I am trying to understand the differance between trading a micro account v/s a standerd account providing the capatil is the same in both accounts? Example… you can have a 20k micro OR a 20k standerd. What would be the benefit of one over the other??
Thomas
a micro lot is 1,000 units - typically 10 cents a pip
a standard lot is 100,000 units - typically $10 a pip
there is a huge difference between the two…
your account capitol is what determines what type of an account you should have. So if you have $20k capitol, you probably want to trade mini account or a standard account.
Read the school… its all in there
The usual difference between a standard and micro account is generally going to be in the minimum trade size - standard being 100,000, micro 1000. The micro account is therefor more flexible in terms of playing the right size trade for your needs.
Would it be safer to trade a 20k micro than a 20k standere? It seems like it would be and if you can pull the same % on 20k wheather it be micro or standerd then wouldent it be better to run a micro? 10% of 20k is still 2000 weather its on a micro account or standerd right?
As rhody mentioned, if you have a micro or mini account, it will give you more trade options. As you say the risk is the same.
I’d say micro, while you’re right about percentages, a micro account allows you to adjust your risk more accordingly, you can increase the number of minilots you trade let’s say every 1k, while with a standar account you’d have to increase your lot size every 10k. Here’s the difference.
Better money management is allowed.
I have a standard account, but I can trade minis in it as well, lot size from .1 upto 50, which is more than enough combination for me.
I wasn’t aware of that possibility. What broker allows you to do that?
I use ODL, and they do not have micro lots available. I found that out the hard way, when i first signed up about 3 years ago now, I entered 1 thiking I had a mini account… well it turned out to be 1 standard lot…
they been good for me so far, no complaints.
I am a newbie, but I think the replays here missing a point.
The replays say what the benefit of using micro accounts, but if this was all then there was no resson to use standard accounts, because the micro can do the same + give you flexiability to make it smaller if you choose.
However from what I’v read the micro acount doesnt do all the same as the standard account, atleast for my broker the way things are doneon the background is different. I cant say I totally understand it but what I understand in my own words is that with the standard account when I buy eur/usd, they will buy it for me from a bank, while for a micro account they either find someone else with a micro account who want to sell eur/usd and make the trade between us, or just sell the eur/usd to me by themself getting into a possition.
As they say the way the way the micro is working is not as good but its the only way they can do it since the bank will not work with micro money.
You can read it here and maybe understand better then I did:
I’m not an expert in that field, but I think that depends on what kind of broker you use, either a market maker or an Ecn. At least my broker (a market maker) is the counterparty in all of the transactions, so I don’t think that makes a difference for it wether you trade a lot or a micro lot.
I’ve also hear that true Ecns won’t offer you micro lots since they’re the ones truly placing your orders to the market.
Please someone correct me if I’m wrong.
Actually WGFFlame brings up a good point, one i forgot to mention, also because i have never traded a micro account.
Anyway, from what I recall, micro accounts are traded in house, not on the open market, with the exception of OANDA, so in reality your trading against your broker…
not to mention, i don’t think you could place an order for 2000micro lots (2 standard lots) as for sure there will be an upper ceiling on order size.
Cheers
What type of account do you have that allows you to trade minis in a standard account? 
While I agree that there’s a ceiling, 2 standard lots is just too little, they allow more than that.
I have a standard account, but the minimum order size is .1 lot or 1 mini lot.
So I can adjust my risk to fit my needs like 5.6 lots… etc etc
Another thing to have in account are the spreads. Usually brokers have like the regular accounts you know, the standard, institutional… and a plus which would be the mini account. The thing with “extra” accounts is that the spreads are like double the one on the standard, and considering one is gonna be trading with less money, that makes the hell of a difference. Well I trade with ac-markets and for majors the spread on the standard is 2.8, while on the mini its 4. I dont think it’s a bad spread but see the diff?
I agree but as far I can see - as I’m still new at forex though not at trading - fees and spreads are not the same proportionally speaking. And fees and spreads also increase risk. So it’s better to have microsize if fees and spreads are indeed the same in %.
Until now I only know one broker that have no difference in fees and spreads: it’s oanda. Are there any others ?
Personally I always test a new method or EA in a live micro account, that’s the best way to judge.
I use MIG Bank Standard Account, they allow 0.1 to 8.0. The difference between their 3 account types is the amount of you initial deposit and some other things to do with spreads and leverage. migfx.com for more details. I opened a Pro demo account ( 100k to 1mil ) and there was no difference except a max of 1:100 (standard can get 1:200).
Same here.
Best Regards,
Matt Jones 
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