TL;DR: Futures come in two common sizes — micro e-mini (1/10th the size, lower tick value, lower risk) and e-mini (larger, higher tick value, more liquidity). At FundedNext Futures, each account has a fixed contract limit based on its model, size, and stage, which does not increase as profits grow. If you exceed the limit, only the excess contracts are treated as violations — profit from them is deducted, while losses still count. You can mix e-mini and micro e-mini contracts using your model's ratio (1:10 for Legacy, Flex, and Rapid Pro & Daily).
Part 1 — Understanding contract types
What are micro e-mini futures contracts?
Micro e-mini contracts are 1/10th the size of e-mini contracts. Their smaller size lets you enter the futures market with less capital. Position size is smaller, though risk still depends on your strategy and market conditions. They're designed to make futures trading more accessible, especially for retail traders.
Key features:
Smaller contract size — 1/10th of an e-mini.
Reduced tick value — less financial impact per price movement.
Lower capital risk — easier to manage without large stop-loss distances.
Broader accessibility — more approachable for retail traders.
Popular with active traders — more control over position sizing.
Examples:
Market | Symbol | Contract Size | Tick Size | Tick Value |
S&P 500 | MES | 1/10th of ES | 0.25 points | $1.25 |
Nasdaq-100 | MNQ | 1/10th of NQ | 0.25 points | $0.50 |
Dow Jones | MYM | 1/10th of YM | 1 point | $0.50 |
Gold | MGC | 10 troy ounces | 0.10 points | $1.00 |
What are e-mini futures contracts?
E-mini contracts are mid-sized — larger than micro e-minis but smaller than standard contracts. They balance affordability and profit potential, making them popular with traders who want more exposure without a full-sized contract.
Key features:
Balanced exposure — a middle ground between micro and standard contracts.
Typically higher liquidity — deeper order books and tighter spreads.
Larger tick value — greater profit and loss potential per price movement.
Examples:
Market | Symbol | Contract Size | Tick Size | Tick Value |
S&P 500 | ES | 1/5th of SPX | 0.25 points | $12.50 |
Nasdaq-100 | NQ | 1/5th of NDX | 0.25 points | $5.00 |
Dow Jones | YM | 1/5th of DJI | 1 point | $5.00 |
Key differences at a glance
Factor | Micro E-Mini | E-Mini |
Contract Size | 1/10th of an e-mini | 1/5th or 1/10th of a standard contract |
Tick Value | Smaller (e.g., $1.25 for MES) | Larger (e.g., $12.50 for ES) |
Risk Exposure | Lower | Moderate |
Liquidity | Lower than e-mini | Higher than micro e-mini |
Best for | Beginners, small accounts, lower-risk trading | Experienced traders wanting size/risk balance |
Which one should you trade?
Micro contracts are ideal for entering futures with lower risk, testing new strategies before scaling, and flexible position sizing.
E-mini contracts are best for more experienced traders seeking higher liquidity and larger profit potential, or a middle ground between micro and standard contracts.
Part 2 — Contract limits at FundedNext Futures
At FundedNext Futures, you're assigned fixed contract limits based on your account model, size, and stage (Challenge or FundedNext Account). These are set at account creation and do not increase with profit — they exist to support proper risk management while giving you flexibility to execute your strategy.
What happens if I exceed the contract limit?
Contract limits are strictly enforced. If you place a trade using more contracts than your permitted limit, the excess contracts are treated as violated contracts:
Any profit from violated contracts is deducted.
Losses from violated contracts still count and are not adjusted.
Example: If your limit is 5 contracts and you open 7, the extra 2 are violated contracts — any profit specifically from those 2 is deducted.
Legacy contract limits
Account Size | Challenge | FundedNext Account |
$25,000 | 2 e-mini / 20 micro | 3 e-mini / 30 micro |
$50,000 | 3 e-mini / 30 micro | 5 e-mini / 50 micro |
$100,000 | 5 e-mini / 50 micro | 7 e-mini / 70 micro |
Mixing ratio: 1:10 (1 e-mini = 10 micro e-mini).
Flex contract limits
Flex uses the same limits for the Challenge and FundedNext Account:
Account Size | Maximum Contracts |
$50,000 | 3 e-mini / 30 micro |
$100,000 | 5 e-mini / 50 micro |
$150,000 | 8 e-mini / 80 micro |
Mixing ratio: 1:10.
Rapid Pro & Daily contract limits
Rapid Pro and Rapid Daily use the same limits for the Challenge and FundedNext Account:
Account Size | Maximum Contracts |
$25,000 | 2 e-mini / 20 micro |
$50,000 | 4 e-mini / 40 micro |
$100,000 | 6 e-mini / 60 micro |
Mixing ratio: 1:10.
How mixing works
You can combine e-mini and micro e-mini contracts as long as you stay within your limit, using your model's ratio. For example, on a $25,000 Legacy account (1:10 ratio), 1 e-mini + 10 micro e-mini equals your 2-e-mini limit.
Example: On a $50K Legacy Challenge, you could open up to 30 micro e-mini Nasdaq-100 (MNQ) contracts, or 3 e-mini Nasdaq-100 (NQ) contracts.