What is the tick value for NQ?

$5.00 per tick — a 0.25 tick size × a $20 multiplier (point value).

What is one NQ contract worth?

One contract represents $20 × the Nasdaq-100 index. Notional value = price × $20; use the tick value calculator with the current price for an exact figure.

Which exchange lists NQ?

E-mini Nasdaq-100 (NQ) trades on the CME.

What are the trading hours for NQ?

Sun–Fri 6:00pm–5:00pm ET, with a daily trading halt 4:15pm–4:30pm ET.

How much margin do I need to trade NQ?

Margin varies by broker and typically moves with volatility — check your broker for current initial/maintenance margin.

How is P&L calculated for NQ?

P&L = (exit price − entry price) ÷ 0.25 tick size × $5.00 tick value × number of contracts. Use the tick value calculator to compute this directly.

CME

E-mini Nasdaq-100 (NQ) Tick Value & Contract Specs

Tick value $5.00 per tick — $20 × the Nasdaq-100 index.

The E-mini Nasdaq-100 (NQ) gives futures traders leveraged exposure to the hundred largest non-financial Nasdaq stocks — in practice, a concentrated bet on US large-cap tech. The contract is worth $20 per index point with a 0.25-point tick, making each tick worth $5.00. What catches newcomers out is not the tick value but the range: NQ regularly moves several hundred points in a session, so the dollar swings per contract routinely exceed those of ES despite the smaller multiplier.

With the index at 18,000, one NQ contract carries $360,000 of notional exposure — more than a full-size ES at typical index levels. Sizing therefore matters even more here: a 50-point stop is 200 ticks, or $1,000 per contract. Traders wanting the same exposure in smaller increments use the Micro (MNQ) at exactly one-tenth the multiplier. Run your planned entry and stop through the calculator below to see the dollar risk before taking the trade.

Exchange: CME
Contract size: $20 × the Nasdaq-100 index
Tick size: 0.25
Tick value: $5.00
Point value (multiplier): $20
Trading hours: Sun–Fri 6:00pm–5:00pm ET, with a daily trading halt 4:15pm–4:30pm ET
Margin: Margin varies by broker and typically moves with volatility — check your broker for current initial/maintenance margin.

Open in the tick value calculator, pre-filled for NQ

How NQ tick value works

Tick value is the dollar amount one futures contract gains or loses when the price moves one minimum increment (one tick).

tick value = tick size × multiplier. For NQ, that is 0.25 × $20 = $5.00 per tick, per contract.

One contract represents $20 × the Nasdaq-100 index. P&L for a move from entry to exit is (exit − entry) ÷ tick size × tick value × contracts.

Frequently asked questions

What is the tick value for NQ?: $5.00 per tick — a 0.25 tick size × a $20 multiplier (point value).
What is one NQ contract worth?: One contract represents $20 × the Nasdaq-100 index. Notional value = price × $20; use the tick value calculator with the current price for an exact figure.
Which exchange lists NQ?: E-mini Nasdaq-100 (NQ) trades on the CME.
What are the trading hours for NQ?: Sun–Fri 6:00pm–5:00pm ET, with a daily trading halt 4:15pm–4:30pm ET.
How much margin do I need to trade NQ?: Margin varies by broker and typically moves with volatility — check your broker for current initial/maintenance margin.
How is P&L calculated for NQ?: P&L = (exit price − entry price) ÷ 0.25 tick size × $5.00 tick value × number of contracts. Use the tick value calculator to compute this directly.

More futures contract specs

See all futures contract specs or use the futures contract & tick value calculator with any symbol or custom specs.

Specs last reviewed 2026-06-01. Exchanges can amend contract specs — always confirm against the exchange or your broker before trading.