Crypto Liquidation Calculator
Estimate liquidation prices with stored exchange margin tiers
Enter a safer target liquidation price to see the extra isolated margin required.
Liq. Price (Long) = Entry x (1 - 1/Leverage + MMR) - ExtraMargin/Qty
MMR Tier = Maintenance margin rate for your notional on the selected exchange
Your next step
Put your liquidation estimate in context
Compare your calculated level with market liquidation activity. Historical threshold touches are not a prediction of your trade's outcome.
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Results depend on your inputs and the assumptions shown by this calculator. Reference links explain the model; they do not supply a live price feed. Fees, execution and changing market conditions can affect actual outcomes.
What is Liquidation?
Liquidation happens when the market moves against a leveraged position until the remaining margin can no longer cover the maintenance margin requirement. At that point the exchange force-closes the position at the liquidation price to prevent your losses from exceeding your collateral. In isolated margin mode you lose only the margin assigned to that position; in cross margin mode your whole account balance backs the position. The higher your leverage, the closer the liquidation price sits to your entry, because a smaller adverse move is enough to wipe out the thin margin buffer.
How the Liquidation Price is Calculated
For an isolated linear long, this model uses Entry × (1 − 1/Leverage + MMR) − Extra margin/Quantity; for a short, Entry × (1 + 1/Leverage − MMR) + Extra margin/Quantity. MMR comes from stored tiers at entry notional. This approximation does not reproduce every exchange’s liquidation engine.
Maintenance Margin Tiers
Exchanges group positions into risk tiers by notional size. Small positions sit in the lowest tier with the smallest maintenance margin rate and the highest allowed leverage. As your notional grows, you move into higher tiers with larger maintenance margin rates and lower maximum leverage, which pushes the liquidation price closer to entry for the same nominal leverage. This is why two traders using the same leverage can have different liquidation prices: the one with the larger position is in a higher tier. Always size positions with the tier structure in mind, not just the leverage slider.
How to Avoid Liquidation
Lower leverage can increase the price buffer. A stop order does not guarantee an exit before liquidation: gaps, liquidity and the trigger price matter. Adding margin increases capital at risk and should not be treated as a guarantee of safety. Check the exchange’s live liquidation estimate and account rules.
How often did each leverage get liquidated?
Twelve-month backtest on Binance BTC and ETH perpetuals: the share of hourly entries whose long position later reached its liquidation price (mark price, 0.4% maintenance margin, no fees or funding).
| Leverage | Distance to liquidation | BTC within 24 h | BTC within 7 days | ETH within 24 h | ETH within 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5x | 19.7% | 0.0% | 2.2% | 0.2% | 7.4% |
| 10x | 9.6% | 0.8% | 12.8% | 1.9% | 24.7% |
| 20x | 4.6% | 6.2% | 38.8% | 15.4% | 50.6% |
| 25x | 3.6% | 11.2% | 49.7% | 23.6% | 59.1% |
| 50x | 1.6% | 39.4% | 73.7% | 51.4% | 79.4% |
| 100x | 0.6% | 71.3% | 89.4% | 78.9% | 92.9% |
Historical frequencies from 8,760 entries per asset, not a forecast. Shorts, 30-day windows and the method are in the study.
Frequently asked questions
How is the liquidation price calculated?
For an isolated linear long, this model uses Entry × (1 − 1/Leverage + MMR) − Extra margin/Quantity; for a short, Entry × (1 + 1/Leverage − MMR) + Extra margin/Quantity. MMR comes from stored tiers at entry notional. This approximation does not reproduce every exchange’s liquidation engine.
What is the maintenance margin rate (MMR)?
The maintenance margin rate is the minimum fraction of your position value you must keep as margin to avoid liquidation. It rises in tiers as your position notional grows, which also caps your maximum leverage. A larger position sits in a higher tier with a higher MMR, pushing your liquidation price closer to entry.
How much extra margin do I need to move my liquidation price?
For linear contracts only, this model estimates extra USD margin as Quantity × (base liquidation price − target) for longs, or Quantity × (target − base liquidation price) for shorts. It holds the selected maintenance rate constant and does not include deductions or fees; it is not an exact exchange top-up requirement.
Practise with worked lessons
- Separate leverage, margin and liquidation risk
Leverage and margin are different risks. Calculate initial margin for one position at two leverage settings; a maintenance buffer is not a liquidation price.
- Distinguish order-book liquidity from liquidation heatmaps
A bright band can be a resting order, a modelled liquidation level or a reported event. Read units, coverage and display settings before interpreting a heatmap.
- Evaluate a liquidation cascade without calling a bottom
Separate forced-close evidence from a reversal hypothesis. Compare continuation and reclaim paths after price and open interest fall together.