How to Check OKX Contract Positions and Understand Key Metrics

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Understanding how to interpret your contract positions on OKX is essential for effective risk management and maximizing trading performance. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced trader, knowing the nuances of unrealized P&L, position value, maintenance margin rate, and how to access all your open positions can significantly enhance your trading strategy. This guide breaks down each key concept with clarity and precision—helping you navigate OKX’s futures trading interface like a pro.

Understanding Position Metrics on OKX

When trading perpetual or futures contracts on OKX, several critical metrics determine the health and profitability of your open positions. These include unrealized profit and loss (P&L), maintained margin rate, and position visibility across contract types. Let’s explore each in detail.

What Is Unrealized Profit and Loss?

Unrealized P&L represents the current gain or loss of your open positions—before they are closed. Since these positions haven’t been settled yet, the profit or loss fluctuates with market price movements.

On OKX, unrealized P&L is reset daily at 4:00 PM UTC during the settlement process. At this time:

👉 Learn how real-time P&L tracking can improve your trading decisions.

The calculation method for unrealized P&L varies depending on whether you're using USDT-margined or coin-margined contracts.

For USDT-Margined Contracts

These are quoted and settled in stablecoins (like USDT), making them ideal for traders seeking stable valuation.

For Coin-Margined Contracts

These use the underlying cryptocurrency (e.g., BTC) as collateral and are settled in that asset.

Note: The contract value refers to the dollar amount per contract, often standardized (e.g., $100 per BTCUSD contract).

What Is Maintenance Margin Rate?

The maintenance margin rate is the minimum amount of margin required to keep your position open. Falling below this threshold triggers a liquidation event, where your position is automatically closed to prevent further losses.

OKX calculates this rate based on:

Higher position sizes fall into higher tiers, which may require increased maintenance margins.

Risk Modes: Isolated vs Cross Margin

Example: Holding 10,000 long contracts and 15,000 short contracts in BTCUSDT results in a total of 25,000 contracts, placing you in a higher risk bracket (e.g., Tier 1). This increases your maintenance margin requirement accordingly.

Liquidation occurs when:
Margin Ratio ≤ (Maintenance Margin Rate + Liquidation Fee Rate)

👉 See how adjusting leverage can help avoid unexpected liquidations.

How to View All Your Open Contract Positions

Navigating your active trades is simple on OKX. Use the "All Positions" section to get a comprehensive overview of every open contract under your chosen trading pair.

For example:

This unified view helps you manage exposure, assess overall risk, and plan exits strategically without switching between multiple tabs.

You can also filter by:

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When is unrealized P&L settled on OKX?

A: Unrealized P&L is settled daily at 4:00 PM UTC. After settlement, it’s converted into realized P&L and reflected in your account balance.

Q: Why does my maintenance margin rate change over time?

A: It changes based on your total contract holdings and their corresponding leverage tier. Increasing your position size moves you into higher tiers with stricter margin requirements.

Q: Can I avoid liquidation by adding more margin?

A: Yes, especially in isolated margin mode. Depositing additional margin increases your buffer against adverse price moves and delays or prevents liquidation.

Q: Are unrealized P&L calculations different for inverse vs linear contracts?

A: Yes. Linear (USDT-margined) contracts express P&L in stablecoin terms, while inverse (coin-margined) contracts express gains/losses in the base cryptocurrency (e.g., BTC).

Q: Does holding both long and short positions reduce margin requirements?

A: No. In cross margin mode, OKX adds both long and short positions together when calculating your tier and maintenance margin—potentially increasing requirements.

Q: How accurate is the mark price used in P&L calculations?

A: OKX uses a robust mark pricing mechanism derived from major exchange averages to prevent manipulation and ensure fair valuation during volatile periods.

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👉 Start monitoring your contract metrics in real time with advanced tools.

By mastering these core aspects—unrealized P&L dynamics, margin thresholds, and position tracking—you gain greater control over your trading outcomes. Always monitor your maintenance levels, understand how settlement affects your balance, and use the “All Positions” tab to maintain full visibility across your portfolio. With disciplined risk management and accurate data interpretation, you're better positioned to succeed in the fast-moving world of crypto derivatives.