Kelly tells you the ceiling, not the answer.
The Kelly criterion sizes a bet from win rate and payoff ratio alone. It is also famously aggressive when the inputs are even slightly wrong, which every trading edge estimate is.
Kelly fraction (f*)
Positive Kelly fraction. Most traders should risk a fraction of this, not the full amount.
The tool should change the next decision, not just return a number.
Each tool gives a usable answer on the spot. No account needed.
Kelly fraction (f*)
Use the output as a review prompt, not a signal.
- Formula: f* = (b·p − q) / b — the fraction of capital to risk per trade that maximizes long-run geometric growth.
- Full Kelly is aggressive and assumes the inputs are exact. Most traders use a fraction of f*: 1/4 Kelly (25% of f*) or 1/2 Kelly (50% of f*) trade off some growth for much less drawdown.
- Negative f* means there is no edge at this payoff ratio — the correct size is zero, not a smaller positive number.
Risk disclosure
This tool is educational. It does not place trades, recommend trades, or know your personal financial situation. Trading stocks, options, futures and crypto involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone. You can lose more than you invest in leveraged products. Only trade money you can afford to lose. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Reviewed as educational research, not trade advice.
- Author
- Sage
- Reviewed by
- Sage
- Updated
- 2026-05-28
- Scope
- Education only. Not trade advice.
The tools are free. The trades are in Pro.
Every calculator and guide here is free, no account needed. If you want to learn the craft, that is the Academy. If you want our trades as we take them, with alerts, that is Pro. New paid memberships are paused right now, so paid plans go through the waitlist.
- Free$0
The community, the indicators, and everything we publish for free.
Join the free Discord - Academy$25/month
The education side — learning how to trade.
Join the Academy waitlist - Pro$47/month
Our trades as we take them, with alerts. Plus Automation (beta).
Join the Pro waitlist - AutomationBeta — included with Pro
Automation (beta, included with Pro): our bots run on paper trading first, and real money comes later, only after they prove out.
Join the Pro waitlist to test it