Profit/loss calculator
Work out the profit or loss on a stock, crypto or any other trade in seconds. Enter what you paid, what you sold for (or today's price), how much you bought and your broker's commission, and see the net profit, the return in percent and the break-even price you need to cover your fees.
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Net profit / loss
+978+19.52%
Buying 100 at 50 and selling at 60 leaves you +978 (+19.52%) after 22 in commission.
- Total cost
- 5,010
- Net proceeds
- 5,988
- Total commission
- 22
- Break-even sell price
- 50.20
- Quantity
- 100
- Price change
- +20%
You need to sell above 50.20 to make money after commissions.
Sell price for a target profit
| Target | Sell at |
|---|---|
| +5% | 52.71 |
| +10% | 55.22 |
| +25% | 62.75 |
| +50% | 75.30 |
| +100% | 100.40 |
For information only — not investment advice.
How profit and loss is calculated
Commissions are a percentage of each trade's value, so the calculator applies one on the way in and one on the way out:
Formula
- Total cost = quantity × buy price × (1 + buy commission)
- Net proceeds = quantity × sell price × (1 − sell commission)
- Profit/loss = net proceeds − total cost
- Return % = profit/loss ÷ total cost × 100
- Break-even price = buy price × (1 + buy commission) ÷ (1 − sell commission)
If you enter the amount invested instead of a quantity, it is treated as everything you paid, commission included: quantity = amount ÷ (buy price × (1 + buy commission)).
Worked example
You buy 100 shares at $50 with a 0.2% commission and sell them at $60 with the same commission.
Example
- Total cost: 100 × $50 = $5,000, plus $10 commission = $5,010
- Net proceeds: 100 × $60 = $6,000, minus $12 commission = $5,988
- Profit: $5,988 − $5,010 = $978, a return of 19.52%
- Break-even price: $50 × 1.002 ÷ 0.998 ≈ $50.20
The price rose 20%, but commissions trim the return to 19.52%. Selling anywhere below $50.20 would have lost money, even though it is above the $50 you paid.
How much do you need to recover a loss?
Losses and gains are not symmetric: after a fall, the smaller base means you need a bigger percentage gain to get back to where you started. The gain needed after a loss L is L ÷ (1 − L).
| Loss | Gain needed to break even |
|---|---|
| -5% | +5.3% |
| -10% | +11.1% |
| -20% | +25% |
| -30% | +42.9% |
| -40% | +66.7% |
| -50% | +100% |
| -60% | +150% |
| -75% | +300% |
| -90% | +900% |
A 50% loss needs a 100% gain; a 90% loss needs +900%. That is why limiting large losses matters more than the arithmetic of percentages suggests.
Good to know
- The return is measured against the total cost, commission included, so it sits slightly below the raw price change whenever you pay fees.
- Many brokers charge a flat fee or a minimum per order. Convert it into a percentage of the trade value for a close estimate.
- Taxes are not included: capital-gains tax, stamp duty and transaction taxes depend on your country and on how long you held the asset.
- For crypto, enter the exchange's trading fee as the commission. Spreads and network (withdrawal) fees come on top.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate profit or loss on a stock?
Multiply the quantity by the sell price and subtract the sell commission to get your net proceeds; multiply the quantity by the buy price and add the buy commission to get your total cost. Profit or loss is net proceeds minus total cost, and the return in percent is that result divided by the total cost.
How do I calculate my break-even price with commissions?
Break-even price = buy price × (1 + buy commission) ÷ (1 − sell commission). With 0.2% on each side, a share bought at 50 breaks even at about 50.20.
How much does a stock have to rise to recover a 50% loss?
100%. The gain needed after a loss L is L ÷ (1 − L): −10% needs +11.1%, −20% needs +25%, −30% needs +42.9%, −50% needs +100% and −75% needs +300%.
Can I use it to calculate crypto profit?
Yes. Enter the coin's buy and sell prices, how many coins you bought (or the amount you spent) and the exchange's trading fee as the commission. The math is the same for any asset.
Are taxes included?
No. Taxes depend on your country, the asset and the holding period, so the result is before tax.