6L Tick Size and Tick Value Explained for New Traders
If you're trading 6L futures and you don’t understand the tick size and tick value, you’re basically driving blindfolded. The 6L contract moves fast, and every tick matters. Here’s the blunt breakdown so you know exactly what you’re risking.
6L Contract Size
The 6L contract is tied to 100,000 Brazilian Reals. That’s the notional size. You don’t pay that upfront — but every movement in the BRL affects your P&L based on that underlying value.
For comparison, see how contract size works differently in the main 6L overview article and in other FX futures like 6E and 6J.
The Exact Tick Size
6L moves in minimum increments of 0.00005. That tiny decimal is where most beginners screw up. A five-place decimal looks harmless until you see how the value plays out.
Tick Value: The $5 Reality
Every tick in 6L is worth $5.00. That means:
- 10 ticks = $50
- 20 ticks = $100
- 50 ticks = $250
With 6L’s volatility, a 30–50 tick move is nothing. You’ll see it constantly during macro releases or when Brazil’s central bank does something dramatic.
6L Price Movement Example
Here’s a clean example of why tick math matters:
| Scenario | Value |
|---|---|
| Price moves from 0.20000 → 0.20050 | 100 ticks |
| P&L impact | 100 × $5 = $500 |
If that move goes against you, it hurts. If it goes your way, it’s great. But either way you need to know the real money at stake.
Why 6L Tick Size Matters for Risk
Because 6L isn’t a major currency pair. It’s an emerging-market contract, and the swings are bigger, faster, and cleaner than majors when volatility hits.
You can’t guess your risk. You have to calculate it off the tick value.
Final Thoughts
The bottom line: 6L tick size is tiny, but the tick value is real. At $5 per tick and fast intraday movement, you need to size correctly or you’ll get pushed around. Understand the contract specs now, or they’ll teach you the hard way later.