How to paper trade futures
Practise index and stock futures with virtual margin on Nifty Paper Trade. Learn how futures work and how to trade them.
A future is a contract to buy or sell an index or stock at a set size, moving 1:1 with the underlying. Unlike options, there's no premium or strike — you just go long (profit if it rises) or short (profit if it falls), and margin is blocked instead of full value.
How to trade a future
- In the Terminal, open the Futures tab in the right panel.
- Pick the contract (e.g. NIFTY current-month future).
- Buy to go long or Sell to go short.
- Set lots and confirm — margin is blocked and the position shows in Positions with live P&L.
Futures vs options
- Futures: linear P&L, no time decay, higher margin — simple directional bets.
- Options: premium + strike + expiry, time decay, defined risk when buying.
New to futures? Read the deeper guide: Index futures explained.
FAQ
What margin do futures need?
A percentage of contract value is blocked as margin (virtual), released when you close — just like a real broker.
Do futures have time decay?
No — unlike options, futures don't lose value to time; they track the underlying directly.
Can I short a future?
Yes — Sell to open a short and profit if the price falls. See short selling.