Choosing a trade copier is only part of setting up a multi-account trading workflow. You also need to decide how large each copied position should be on the receiving account.

Should a receiver copy exactly the same lots, scale the transmitter's position, adjust for a smaller account, or calculate its own size from a Stop Loss and risk budget?

Local Trade Copier EA MT4/5© lets each receiver use its own sizing method. This guide compares the main choices so you can configure the receiver around your account's requirements rather than assume every account should trade the same volume.

Quick comparison: what do you want the receiver to do?

Configure these choices on the Receiver using Lot Size Type. The Settings & Inputs Guide explains the complete set of options and their associated inputs.

Fixed lots: simple volume, variable monetary risk

With Lot Size Type = Fixed Lot, the Fixed Lot Size input determines the requested volume of copied positions, subject to other controls and broker restrictions.

This is useful when you deliberately want a consistent trade size. However, fixed lots do not mean a fixed amount at risk.

For illustration, assume EURUSD is worth $10 per pip for a 1.00-lot position on a USD account. At 0.10 lots:

• A 20-pip distance from entry to Stop Loss represents approximately $20.

• An 80-pip distance represents approximately $80.

The position size stays the same, while the estimated loss to the stop changes fourfold. These figures exclude commissions, financing and execution differences.

Choose fixed lots when consistent volume is your objective. If your objective is consistent estimated loss to a stop, examine the risk-based methods instead.

Multipliers: scale the transmitter's position

With Lot Size Type = Multiplier, the basic relationship is:

Receiver lots = transmitter lots × Multiplier

For example, a 0.60-lot transmitter position with Multiplier = 0.5 produces a requested receiver size of 0.30 lots before applicable limits and volume-step adjustments.

This can be convenient when you want the receiver to follow a chosen fraction of the transmitter's sizing. It also preserves changes in transmitter volume: if the transmitter increases its lots, the receiver's calculated lots increase too.

A multiplier of 0.5 does not itself mean 0.5% risk. Actual exposure still depends on the stop distance, instrument, account size and trading conditions.

Proportional sizing: account for different account sizes

Consider a transmitter with a $100,000 balance and a receiver with $25,000. Both accounts use USD and comparable instrument contracts.

For Proportional by Balance, the simplified calculation is:

Receiver lots = transmitter lots × receiver balance ÷ transmitter balance

A 1.00-lot transmitter trade therefore gives:

1.00 × 25,000 ÷ 100,000 = 0.25 lots

This addresses account-size differences without requiring you to maintain a fixed multiplier manually as balances change.

However, proportional volume does not guarantee an identical percentage loss across different brokers. Entry prices, protective levels and contract specifications can differ. The example also assumes the same account currency; do not use a simple numerical balance ratio as proof of equivalent exposure across different currencies.

Proportional by Equity uses account equity rather than balance. It therefore reflects floating profit and loss in the values used for sizing. This is distinct from selecting a fixed percentage risk budget for the individual trade.

Risk percentage: work backward from the Stop Loss

Risk-based sizing starts with the receiver's chosen risk budget and calculates the position size around the trade's Stop Loss.

Suppose a receiver has $20,000 equity and an illustrative risk setting of 0.5%:

$20,000 × 0.5% = $100 estimated risk budget

If the estimated loss from entry to Stop Loss for 1.00 lot of the receiver instrument is $500, the theoretical size is:

$100 ÷ $500 = 0.20 lots

If another trade's estimated loss per lot is $1,000, that same budget corresponds to 0.10 lots.

The volume changes to reflect the stop distance and instrument value. This is the key difference from fixed lots and a simple lot multiplier.

For LTC, select the relevant Risk per Trade method and enter the associated risk value. A suitable Stop Loss is required. The calculations here explain the sizing principle; they are not a claim about the EA's internal code or a guarantee of the eventual loss.

Balance and equity can produce different budgets. With a $20,000 balance but $18,000 equity, 0.5% gives $100 based on balance and $90 based on equity. These percentages are examples, not recommended risk levels.

Money risk: use an amount in the receiver's currency

Risk per Trade in Money expresses the budget as an amount rather than a percentage.

For example, entering 100 means 100 units of the receiver account's currency. It does not mean $100 on every account regardless of currency.

A money budget remains the specified amount as account size changes; a percentage budget changes with its selected account value. Choose the approach that matches your intended sizing policy.

Why the final lot size can differ from your calculation

A theoretical size must fit the instrument's permitted minimum, maximum and volume step. LTC also has receiver limits and filters that can affect the result.

Pay particular attention to Minimum Receiver Lot Size: raising a small calculated position to a larger minimum can increase its estimated risk. By contrast, Ignore Receiver Lot Size Below is a filter for rejecting calculated sizes below its threshold. Review the exact behavior in the settings guide before combining these controls.

Also check the receiver's contract specifications, especially for gold and indices. A familiar symbol name is not sufficient evidence that every broker uses the same monetary value per lot.

For unexpected results, follow the Troubleshooting Guide and inspect the receiver's Experts and Journal messages before changing several settings at once.

Initial trade risk is different from account protection

Sizing a position around its initial Stop Loss does not lock the account's future loss to that amount. Stop modifications, gaps, execution differences and trading costs can change the outcome. Under LTC's documented Risk per Trade modes, transmitter SL changes can change receiver risk; removing the transmitter SL closes the corresponding copied receiver trade.

Multiple open positions also create combined exposure. Three trades with an estimated $100 loss to their individual stops represent roughly $300 combined before costs and execution differences, even if each trade was sized correctly.

For prop firm accounts, review your remaining loss allowance and permitted trading setup separately. An account's headline size is not the same as its available drawdown allowance. Our daily drawdown guide explains that separate subject.

Test the sizing policy before using it on important accounts

Use a controlled demo setup and:

1. Confirm the receiver's account currency and symbol specifications.

2. Select one sizing method and its associated input.

3. Calculate the approximate expected size for a sample trade.

4. Copy a demo trade with a clear Stop Loss and compare the receiver result.

5. Repeat with a different transmitter volume and Stop Loss distance.

6. Review minimum lots, volume steps, filters and margin if the result differs.

7. Check how Stop Loss changes and closures affect the copied trade.

Change one variable at a time so the result is easy to understand. For terminal installation and connection, use the Installation Guide.

Frequently asked questions

Does proportional sizing keep every trade at a fixed risk percentage?

No. It scales position volume using account values. A fixed percentage risk budget additionally requires a Stop Loss based calculation and consideration of the receiver instrument.

Can different receivers use different methods?

Yes. One can use fixed lots while another uses proportional or risk-based sizing. That flexibility lets you test distinct account policies while following the same transmitter.

Does a small lot size always mean a small risk?

No. The stop distance and monetary value of the instrument matter too. Assess the estimated loss in account currency rather than judging the lot number alone.

Put your receiver sizing policy into practice

Local Trade Copier EA MT4/5© combines trade copying with independent receiver sizing controls, helping you apply a deliberate account policy to the trades you copy.

Start with the fully functional downloadable demo to test copying between demo accounts for four hours at a time. This is the practical two-terminal trial, distinct from the Market's built-in Strategy Tester demo.

Once you have verified your setup, choose the version for your terminals:

• Buy Local Trade Copier EA MT4 on MQL5.com

• Buy Local Trade Copier EA MT5 on MQL5.com

Both versions are required for cross-platform MT4 ↔ MT5 copying. For current license details, see Pricing.

Learn More About Local Trade Copier EA MT4/5©

If you need to copy and manage trades between multiple MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 accounts, you can explore the complete Local Trade Copier EA MT4/5© documentation and test the software before purchasing.

Need Help With Your Setup?

If you have questions about installation, configuration, copying between MT4 and MT5, or managing multiple receiver accounts, check our guides or contact us directly.