Position size creep: how it sneaks in and how to stop it
Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2026 9:57 am
Position size creep happens slowly. You increase risk slightly after a good week, or round up your lot size because it is easier, or add a little extra on a setup you feel strongly about. None of those changes seems significant, but over a few months your effective risk per trade can double without you deciding to do so. Then a normal losing streak hurts far more than it should. To prevent this, I calculate size from a formula every time: account equity, multiplied by the fixed risk percentage, divided by the stop distance in pips and the pip value. I use a spreadsheet or calculator, never an estimate. I also record the actual risk percentage of each trade in my journal, and review the average monthly. If it drifts above my target, I correct it. Another safeguard is updating my account equity figure only once a week, so small fluctuations do not constantly change my sizing. Consistency of risk is the foundation of statistics: without it, you cannot evaluate your strategy fairly or protect yourself from large drawdowns.