Check your broker's specification (Long or Short swap). Use negative for cost.
Value of 1 point movement for 1 lot. (e.g., USD accounts: EURUSD ~1.0, GBPUSD ~1.0)
Enter 3 for Triple Swap Wednesday
Estimated Swap Value
0.00
function calculateSwap() {
// Get input elements by ID
var tradeSizeInput = document.getElementById('tradeSize');
var swapPointsInput = document.getElementById('swapPoints');
var pointValueInput = document.getElementById('pointValue');
var nightsInput = document.getElementById('nights');
var resultBox = document.getElementById('resultBox');
var resultValue = document.getElementById('resultValue');
var resultText = document.getElementById('resultText');
// Parse values
var lots = parseFloat(tradeSizeInput.value);
var points = parseFloat(swapPointsInput.value);
var ptVal = parseFloat(pointValueInput.value);
var nights = parseFloat(nightsInput.value);
// Validation
if (isNaN(lots) || isNaN(points) || isNaN(ptVal) || isNaN(nights)) {
resultBox.style.display = "block";
resultValue.innerHTML = "–";
resultText.innerHTML = "Please enter valid numbers in all fields.";
resultText.style.color = "#c0392b";
return;
}
// Calculation: Total Swap = Lots * SwapPoints * PointValue * Nights
var totalSwap = lots * points * ptVal * nights;
// Display Logic
resultBox.style.display = "block";
// Format Currency (Generic unit)
var formattedSwap = totalSwap.toFixed(2);
if (totalSwap < 0) {
resultValue.className = "result-value negative";
resultValue.innerHTML = formattedSwap;
resultText.innerHTML = "This amount will be deducted from your account balance.";
resultText.style.color = "#c0392b";
} else {
resultValue.className = "result-value positive";
resultValue.innerHTML = "+" + formattedSwap;
resultText.innerHTML = "This amount will be credited to your account balance.";
resultText.style.color = "#27ae60";
}
}
How to Calculate Swap Rate in Forex
In the world of Forex trading, positions held overnight are subject to a financing charge or credit known as the Swap Rate or Rollover. Understanding how to calculate this value is crucial for swing traders and long-term investors, as swap costs can significantly erode profits—or in some cases, provide a secondary income stream (carry trade).
What is a Forex Swap?
A forex swap is the interest rate differential between the two currencies in the pair you are trading. When you hold a position past the broker's server time (usually 5:00 PM EST), you are effectively borrowing one currency to buy another. You pay interest on the currency you sold and earn interest on the currency you bought.
Negative Swap: You pay a fee to hold the position overnight.
Positive Swap: You earn interest for holding the position overnight.
The Calculation Formula
While most trading platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or MetaTrader 5 (MT5) calculate this automatically, knowing the manual formula helps in risk management. The calculation method depends on whether your broker quotes swap rates in Points or Percentage. The calculator above uses the standard "Points" method, which is most common in retail trading.
Swap Value = Trade Size (Lots) × Swap Rate (Points) × One Point Value × Number of Nights
Breakdown of Variables:
Trade Size: Measured in standard lots (1.0 lot = 100,000 units).
Swap Rate (Points): The value provided in the contract specification of the instrument. Note that in 5-digit pricing, 1 pip equals 10 points.
One Point Value: The monetary value of a single point move for the specific trade size in your account currency.
Example Calculation
Scenario: You are long 1.0 lot of EUR/USD. Broker Swap Rate: -5.6 points for long positions. Point Value: For a standard lot on EUR/USD, 1 point (0.00001) is worth $1 USD. Duration: You hold the trade for 1 night.
It is important to remember that Forex markets settle on a T+2 basis. Therefore, positions held over Wednesday night are charged triple the standard swap rate to account for the weekend (Saturday and Sunday). If you calculate swap for a trade held over Wednesday, ensure you input '3' into the calculator for that specific night.
How to Find Swap Rates in MT4/MT5
To find the exact swap rates for your calculation:
Right-click on the currency pair in the "Market Watch" window.
Select Specification.
Scroll down to find "Swap Long" and "Swap Short".
Note whether the type is in "Points" or "Percentage".
Conclusion
While swap rates might seem small on a daily basis, they compound over time. A negative swap can turn a winning trade into a losing one if held for too long. Conversely, "Carry Traders" specifically seek out pairs with high positive swap rates to earn passive income simply by holding the position. Use this calculator to forecast your holding costs before entering a trade.