Lot size and charges: NIFTY and BANK NIFTY
Before an index trade you need two numbers: how many units are in one lot, and what the trade will cost you in charges. Here are both, with worked examples in rupees.
Lot sizes we use
| Contract | Lot size (units) | One point is worth |
|---|---|---|
| NIFTY options and futures | 65 | ₹65 per lot |
| BANK NIFTY options and futures | 30 | ₹30 per lot |
| FIN NIFTY options | 60 | ₹60 per lot |
| MIDCAP NIFTY options | 120 | ₹120 per lot |
| SENSEX options (BSE) | 20 | ₹20 per lot |
These are the lot sizes in our Trade Planner as of October 2026. Exchanges revise lot sizes from time to time (often in January and July), so check NSE for changes on the NSE contract specifications page before you trade. You can type a different lot size into the planner.
The charges on one trade
Our planner uses the India charge rates from 1 April 2026:
- STT on options: 0.15% of the premium, on the sell side. On futures: 0.05% of the value, sell side.
- Exchange charges (NSE F&O): 0.03503% of premium for options, 0.00173% of value for futures, both sides.
- SEBI fee: ₹10 per crore of value, both sides.
- Stamp duty on the buy side: 0.003% for options, 0.002% for futures.
- GST: 18% on brokerage, exchange charges and the SEBI fee.
- Brokerage: whatever your broker charges. Our examples use ₹20 per order.
Example 1: one lot of NIFTY options
Buy 1 lot (65 units) of a NIFTY call at ₹120, sell at ₹150. Profit before costs: 30 points x 65 = ₹1,950.
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Brokerage (2 orders) | ₹40.00 |
| STT (0.15% of ₹9,750 sell) | ₹14.62 |
| Exchange charges | ₹6.15 |
| Stamp duty | ₹0.23 |
| SEBI fee | ₹0.02 |
| GST | ₹8.31 |
| Total | ₹69.33 |
That looks small, but it is paid on every trade, win or lose. If the same option fell to ₹100 instead, you would lose ₹1,300 plus ₹63.11 in charges. Ten round trips a day at about ₹65 each is ₹650 a day, roughly ₹13,000 over 20 trading days.
Example 2: one lot of NIFTY futures
Buy 1 lot of NIFTY futures at 25,150, sell at 25,250. Profit before costs: 100 points x 65 = ₹6,500. Charges: brokerage ₹40, STT ₹820.62 (0.05% of the ₹16.4 lakh sell value), exchange ₹56.67, stamp duty ₹32.70, SEBI fee ₹3.28, GST ₹17.99 = ₹971.26, about 15% of the profit. Futures charges are bigger in rupees because they are charged on the full contract value, not a premium.
BANK NIFTY in one line
1 lot (30 units) of a BANK NIFTY option bought at ₹300 and sold at ₹330 makes ₹900 before costs and pays about ₹70 in charges with ₹20 brokerage per order.
Know your loss before the trade: the number that matters most is not the target - it is the loss at your stop plus charges. The planner shows it in rupees and as a % of your account, and how big a normal bad day is for the index.
How much one point and one lot really move your account
With 65 units per NIFTY lot, every 1-point move in the option premium is ₹65 per lot. A 20-point fall in the premium is ₹1,300 per lot; with 5 lots it is ₹6,500. For BANK NIFTY, 30 units per lot means ₹30 per point per lot, but BANK NIFTY premiums usually move more points than NIFTY's.
For futures, the whole index move counts: a normal 1% NIFTY move of about 250 points is about ₹16,000 on one lot. That is why futures need much more margin and a much larger account than option buying.
A quick pre-trade checklist
- Lot size checked on NSE this month
- Loss at the stop in rupees, plus charges
- That loss as a % of your account (many traders keep it near 1%)
- Break-even premium after charges
- Is today expiry day? Premiums can fall to zero within hours.
General information about the past and about your own numbers. Not financial advice and not a recommendation. It does not consider your goals or situation.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the NIFTY lot size now?
- Our planner uses 65 units per NIFTY lot (October 2026). Lot sizes are revised from time to time, so check the NSE contract specifications page before trading.
- What is the BANK NIFTY lot size?
- Our planner uses 30 units per BANK NIFTY lot (October 2026). Check NSE for changes.
- How much are charges on one NIFTY option lot?
- With ₹20 brokerage per order, a round trip on one lot bought at ₹120 and sold at ₹150 costs about ₹69 in total charges. The exact amount depends on the premium and your broker.
- Is STT charged on the buy side of options?
- In our planner (rates from 1 April 2026), STT on options is 0.15% of the premium on the sell side only.
Work out your own trade
Pick NIFTY or BANK NIFTY options or futures, type entry, stop and target. The planner shows lots, every charge, your loss at the stop and your break-even.