Stock Profit/Loss Calculator

Worked Examples

How to Use This Calculator

1. Enter your buy price — the price per share at which you purchased the stock (your fill price, not the ask).
2. Enter your sell price — the price per share at which you sold or plan to sell the position.
3. Enter number of shares — the total shares in your position.
4. Add commission (optional) — the fee your broker charges per trade. It is applied twice (once at entry, once at exit). Leave at $0 for commission-free brokers.
5. Click Calculate — review your net P/L, return percentage, commission impact, and the exact breakeven price you needed to cover all costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between gross P/L and net P/L?

Gross P/L is your profit or loss before any transaction costs. Net P/L deducts commissions (applied at both buy and sell). Net P/L is your real economic result — always use this figure when evaluating trade performance.

Why does the breakeven price account for commissions?

Because selling at your buy price does not actually break even if you paid commissions to enter and exit. The breakeven price is the minimum sell price needed to recover the full cost of the position including all fees. On small positions, this can be meaningfully above your entry price.

How is the return percentage calculated?

Return % = Net P/L ÷ Cost Basis × 100. Cost basis is your buy price multiplied by shares — the total capital deployed. This gives you the actual percentage return on the money at risk, which is the standard way to compare trade performance across different position sizes.

Does this work for ETFs and other equities?

Yes. Enter any buy price, sell price, and share count — the calculator works identically for individual stocks, ETFs, REITs, and other exchange-traded securities. For options, multiply the option price by 100 (contract multiplier) before entering as your effective price, or enter the total contract cost directly.

How do I use this calculator to plan a trade before entering?

Enter your intended buy price and target sell price before placing the trade. This shows you the potential profit, expected return percentage, and true breakeven price including commissions. Pair this with the Risk/Reward Calculator to also evaluate whether the setup has a positive edge relative to your stop loss level.