Stock Profit Calculator
This stock profit calculator finds the net profit or loss on a share trade after buy and sell commissions, plus your return on cost, in any currency.
What it does
The Stock Profit Calculator works out the net gain or loss on a share trade after buy and sell commissions, and the percentage return on the money you committed. It turns an entry price, an exit price, a share count and two fees into a clear profit figure.
Data sources & parameters
This calculator uses standard financial formulas and runs entirely in your browser. It needs no external rate data — your result is computed only from the values you enter above.
We always strive to use the latest data for every variable so our results and reports are as accurate as possible. Even so, errors are possible — you should not rely on this tool or its report alone, and we accept no liability for any decision made based on it.
The formula
net_profit = (sell_price × shares − sell_fee) − (buy_price × shares + buy_fee); return_pct = net_profit ÷ total_cost × 100
How it works
It multiplies your buy price by the number of shares and adds the buy commission to find total cost, then multiplies the sell price by the shares and subtracts the sell commission to find proceeds. Net profit is proceeds minus cost, and the return is that profit divided by cost.
Where it is used
- Checking the real result of a trade after commissions
- Deciding whether a target sell price clears your costs
- Comparing the percentage return of different positions
Worked example
You buy 100 shares at $50.00 and sell them at $65.00, paying $10.00 to buy and $10.00 to sell. Total cost is …, your net profit is …, and that is a … return on cost.
What the stock profit calculator does
The stock profit calculator shows how much you made or lost on a share trade after commissions, and what that is as a percentage of the money you put in. You enter five figures and see your net profit, total cost, and return on cost.
A share can rise nicely and still leave you barely ahead once two commissions are paid, and the calculator shows that before you close or place a trade.
How the calculation works
Your total cost is the buy price multiplied by the number of shares, plus the commission you paid to buy. Your proceeds are the sell price multiplied by the number of shares, minus the commission you paid to sell. Net profit is proceeds minus cost.
Return on cost divides net profit by total cost and expresses it as a percentage, so it reflects how much capital you tied up as well as the raw gain.
The buy commission increases what the position cost you and the sell commission reduces what you receive. Bundling them into one number, or ignoring one of them, is a common way traders overstate their results.
Why fees matter
Commissions bite hardest on small trades and frequent trading. A flat fee of ten on a trade of five hundred is a two percent drag before the price has moved at all; the same fee on a trade of fifty thousand barely registers. You pay it whether the trade wins or loses.
Every round trip, one buy and one sell, carries two commissions, and across a year of active trading they add up. A strategy that looks profitable on paper can turn out flat once fees are counted.
How to use the calculator
- Enter the price you paid per share.
- Enter the price you sold, or plan to sell, per share.
- Enter the number of shares.
- Enter the commission you paid to buy.
- Enter the commission you paid to sell.
The tool shows your net profit, total cost, and return on cost. The donut chart splits your proceeds into the money you committed and the profit earned on top.
Reading the result
Return on cost puts the result in proportion: a large profit on a large position may be weaker than a modest profit on a small one. Comparing percentages shows which trades made the most of the money involved.
If the price rose but the profit is still small or negative, fees are the reason, which suggests trading larger sizes less often or using a cheaper broker.
Planning a trade
Enter your intended buy price, a target sell price, and your broker's fees to see what the trade needs to deliver to be worthwhile. If a target only clears your costs by a slim margin, the trade has little room for error.
Moving the exit up or down by a small amount can swing a marginal trade from loss to gain, which helps you decide where to set orders.
Profit in money and in percent
Net profit is how much cash the trade added to your account, which matters when funding a goal. Return on cost is how efficiently your capital worked, which matters when deciding where to put the next sum. A trade can be strong on one and weak on the other, so read them together.
The figure is your gross trading result, before tax. Capital gains rules vary widely, and how long you held the shares can change what you owe, so your after-tax outcome depends on where you live and your circumstances.
This article is general information only and is not financial advice.
About This Stock Profit Calculator
Use this stock profit calculator to get an instant estimate based on the figures you enter. Adjust the inputs above to match your situation, or browse all our calculators to plan your next step.
Frequently asked questions
How does the stock profit calculator work?
Does the calculator include trading fees?
What is return on cost?
Does it account for capital gains tax?
Can I use it for any currency?
Is my data kept private?
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