Precision and Types

The Drift SDK uses integer big numbers (BN) for most values. Always convert using the SDK’s precision constants and helpers.

Precision Constants

Each constant is a BN representing a power of 10. Divide a raw value by its precision constant to get the human-readable number.

Constant	Value	Used For
`PRICE_PRECISION`	1e6	Oracle prices, order prices
`BASE_PRECISION`	1e9	Perp position sizes
`QUOTE_PRECISION`	1e6	USD amounts, collateral

Converting Between Raw and Human-Readable Values

BN → Human Number


import { BN, PRICE_PRECISION, BASE_PRECISION, QUOTE_PRECISION, convertToNumber } from "@drift-labs/sdk";
 
// Oracle price: raw 150_500_000 → 150.5 USD
const rawPrice = new BN(150_500_000);
const price = convertToNumber(rawPrice, PRICE_PRECISION);
console.log(price); // 150.5
 
// Position size: raw 2_500_000_000 → 2.5 SOL
const rawBase = new BN(2_500_000_000);
const size = convertToNumber(rawBase, BASE_PRECISION);
console.log(size); // 2.5
 
// Collateral: raw 10_000_000 → 10 USDC
const rawQuote = new BN(10_000_000);
const usd = convertToNumber(rawQuote, QUOTE_PRECISION);
console.log(usd); // 10

Function convertToNumberReference ↗

Parameter	Type	Required
`bigNumber`	`any`	Yes
`precision`	`any`	No

Returns
`number`

Human Number → BN


import { BN, BASE_PRECISION, PRICE_PRECISION } from "@drift-labs/sdk";
 
// 1 SOL in base precision
const oneSol = new BN(1).mul(BASE_PRECISION); // BN(1_000_000_000)
 
// $21.23 in price precision
const price = new BN(21_230_000); // 21.23 * 1e6
 
// Or use DriftClient convenience helpers (available after setup):
const size = driftClient.convertToPerpPrecision(1);     // 1 base unit as BN
const px = driftClient.convertToPricePrecision(21.23);   // price as BN
const spot = driftClient.convertToSpotPrecision(0, 100); // 100 USDC as BN

Example Human Number to BNReference ↗

TypeScript docs unavailable for Human Number to BN.

Token Math Helpers

Spot balances are stored as interest-bearing scaled values. These helpers convert them to actual token amounts.

getTokenAmount converts a raw scaled spot balance into a token amount, accounting for accumulated interest since the last update. Pass the user’s scaledBalance, the spot market account (which contains the cumulative interest index), and the balance type (deposit or borrow).


import { getTokenAmount, SpotBalanceType, convertToNumber } from "@drift-labs/sdk";
 
const spotMarket = driftClient.getSpotMarketAccount(0); // e.g. USDC
const user = driftClient.getUser();
const spotPosition = user.getUserAccount().spotPositions[0];
 
const tokenAmount = getTokenAmount(
  spotPosition.scaledBalance,
  spotMarket,
  spotPosition.balanceType
);
console.log("Token amount:", tokenAmount.toString());

Function getTokenAmountReference ↗

Calculates the spot token amount including any accumulated interest.

Parameter	Type	Required
`balanceAmount`	`any` The balance amount, typically from `SpotPosition.scaledBalance`	Yes
`spotMarket`	`SpotMarketAccount` The spot market account details	Yes
`balanceType`	`SpotBalanceType` The balance type to be used for calculation	Yes

The calculated token amount, scaled by `SpotMarketConfig.precision`

Returns
`BN`

getSignedTokenAmount wraps getTokenAmount to return a signed value: positive for deposits, negative for borrows. Use this when you need to distinguish between the two in a single number.


import { getTokenAmount, getSignedTokenAmount } from "@drift-labs/sdk";
 
const spotMarket = driftClient.getSpotMarketAccount(0);
const spotPosition = driftClient.getUser().getUserAccount().spotPositions[0];
 
const tokenAmount = getTokenAmount(
  spotPosition.scaledBalance,
  spotMarket,
  spotPosition.balanceType
);
const signed = getSignedTokenAmount(tokenAmount, spotPosition.balanceType);
// signed > 0 means deposit, signed < 0 means borrow
console.log("Signed amount:", signed.toString());

Function getSignedTokenAmountReference ↗

Returns the signed (positive for deposit,negative for borrow) token amount based on the balance type.

Parameter	Type	Required
`tokenAmount`	`any` The token amount to convert (from `getTokenAmount`)	Yes
`balanceType`	`SpotBalanceType` The balance type to determine the sign of the token amount.	Yes

- The signed token amount, scaled by `SpotMarketConfig.precision`

Returns
`BN`