Position Sizing for Swing Traders
Description
In this episode, we dive into one of the most important — and most ignored — parts of swing trading: position sizing. If you want to stay in the game long enough to actually win, you need to control your downside. That’s exactly what this episode is about.
Why position sizing matters more than your stock picks.
The 1–2% rule and how it protects your account.
The difference between capital invested vs. risk taken.
The exact formula you can use to size every trade.
Common mistakes new traders make with position sizing. Example:
Account size = $10,000
Risk = 1% = $100
Entry = $50
Stop = $48
- Risk per share = $2
- Position Size = $100 ÷ $2 = 50 shares
The Position Sizing Formula: Position Size = (Account Size × Risk %) ÷ (Entry Price – Stop Price)
Every great swing trader has a process. The DTA A+ Swing Trading Checklist is the same one our community uses to keep trades disciplined, repeatable, and consistent.
Grab your checklist and make it part of your routine.