract margin, use the futures contract calculator on this site.
What happens if a margin call is not met?
Under a typical margin account agreement, the broker may sell some or all of the securities in your account without your prior consent to cover the shortfall — this is called forced liquidation. The broker may choose which securities to sell and is not required to notify you before selling. If the sale proceeds do not cover the loan, you remain responsible for the remaining shortfall. The exact terms vary between brokers and are stated in your margin account agreement.
Can a margin call be avoided?
A margin call is the mathematical consequence of securities falling below a certain threshold, so there is no way to guarantee avoiding one while you use a margin loan. Things investors commonly watch include: keeping the equity ratio well above the minimum, understanding the broker's house requirements (which can exceed 25%), not borrowing to the maximum limit, and keeping cash on hand as a buffer. This is general educational information, not investment advice — every margin decision carries risk, including losses exceeding the initial capital.
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