Direct answer
In forex, you “increase lot size” by increasing the trade volume you submit in your order. In practice, that means selecting a larger position size (for example, moving from a smaller contract quantity to a larger one) so that each pip movement affects more of your account balance than it would with a smaller lot.
Lot size is not the same as “moving the market.” It changes your exposure: how much value changes when the quoted price changes.
How it works: lot size and pip value
To understand the effect of a larger lot, focus on two linked ideas:
- Lot size (volume): the size of the position you trade. Many platforms express this in standardized “lot” units.
- Pip value: the monetary value of a one-pip price movement for your specific position.
When lot size increases, pip value for the same instrument generally increases in proportion. That means a one-pip move produces a larger dollar (or account-currency) impact than it would with a smaller lot.
To compare correctly, check the following conditions before concluding the impact:
- Instrument and pricing format: pip size can differ by currency pair conventions.
- Account currency: pip value depends on how your platform converts the quote to your account currency.
- Contract sizing rules on your platform: the way “lot” maps to contract quantity can vary by broker.
For a deeper background on these relationships, see lot size and pip value.
Example checks (without trade recommendations)
Here is a safe way to reason about “increasing lot size” using verification, not predictions:
- Pick a specific pair and side (buy or sell does not change pip value; it changes whether you gain or lose on upward vs downward moves).
- Choose two lot sizes (a smaller one and a larger one).
- Compute or read the pip value for each lot size on your platform.
- Compare the ratio: the pip value for the larger lot should be higher, typically in direct proportion if all else (pair, pricing, account currency) stays the same.
If your platform shows pip value, you can use it as an independent check before placing any order. If it does not, you would need the platform’s contract-size convention and pip definition for that instrument.
You can also cross-check concepts like the monetary impact of a pip with how much is one pip worth in forex.
Relevant limitations and risks
Increasing lot size increases exposure per price movement. That does not change market uncertainty— it increases how quickly outcomes can change for your account.
Key limitations to keep in mind:
- Broker/platform constraints: minimum lot size, step size (increment), and maximum exposure can restrict what “increasing” means.
- Margin and leverage effects: larger positions require more margin and can increase liquidation risk if price moves against you.
- Execution and slippage: in fast markets, realized outcomes may differ from what you expected when reviewing pip value.
- No guaranteed outcomes: larger lot sizes do not make results more predictable; they change magnitude of gains/losses per pip.
Because rules vary by broker and instrument, treat any “lot size increase” process as instrument- and platform-specific, and verify the pip value and available order constraints inside your trading interface before changing volume.