LoggingTradesMES contract specs
| Contract | Micro E-mini S&P 500 (MES) |
|---|---|
| Exchange | CME (CME Group) |
| Contract size | $5 × S&P 500 index |
| Tick size | 0.25 |
| Tick value | $1.25 |
| Point value | $5 |
| Typical session | Sunday–Friday, 6:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. ET (5:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. CT) on CME Globex, with a daily break from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. Holiday hours differ. |
Specs as listed by CME Group; confirm with your broker. Margin requirements vary by broker and prop firm, so they are not listed here.
MES tick value in dollars
MES is the same S&P 500 index as ES at one-tenth the size, so every dollar figure is divided by ten. It is the usual first contract for traders sizing down inside a drawdown limit.
Worked example. You buy 1 MES at 5000 and sell at 5010. The move is 10 price units, which is 40 ticks. At $1.25 per tick that is $50 per contract; trading 2 contracts doubles it to $100. A stop the same distance away would cost the same amount, which is why you should convert every stop into dollars before you enter.
Micro vs mini
MES is the micro version of ES (E-mini S&P 500) at one-tenth the size: a tick is $1.25 instead of $12.50. Ten MES contracts equal one ES in dollar exposure, so a $500 ES result on the same move would be $50 here.
To turn a stop distance into a contract count, use the position size calculator. Inside a prop-firm evaluation, check the result against the drawdown with the prop firm challenge calculator, and read the micro vs mini futures guide.
FAQ
What is the MES tick value?
One MES tick is 0.25 and is worth $1.25 per contract. One full point is $5 per contract.
How many ticks are in a point for MES?
4 ticks per point, because the minimum price increment is 0.25.
How much do I make or lose on a 40-tick MES move?
40 ticks × $1.25 = $50 per contract, before commissions and fees. With 3 contracts that is $150.
When does MES trade?
MES trades on CME Globex Sunday–Friday, 6:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. ET (5:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. CT) on CME Globex, with a daily break from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. Holiday hours differ. Confirm current hours with your broker and CME Group.