diff --git a/docs.json b/docs.json
index f067a5821..61dfa3f31 100644
--- a/docs.json
+++ b/docs.json
@@ -316,6 +316,7 @@
             "group": "Staking",
             "pages": [
               "ecosystem/staking/overview",
+              "ecosystem/staking/stake-calculation",
               "ecosystem/staking/liquid-staking",
               "ecosystem/staking/single-nominator",
               "ecosystem/staking/nominator-pools"
diff --git a/ecosystem/staking/stake-calculation.mdx b/ecosystem/staking/stake-calculation.mdx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..65ed814df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ecosystem/staking/stake-calculation.mdx
@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@
+---
+title: "Stake calculation"
+---
+
+import { Aside } from '/snippets/aside.jsx';
+
+<Aside
+  type="caution"
+  title="Stake affects locked funds"
+>
+  Stake configuration directly controls how much TON is locked in the elector contract for a full validation round. Misconfiguration can lock the entire balance, leaving no funds for the next election. Review each setting carefully before applying changes on TON Mainnet.
+</Aside>
+
+MyTonCtrl automatically calculates the stake amount before submitting an election entry. The calculation balances operator preferences, staking mode, network-imposed limits, and fee reserves to produce a single integer value (in TON) sent to the [elector contract](/foundations/system).
+
+## Inputs
+
+The calculation draws on several sources:
+
+| Source                                                           | Parameter              | Role                                                                                                              |
+| ---------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| Operator setting                                                 | `stake`                | Fixed stake amount (TON). When set, overrides percentage-based calculation.                                       |
+| Operator setting                                                 | `stakePercent`         | Percentage of balance to stake. Defaults to `100` when unset.                                                     |
+| Wallet state                                                     | `balance`              | Current TON balance of the staking account (validator wallet, pool, or controller).                               |
+| Validator console                                                | Active validator count | Number of validators currently running on this node. Determines whether the node is new or already participating. |
+| [On-chain config #17](/foundations/config#param-17-stake-limits) | `minStake`             | Network minimum stake. Submissions below this value are rejected by the elector.                                  |
+| [On-chain config #17](/foundations/config#param-17-stake-limits) | `maxStake`             | Network maximum stake. Submissions above this value are clamped.                                                  |
+| Node configuration                                               | Staking mode           | Whether the node uses a nominator pool, single nominator pool, liquid staking controller, or direct staking.      |
+
+Configure `stake` and `stakePercent` with the [`set`](/ecosystem/nodes/cpp/mytonctrl/core#set) command:
+
+```mytonctrl
+set stake 500000
+```
+
+```mytonctrl
+set stakePercent 99
+```
+
+Retrieve current values with `get stake` or `get stakePercent`.
+
+## How the priority cascade works
+
+MyTonCtrl evaluates stake sources in a fixed priority order. The first rule that produces a value wins; later rules are skipped.
+
+### Priority 1: Saved fixed stake
+
+If the operator previously ran `set stake <VALUE>`, MyTonCtrl uses that stored amount directly. No additional fee reserve is subtracted at this stage; the value passes straight to the validation guards.
+
+### Priority 2: Nominator pool mode
+
+When the node operates through a standard nominator pool (not a single nominator pool), MyTonCtrl sets:
+
+```text
+stake = balance - 20
+```
+
+The 20 TON reserve covers the higher fee overhead of pool operations (deploy, process, and distribute messages).
+
+<Aside type="note">
+  Single nominator pools are excluded from this rule. They fall through to the percentage-based calculation (Priority 4) because single nominator pools behave like direct staking economically.
+</Aside>
+
+### Priority 3: Liquid staking controller mode
+
+When the node uses a liquid staking controller, MyTonCtrl sets:
+
+```text
+stake = balance - 50
+```
+
+The 50 TON reserve is the largest of all modes. Liquid staking controllers perform complex multi-step transactions (minting, burning, and balance adjustments), requiring a bigger fee cushion.
+
+### Priority 4: Percentage-based calculation (default)
+
+If none of the above rules produce a value, MyTonCtrl falls back to percentage-based calculation using `stakePercent`. This is the most common path for single nominator pools and direct staking.
+
+The logic depends on whether the node already has active validators:
+
+**New validator (no active validators):**
+
+```text
+stake = balance * stakePercent / 100 / 2
+```
+
+The balance is halved. This solves a cold-start problem: on the first election, the elector locks the entire stake for a full validation round. By staking only half, the node keeps the other half available for the next election, which opens before the current round ends. Without halving, a new validator would be locked out of alternating rounds.
+
+**Exception:** if halving produces a value below `minStake`, MyTonCtrl abandons the halving and stakes the full percentage instead. Participating in one round is better than being rejected by the elector for staking too little.
+
+**Existing validator (active validators present):**
+
+```text
+stake = balance * stakePercent / 100
+```
+
+No halving is needed. The returning stake from the previous round replenishes the balance in time for the next election.
+
+**Fee deduction at 100%:** when `stakePercent` is exactly `100`, MyTonCtrl subtracts 20 TON from the result to prevent draining the wallet completely. At lower percentages, the non-staked remainder covers fees implicitly.
+
+## Validation guards
+
+After the stake amount is determined, three sequential checks run regardless of which priority rule produced the value:
+
+| Check                | Condition          | Action                                                                     |
+| -------------------- | ------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| Maximum stake        | `stake > maxStake` | Clamps stake down to `maxStake`. Logs a warning. Election entry continues. |
+| Minimum stake        | `stake < minStake` | Raises an error. Election entry is aborted.                                |
+| Insufficient balance | `stake > balance`  | Raises an error. Election entry is aborted.                                |
+
+The asymmetry is intentional. Exceeding the maximum is recoverable — MyTonCtrl clamps and continues. Falling below the minimum or exceeding the available balance would waste transaction fees on a doomed submission, so MyTonCtrl aborts instead.
+
+## Safety reserves by mode
+
+Each staking mode reserves a different amount for transaction fees:
+
+| Mode                              | Reserve (TON) | Reason                                                        |
+| --------------------------------- | ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| Saved fixed stake                 | 0             | The stored value is used as-is; only validation guards apply. |
+| Nominator pool                    | 20            | Multiple messages for pool lifecycle operations.              |
+| Liquid staking controller         | 50            | Complex multi-step DeFi transactions.                         |
+| Percentage at 100% (default mode) | 20            | General safety margin when no non-staked remainder exists.    |
+
+## Examples
+
+### New validator with 800,000 TON balance
+
+Settings: `stakePercent = 99`, no fixed `stake`, single nominator pool mode.
+
+1. No saved fixed stake, not a standard nominator pool, not a controller.
+1. Falls through to percentage-based calculation (Priority 4).
+1. No active validators detected (new node): halving applies.
+1. `stake = 800,000 * 99 / 100 / 2 = 396,000`.
+1. `396,000 > minStake` (300,000): halving is kept.
+1. Result: **396,000 TON** is submitted. The remaining balance covers the next election.
+
+### Returning validator with 1,600,000 TON balance
+
+Settings: `stakePercent = 99`, single nominator pool mode, already validating.
+
+1. Falls through to percentage-based calculation.
+1. Active validators present: no halving.
+1. `stake = 1,600,000 * 99 / 100 = 1,584,000`.
+1. Result: **1,584,000 TON** is submitted.
+
+### New validator with exactly 600,100 TON (near minimum)
+
+Settings: `stakePercent = 100`, single nominator pool mode.
+
+1. Falls through to percentage-based calculation.
+1. No active validators: halving would give `600,100 / 2 = 300,050`.
+1. `300,050 > minStake` (300,000): halving is kept.
+1. `stakePercent == 100`: 20 TON fee deduction applies: `300,050 - 20 = 300,030`.
+1. Result: **300,030 TON** is submitted.
+
+### New validator with exactly 500,000 TON (halving would go below minimum)
+
+Settings: `stakePercent = 100`, single nominator pool mode.
+
+1. Falls through to percentage-based calculation.
+1. No active validators: halving would give `500,000 / 2 = 250,000`.
+1. `250,000 < minStake` (300,000): halving is abandoned.
+1. Full percentage is used: `500,000`.
+1. `stakePercent == 100`: 20 TON fee deduction: `500,000 - 20 = 499,980`.
+1. Result: **499,980 TON** is submitted.
+
+<Aside type="note">
+  When halving is abandoned due to minimum stake constraints, the node participates only in every second validation round until the balance grows enough to cover both rounds.
+</Aside>
+
+### Nominator pool with 2,000,000 TON balance
+
+Settings: standard nominator pool mode (not single nominator).
+
+1. Pool mode detected (Priority 2).
+1. `stake = 2,000,000 - 20 = 1,999,980`.
+1. Result: **1,999,980 TON** is submitted.
+
+## See also
+
+- [Staking overview](/ecosystem/staking/overview) — comparison of staking solutions and minimum requirements.
+- [Run a validator](/ecosystem/nodes/cpp/run-validator#step-4-set-optimal-stake-for-validator) — step-by-step guide for setting optimal stake.
+- [MyTonCtrl settings](/ecosystem/nodes/cpp/mytonctrl/core#supported-settings) — full list of configurable parameters including `stake` and `stakePercent`.
+- [Single nominator pools](/ecosystem/staking/single-nominator) — recommended staking contract for large holders.