Source: https://mochatrade.com/learn/glossary/initial-margin-vs-maintenance-margin

# Initial margin vs maintenance margin
URL: https://mochatrade.com/learn/glossary/initial-margin-vs-maintenance-margin
Last modified: 2026-10-17

Initial margin is the deposit to open a position; maintenance margin is the floor your account must stay above to keep it. The gap between them is how far the price can move against you, and [the liquidation price comes from the maintenance level](https://mochatrade.com/support/how-leverage-and-margin-work-on-mochatrade). It is the first number to compute, in [Module 3](https://mochatrade.com/learn).

## Related terms

- Liquidation price: https://mochatrade.com/learn/glossary/liquidation-price
- Negative balance protection: https://mochatrade.com/learn/glossary/negative-balance-protection
- Leverage in trading: https://mochatrade.com/learn/glossary/leverage-in-trading
- Leverage ratio: https://mochatrade.com/learn/glossary/leverage-ratio
- Liquidation / forced square-off: https://mochatrade.com/learn/glossary/liquidation-forced-square-off
- Cross margin: https://mochatrade.com/learn/glossary/cross-margin

Educational content only. Not investment advice. Leveraged products magnify losses as well as gains.