A margin which is posted by a member of a clearinghouse (in a process called clearing) so as to ensure that member brokers or institutions execute the open contracts referred to them by customers. The clearing margin is maintained in a special account known as a margin account with a clearinghouse. Brokers who are not clearinghouse members are required to maintain a margin account with a clearinghouse member.

The margin account is adjusted for gains or losses at the close of each trading day, but no maintenance margin is required. Members are rather required to maintain their accounts at original margin amount (on a daily basis).

Clearing margin is calculated using two methods: gross basis and net basis. A gross-basis clearing margin involves adding all long and short positions of all clients, with the gross amount being entered in the records. In net basis calculation, long and short positions are offset against each other, and only the net amount is entered in the records.