What Are Position Margin and Order Margin?

Position Margin is the margin allocated to a Crypto Futures position that's already open, while Order Margin is the margin reserved for a pending order that hasn't been filled yet — both are components of the broader "In Use" margin category on Pluang. For example, if you have an open position using USDT 4,000 in margin and you also place a pending limit order that reserves another USDT 1,000 in margin, your Position Margin is USDT 4,000, your Order Margin is USDT 1,000, and together they add up to USDT 5,000 counted as "In Use." Order Margin is released back to "Available to Move" if the pending order is canceled before it fills; once an order fills, its reserved Order Margin converts into Position Margin for the resulting open position. Together, Position Margin and Order Margin make up the total margin committed across your open positions and unfilled orders.

• Position Margin: margin backing a position that's already open and live in the market, directly tied to that position's unrealized PnL and liquidation risk.
• Order Margin: margin set aside for an order still sitting on the order book, waiting to be matched — this margin isn't yet exposed to market risk, since no position exists until the order fills.
• In Use = Position Margin + Order Margin. This is the total margin currently committed and unavailable for other purposes.
• Available to Move = total Futures balance minus In Use — the margin that's free to withdraw or reallocate to new positions or orders.
• Canceling a pending order releases its Order Margin back to Available to Move immediately; closing a position releases its Position Margin back to Available to Move (net of any realized PnL).

Related questions:

Q: What happens to Order Margin when my pending order finally fills?
Once a pending order fills, the margin that was reserved as Order Margin for that order converts directly into Position Margin for the new open position it creates. The total amount counted as "In Use" doesn't change at the moment of the fill — the margin simply shifts categories from reserved-for-an-order to allocated-to-a-position. This shift happens automatically the instant the order matches, so you won't see any change in your total In Use balance or need to take any manual action yourself.

Q: If I cancel a pending limit order, do I get that margin back immediately?
Yes. Canceling a pending order releases its Order Margin back into your Available to Move balance right away, since that margin was never actually exposed to an open position's market risk in the first place. You can then use the freed-up margin to place a new order or open a different position without needing to deposit additional funds. This applies to every pending order type, so canceling any unfilled limit order returns its full reserved amount without delay.

Q: Can I have Position Margin and Order Margin on the same contract at the same time?
Yes. You can hold an open position on a contract, which carries Position Margin, while simultaneously placing a new pending order on the same contract that reserves separate Order Margin, provided your Available to Move balance covers the additional reservation. Both amounts are tracked independently and both count toward your total "In Use" margin. This is common when adding a new order to scale into an existing position, or when placing a Take Profit or Stop Loss order alongside a position that's already open.

Q: How is Order Margin different from In Use margin overall?
Order Margin is one specific component of In Use margin — the portion reserved for pending, unfilled orders — while In Use margin is the combined total of Order Margin plus Position Margin across every open position and pending order on your account. In Use is the broader figure; Order Margin and Position Margin are the two categories that add up to it.