MetaTrader 4 Not Enough Money

Written by Dominic Walsh · Published 17 Aug 2026 · Last updated 20 Aug 2026

The MetaTrader 4 not enough money error means the terminal has calculated the margin your order needs and found your free margin short of it. It is a rejection before the trade exists, not a problem with your balance as such. This guide covers the six causes in order of likelihood, how to work out which one applies, and the check that prevents it happening again.

What MetaTrader 4 not enough money actually means

Before accepting an order, MT4 works out the margin required and compares it with your free margin. Free margin is equity minus the margin already locked by open positions. If the requirement exceeds what is free, the order is rejected with this message.

Note that it is free margin, not balance. An account showing 5,000 dollars can still throw this error if most of that is tied up in open trades.

The requirement itself is short:

Required margin = (lot size × contract size) ÷ leverage

One standard lot of EURUSD is 100,000 units. At 1:100 that needs about 1,000 dollars. At 1:30 it needs about 3,333.

The six causes, most likely first

The first two account for the large majority. Typing 1.00 instead of 0.01 is a single keystroke, and MT4 remembers the last volume you used, so a size that worked on one instrument reappears on another.

Checking the numbers yourself

Two places in MT4 give you what you need.

The Terminal window, on the Trade tab, shows Balance, Equity, Margin, Free Margin and Margin Level. Free Margin is the figure the error is about, and it is worth watching rather than balance.

The contract specification lives in Market Watch: right-click the symbol and choose Specification. It shows the contract size, the minimum and maximum volume, and the margin required per lot. That last figure removes all guesswork.

Gold is where this matters most. A standard XAUUSD lot is 100 ounces, so the margin requirement is far higher than a currency pair at the same nominal lot size. Traders who carry EURUSD habits onto gold meet this error constantly, as covered in our gold pivot guide.

Why it appears on Fridays

If the error only shows up late in the week, the cause is almost certainly weekend margin.

Many brokers raise margin requirements before the weekend, because positions held through the close carry gap risk that cannot be managed while markets are shut. The increase can be substantial, sometimes doubling.

The same applies before major public holidays and, at some brokers, ahead of scheduled events such as central bank decisions.

Nothing is wrong with your account in that case. The requirement changed, and the fix is either a smaller position or waiting until normal margin resumes.

The check that prevents it

The error is a symptom. The underlying issue is choosing a lot size before knowing what it costs, and one habit fixes it permanently.

Size every trade from your stop distance rather than from what the platform will accept:

Lot size = (balance × risk percent) ÷ (stop in pips × pip value per lot)

A 5,000 dollar account risking 1% with a 25-pip stop gives 0.20 lots on a dollar pair. That position needs roughly 200 dollars of margin at 1:100 — nowhere near the limit, so the error never appears. Our position sizing calculator runs it, and forex trading lot sizes covers the mechanics.

Read the error as useful information when it does appear. It means the position you were about to open was large enough to strain the account, which is worth knowing before the trade rather than after.

What not to do

Two responses make things worse. Raising leverage removes the obstacle without reducing the risk — the position still loses the same per pip, and now nothing stops you opening it. Our leverage guide covers why that distinction matters.

Depositing more to force the trade through is the same mistake with extra money at stake. If the position is too large for the account, the answer is a smaller position.

If you genuinely cannot trade the setup at 1% risk because the minimum lot is too big, the stop is too wide for your balance. A micro account solves that, as covered in our forex micro account guide.

Common mistakes

Four repeat. Leaving the volume box at the previous trade’s size tops the list. Watching balance instead of free margin comes second, since open positions lock most of it. Third, traders apply currency-pair sizing to gold or indices. Fourth, they raise leverage to clear the error, which removes the warning rather than the risk.

Where to go next

This error is a sizing problem wearing a technical costume. Read forex trading lot sizes and use the position sizing calculator, then how leverage works for the margin side. For small balances, see the forex micro account guide. For further reading, the MetaTrader 4 platform help documents the order dialog, and Investopedia explains margin at Investopedia.

FAQ

What does “not enough money” mean in MetaTrader 4?

The margin your order requires exceeds your free margin, so MT4 rejects it before the trade opens. Free margin is equity minus the margin already locked by open positions.

Why does it happen when my balance looks fine?

Because balance is not the figure being checked. Open positions lock margin, so an account with a healthy balance can have very little free margin available for a new order.

How do I calculate the margin I need?

Divide the position value by the leverage. One standard lot of EURUSD is 100,000 units, so at 1:100 it needs about 1,000 dollars and at 1:30 about 3,333.

Why do I only get this error on Fridays?

Many brokers raise margin requirements before the weekend because of gap risk. The same happens before public holidays and, at some brokers, ahead of major scheduled events.

Should I increase my leverage to fix it?

No. Higher leverage removes the obstacle without reducing risk. The position still loses the same amount per pip, and the error was warning you it was too large.

Why does gold trigger this more often?

A standard gold lot is 100 ounces, so its margin requirement far exceeds a currency pair at the same nominal size. Trading involves risk, results are not guaranteed, and past performance is not indicative of future results.