Crypto Profit/Loss Calculator
Work out your profit or loss on a trade, including fees, from your buy and sell prices.
Calculator
For educational and informational purposes only — not financial, investment or tax advice. Results are estimates based on the figures you enter.
Conceptual diagram
What the Profit/Loss Calculator does
The Crypto Profit/Loss Calculator computes the gain or loss on a cryptocurrency trade given a buy price, a sell price, the amount invested, and optionally the fees paid on both sides. It converts the raw numbers into a dollar figure, a percentage return, and a break-even sell price — so you can immediately see how a trade performed, or whether a planned trade is likely to be worth entering at all.
The break-even price is the output most traders underuse. Before you open a position, entering your expected buy price and fees shows you the exact minimum sell price at which you recover all costs. That number should change how you evaluate the trade: if the break-even price is already above a key resistance level, the risk profile is very different from a trade where the break-even is comfortably below the current price.
The formula
Net profit = Gross profit − Total fees
Return % = (Net profit ÷ Amount invested) × 100
Break-even price = Buy price + (Total fees ÷ Quantity)
Worked example: a winning trade with fees
Illustrative — your prices and fees will differ
You buy 0.5 BTC at $60,000 (total investment: $30,000), pay a 0.1% buy fee ($30), and sell at $72,000, paying a further 0.1% sell fee ($36).
- Gross profit: (72,000 − 60,000) × 0.5 = $6,000
- Total fees: $30 + $36 = $66
- Net profit: $6,000 − $66 = $5,934
- Return: ($5,934 ÷ $30,000) × 100 = +19.8%
- Break-even sell price: $60,000 + ($66 ÷ 0.5) = $60,132
Worked example: a losing trade
Illustrative loss scenario
You buy 200 ETH at $3,500 (investment: $700,000) and are forced to sell at $2,800 after a 20% decline.
- Gross profit: (2,800 − 3,500) × 200 = −$140,000
- Loss as percentage of invested: −$140,000 ÷ $700,000 = −20%
The 20% loss requires a 25% gain just to return to break-even — because you are now starting from a lower base. A loss of 50% requires a 100% gain to recover. This asymmetry is why managing losses early matters so much.
The asymmetry of gains and losses
Scenario: the same price move, three fee structures
A 10% price move from $1,000 to $1,100 on a 1 ETH trade looks identical across exchanges — until you include fees. The net profit diverges meaningfully depending on what you actually pay.
| Exchange fee | Buy fee | Sell fee | Net profit | Return % | Break-even |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1% (maker) | $1.00 | $1.10 | $97.90 | +9.79% | $1,002.10 |
| 0.25% (taker) | $2.50 | $2.75 | $94.75 | +9.48% | $1,005.25 |
| 0.5% (retail) | $5.00 | $5.50 | $89.50 | +8.95% | $1,010.50 |
| 1.0% (premium) | $10.00 | $11.00 | $79.00 | +7.90% | $1,021.00 |
On a modest 10% trade, the difference between 0.1% and 1% fees is roughly 2% of net return. Scale to a $50,000 position and the gap widens to nearly $1,050. The break-even price also rises from $1,002 to $1,021 — which matters a lot if the expected move is small.
How fees affect returns on small trades
| Trade size | Buy fee (0.1%) | Sell fee (0.1%) | Break-even gain needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | $0.10 | $0.10 | +0.20% |
| $1,000 | $1.00 | $1.00 | +0.20% |
| $10,000 | $10.00 | $10.00 | +0.20% |
| $100,000 | $100.00 | $100.00 | +0.20% |
At 0.1% fees in and out, the break-even bar is always 0.20% regardless of trade size. At 0.5% fees in and out, the break-even hurdle is 1% — so a trade that ends flat in price terms is actually a 1% loss in returns.
Scenario: altcoin with spread
Thinly traded markets have a higher hurdle
You buy 5,000 units of a low-cap altcoin at $0.40 ($2,000 invested). Quoted fee: 0.25%. The market moves up 5% and you sell at $0.42.
- Sell proceeds: 5,000 × $0.42 × 0.9975 = $2,094.75
- Buy cost including fee: $2,000 × 1.0025 = $2,005.00
- Net profit: $2,094.75 − $2,005.00 = $89.75
- Return: $89.75 ÷ $2,005.00 = +4.48% vs the 5% price move
On thinly traded altcoins with wide spreads, the effective hurdle to a net profit is much higher than the headline fee suggests. Checking the order book depth before entering is essential.
Worked scenario: cost basis across multiple buy orders
Three buys at different prices — use weighted average
You buy SOL in three tranches:
- Day 1: 10 SOL at $120 = $1,200
- Day 3: 15 SOL at $105 = $1,575
- Day 7: 5 SOL at $95 = $475
Total: 30 SOL for $3,250 → average cost basis = $3,250 ÷ 30 = $108.33 per SOL. You sell all 30 SOL at $130 one week later. Entering $108.33 as the buy price and $130 as the sell price gives: gross profit = $21.67 × 30 = $650. After 0.1% fee both sides: net profit ≈ $637. Return on $3,250 ≈ +19.6%.
How to use the calculator
- Enter the buy price — the price you paid per unit, or your weighted average cost basis for multiple entries.
- Enter the sell price — the price you received or are targeting.
- Enter the amount invested in USD, or the number of coins purchased.
- Enter your fees as a percentage. Include both buy-side and sell-side. Common rates: 0.1% maker, 0.25% taker, 0.5% retail.
- Read the net profit/loss, return % and break-even price.
- If planning a trade: check whether the break-even price is above a key resistance level. If so, that resistance needs to hold for any profit to be possible.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Forgetting fees in both directions. Most people remember the buy fee but forget the sell fee. Always include both to get an accurate net profit.
- Measuring against the wrong baseline. Comparing your return to another asset in hindsight is an opportunity cost question, not a P&L audit. The calculator measures against what you actually invested.
- Confusing return on investment with annualised return. A 30% gain over two years is approximately 14% per year compounded — not 30% per year. Always state the time horizon.
- Ignoring spread on illiquid markets. The calculator assumes you can buy and sell at the quoted price. On low-volume coins, the bid-ask spread adds effective cost that isn’t reflected in the fee rate alone.
- Using the wrong cost basis for averaged positions. If you bought at multiple prices, use the weighted average cost per unit, not your first or most recent buy price.
Tax and record-keeping note
In most jurisdictions, a realised gain on a cryptocurrency trade is a taxable event. The profit figure this calculator produces is typically what you would report as a capital gain (before applicable exemptions or deductions). Keep records of your actual buy price, sell price, dates and fees — the calculator is a planning tool, not a tax document. Consult a qualified tax professional for your specific situation and jurisdiction.
Limits to keep in mind
- The calculator treats fees as a simple percentage. Some exchanges charge flat fees, minimums or tiered structures that change the economics on very small or very large trades.
- It does not model leverage, funding rates or margin calls. For leveraged positions, P&L is amplified and so is liquidation risk.
- Slippage on large orders or illiquid pairs can cause actual execution prices to differ from your planned prices.
Common questions
How do I calculate profit across multiple buys at different prices? Calculate the weighted average: total USD spent ÷ total coins held. That is your cost basis per unit.
What is the difference between ROI and return %? In this calculator they are the same thing — net profit expressed as a percentage of invested capital. The term “ROI” sometimes refers to an annualised rate; this calculator shows a raw return over the trade’s lifetime, not per year.
Does the calculator account for taxes? No. Tax treatment of crypto gains varies by jurisdiction. Consult a tax professional.
Should I enter the fee as a percentage of the trade or of the profit? As a percentage of the trade value (what your exchange charges — typically 0.1–1% per side). The calculator applies the fee to the full buy and sell amounts, not to the profit alone.
Related reading
- Glossary: Profit and Loss, Cost Basis and ROI
- Related tools: ROI Calculator, Position Size Calculator and DCA Calculator
- Guides: How to Read a Crypto Market
For education only — not financial, investment or tax advice. Always verify your actual exchange fees before trading.