E-mini Nasdaq-100 vs E-mini Russell 2000
Different markets, compared on cost per move, margin, hours and settlement.
Margins as of Specs checked as of How we source this
| NQ | RTY | |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange | Chicago Mercantile Exchange | Chicago Mercantile Exchange |
| Contract unit | $20 × Nasdaq-100 Index | $50 × Russell 2000 Index |
| Tick size | 0.25 | 0.1 |
| Tick value | $5 | $5 |
| One point | $20 | $50 |
| Initial margin | $46,415.60 | $11,939.40 |
| Maintenance margin | $42,196 | $10,854 |
| Settlement | Cash | Cash |
| Contract months | Mar (H), Jun (M), Sep (U), Dec (Z) | Mar (H), Jun (M), Sep (U), Dec (Z) |
| Front contract | NQZ26, roll by 10 Dec 2026 | RTYZ26, roll by 10 Dec 2026 |
| Trading hours | CME Globex. Sunday open 17:00 CT, Friday close 16:00 CT, 60-minute daily maintenance break. | CME Globex. Sunday open 17:00 CT, Friday close 16:00 CT, 60-minute daily maintenance break. |
How they compare
E-mini Nasdaq-100 (NQ) and E-mini Russell 2000 (RTY) are different markets, so there is no exact equivalence between a position in one and a position in the other. What can be compared directly is what a move costs and what the exchange requires you to deposit. One point is worth $20 on NQ and $50 on RTY; ticks are worth $5 and $5.
Exchange initial margin is $46,415.60 for NQ and $11,939.40 for RTY, a ratio of 3.9 to 1. Both trade the same hours (CME Globex. Sunday open 17:00 CT, Friday close 16:00 CT, 60-minute daily maintenance break). NQ is cash-settled and RTY is cash-settled.
Because a point means something different in each market, risk is best compared in money rather than in points: decide the loss you would accept at your stop, convert it to ticks on each contract, and compare the resulting position sizes with the position-size calculator. The two markets also move by different amounts on a typical day, so the same number of contracts carries different risk.
Size a position on either with the NQ calculators or the RTY calculators.
Questions
- What is the difference between NQ and RTY?
- They are different markets. One point is worth $20 on NQ and $50 on RTY.
- Which needs more margin, NQ or RTY?
- Exchange initial margin is $46,415.60 for NQ and $11,939.40 for RTY (as of 27 Oct 2026).
- Do NQ and RTY trade the same hours?
- Yes.