Best Futures for Beginners 2026: Start Here

Category: Getting Started | Date: 2026-05-06

Which Futures Contract Should You Trade First?

New futures traders are overwhelmed by choice. ES, NQ, YM, CL, GC, MNQ, MES — dozens of symbols, each with different tick values, volatility, and margin requirements. Picking the wrong contract as a beginner can lead to oversized losses and a blown account on day one.

Comparison of MES, ES, MNQ and NQ futures contracts by tick value and margin — Micro contracts (MES, MNQ) are 1/10th the size of the full ES and NQ — far safer for beginners.

This guide ranks the best futures contracts for beginners based on liquidity, margin cost, tick size, and intraday volatility.

The Top 5 Contracts for Beginners

1. MNQ — Micro Nasdaq-100

The micro Nasdaq-100 is the best all-around starter contract. It combines high liquidity with a tiny tick value, making it forgiving for new traders.

Tick value: $0.50 per tick ($2 per point)
A 20-point move is $40 per contract
Margin: low per contract, but check your broker's current intraday margin
Why beginners love it: Small losses teach discipline without catastrophic drawdowns

2. MES — Micro S&P 500

The Micro S&P 500 is slightly slower than MNQ but just as liquid. It moves more predictably and is less prone to sudden spikes.

Tick value: $1.25 per tick ($5 per point)
A 10-point move is $50 per contract
Margin: low per contract, but check your broker's current intraday margin
Why beginners love it: Smoother price action, easier to read support and resistance

3. MGC — Micro Gold

Micro Gold offers a completely different market dynamic. It is less tied to equity index moves, though it reacts to interest rates, the dollar and macro news.

Tick value: $1.00 per tick ($10 per point)
A 2-point move is $20 per contract
Margin: check your broker's current figure
Why beginners like it: Smaller dollar value per tick and different drivers than equity indices

4. ES — E-Mini S&P 500

The standard E-Mini is the most liquid futures contract in the world. But the larger tick value makes it dangerous for small accounts.

Tick value: $12.50 per tick ($50 per point)
A 10-point move is $500 per contract
Margin: roughly ten times a micro's
Best for: Traders with proven consistency on micros whose per-trade risk fits $50 per point

5. NQ — E-Mini Nasdaq-100

The E-Mini Nasdaq is fast, volatile, and expensive. It can move 20 points in seconds during news events.

Tick value: $5.00 per tick ($20 per point)
A 50-point move is $1,000 per contract
Margin: roughly ten times a micro's
Best for: Experienced traders who have mastered MNQ and want more size

Contracts to Avoid as a Beginner

CL (Crude Oil): Highly volatile, gap-prone, news-sensitive. A single inventory report can move price many ticks in seconds, and each tick is worth $10.
NG (Natural Gas): Extreme volatility and large gaps, with $10 per tick.
ZB (30-Year Bonds): Complex macro drivers. Requires deep understanding of interest rate policy.
Bitcoin futures: very volatile, and large moves are common. Not a good first contract.

The Beginner Sequence

We recommend this progression for new futures traders:

Months 1–3: Trade ONLY MNQ or MES on a demo or micro account
Months 4–6: Add a second contract (MGC or the other micro)
Months 7–12: Scale to mini contracts once you have 6 months of consistent profitability
Year 2+: Add CL, NQ, or additional markets based on your proven edge

A trade copier can help once you have funded accounts. You trade one leader account and set the copy size for each follower. Start small, scale slowly.

The best contract for a beginner is the one that lets them survive long enough to learn. MNQ and MES are the training wheels of futures trading.

Ready to Start Trading Futures?

Start with micro contracts on a demo account. Once you are consistent, you can open a prop firm evaluation. If you later run several funded accounts, Signal Trade App copies your trades from one leader account to the others. Signal Trade App costs $29/month. The 5-day trial requires a card. A self-hosted version is a $599 one-time purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best futures contract for a beginner?

Micro contracts such as MNQ (Micro Nasdaq-100) and MES (Micro S&P 500) are the usual starting point. They are one-tenth the size of NQ and ES, so a point is worth $2 on MNQ and $5 on MES instead of $20 and $50.

How much is a tick worth on the main futures contracts?

NQ is $5 and MNQ is $0.50. ES is $12.50 and MES is $1.25. GC (gold) is $10 and MGC (micro gold) is $1. CL (crude oil) is $10 and MCL (micro crude) is $1.

How much money do you need to trade micro futures?

Micro margin per contract is small, but margin is not the real limit. Size your position so a normal losing trade costs a small fraction of your account, and keep a buffer for several losses in a row.

Can I lose more than I deposit in futures?

Yes. Futures are leveraged, and in fast markets a loss can exceed the margin on the position. Prop firm evaluation accounts cap your loss at the account rules, but a personal futures account does not.

What hours do futures trade?

CME equity index futures trade on Globex from Sunday 6:00 pm to Friday 5:00 pm ET, with a one-hour break each day from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm ET. Other products have their own schedules.

Start Copy Trading Free

Signal Trade App lets you copy one trade across unlimited prop firm accounts in under 50ms. Sign up free with a 5-day Pro trial (credit card required, no charge during trial).