XM Standard Account: Features, Spreads & Trading Conditions

The Standard Account is the most popular and versatile account type among all account types offered by XM. It is designed to meet the needs of traders at every level — from beginners to seasoned professionals. Key highlights include leverage of up to 1,000×, a $30 trading bonus, a deposit bonus of up to $10,500, access to all promotions, and a transparent zero-commission cost structure. A Micro account option is also available, allowing you to trade with minimal initial capital.

This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of the XM Standard Account — covering everything from core specifications and trading conditions to a detailed comparison with the Ultra Low account, plus recommended strategies for each trader type. Topics include trading costs, swap rates, leverage limits, bonus promotions, and the complete step-by-step process from account opening to your first trade — making this the definitive reference for getting the most out of your XM Standard Account.

The Standard Account supports trading across 55 currency pairs and over 1,500 financial instruments, including precious metals, cryptocurrencies, oil and gas, stock indices, and CFD shares. A Micro account option is also available, enabling trading from as little as 100 units of currency — ideal for beginners looking to manage risk while entering the markets.

The specification table above covers the Standard Account exclusively. To compare it against other XM account types such as the Ultra Low Account, please refer to the full account comparison table and personalised recommendations below to help you choose the right account type.

The Standard Account charges no trading commissions whatsoever — all trading costs are built into the spread, making cost calculation straightforward and the trading environment fully transparent. XM also enforces negative balance protection (Zero Cut) in line with European financial regulations, ensuring you can never lose more than your account balance — even during periods of extreme market volatility.

For spread information across all XM financial instruments, please refer to the comprehensive guide to XM spreads below — including the latest spread data for each instrument, how to calculate spread costs, and a spread comparison table by account type.

The XM Standard Account applies swap charges to all currency pairs and physically deliverable instruments. A swap is an overnight interest rate adjustment incurred when you hold a position past the daily rollover. It is calculated based on the interest rate differential between the two currencies in a pair. Notably, if you buy a currency with a higher interest rate whilst selling one with a lower rate, you will receive a positive swap — which can be advantageous for traders employing medium- to long-term strategies or carry trades.

For full details on XM swap rates — including triple swap days, calculation methods, and the latest rates for each currency pair — refer to the comprehensive guide below. It will help you plan your medium- to long-term trading strategies with greater precision.

The XM Standard Account offers leverage of up to 1,000×. This enables you to hold significantly larger trading positions with only a fraction of the required margin. For example, with 1,000× leverage, you can control a position worth $1,000 USD using just $1 USD in margin. The table below shows the leverage and required margin for XM’s key financial instruments.

For full details on XM’s margin requirements and leverage — including a margin table for all financial instruments and calculation methods — refer to the comprehensive article below. It will help you manage your capital efficiently and trade with greater confidence.

The Standard Account provides access to over 1,500 financial instruments across a diverse range of asset classes — including currency pairs, precious metals, stock CFDs, indices, commodities, oil and gas, cryptocurrencies, and more. This breadth of choice allows traders to build diverse strategies and adapt to varying market conditions and economic events.

Opening a Demo Account is the best way to explore the full range of financial instruments available on the XM Standard Account. XM’s Demo Account is a completely free tool that lets you practise trading under identical conditions to the live environment — using real market-based prices. You can test instruments and strategies without any financial risk. Open your XM Demo Account in just minutes using the button below.

XM uses Market Execution, processing orders instantly upon submission. XM’s trading servers also demonstrate exceptional stability — far superior to many other brokers — with no unreliable server responses or problematic slippage.

XM delivers industry-leading execution quality and is renowned for near-zero slippage even during high-volatility market conditions. Whilst some brokers may appear to offer tighter spreads, slippage during live trading can significantly inflate the overall cost of each trade. With XM’s high-quality execution environment and stable trading servers, orders are filled at the displayed price — keeping your actual trading costs consistent and predictable. This reliability is especially evident during news events and rapid market movements.

XM’s minimum deposit is just $5 USD across all account types — an extremely accessible entry point that makes it easy for even beginners to get started. The automatic stop out level is set at 20%, meaning that if the margin maintenance ratio falls below this threshold, positions will be closed automatically to limit losses.

▶ Complete Guide to XM Deposits & Funding

XM uses dynamic leverage based on available margin, meaning leverage limits adjust according to your usable margin. Specifically, once available margin exceeds $40,000 USD, maximum leverage is automatically capped at 500×; above $80,000 USD, it reduces to 200×; and above $200,000 USD, the cap is 100×. This mechanism promotes more appropriate risk management and maintains a safer trading environment as account balances grow.

If you plan to deposit a large amount or trade cryptocurrencies, we recommend reviewing the important leverage restriction notes below.

▶ Important notes on leverage when using bonuses
▶ Important notes on leverage restrictions when trading cryptocurrencies

On the Standard Account, 1 lot equals 100,000 units of currency for the standard account type, and 1,000 units for the Micro account. The minimum trade size is 0.01 lots (1,000 units) for the standard type, and 0.1 lots (100 units) for the Micro type. This granularity allows effective capital management even with a modest trading budget.

The above covers the trading conditions for the Standard Account. To compare trading conditions across all XM account types, please refer to the article below.

Unlike the Ultra Low Account and the Shares Account, the Standard Account is the only account type that grants access to every promotion XM offers — making it the ideal choice for traders who want to maximise the benefits of the bonus programme. You may also qualify for additional benefits through limited-time special campaigns, such as those held during major holidays and other regular seasonal events.

In summary, the Standard Account is ideal for medium- to long-term traders, beginners, and those who want to maximise bonus benefits. The Ultra Low Account, on the other hand, is better suited to short-term traders, scalpers, and EA users who prioritise tighter spreads and Free Swap. Choose the account type that best aligns with your trading style and objectives.

To ensure you receive all XM bonus promotions and begin trading on the Standard Account, you must first complete XM membership registration and identity verification. Each step below is linked — click to view detailed instructions for that stage.

Once identity verification is complete, you will be eligible to receive the $30 Trading Bonus (or equivalent) on any account type except the Shares Account. Upon completing registration, the system will automatically open an MT5 Standard Account denominated in USD. However, if you wish to receive the $30 Trading Bonus on a different account type — such as a THB-denominated Ultra Low Account — you will need to open an additional account after verification is complete.

▶ How to Claim the XM $30 Trading Bonus
▶ Benefits of Opening Additional Accounts with XM
▶ XM Account Type Comparison & Recommendations