How Crypto P&L Is Actually Calculated
Most traders underestimate how much exchange fees eat into their profits, because fees apply twice — once when you buy and once when you sell. This calculator accounts for both legs of the trade. The math: your investment buys a certain number of coins at the buy price (minus the buy-side fee), then those coins are sold at the sell price (minus the sell-side fee), and the difference between what you put in and what you took out is your real net profit or loss.
Why Fees Matter More Than Traders Realize
On a $1,000 trade with a 0.1% fee on each side, fees alone cost roughly $2–3 — seemingly small. But for active traders making dozens of trades per month, or those using exchanges with 0.5%+ fees, cumulative fees can quietly consume a large share of total profits. Always check both your exchange's maker and taker fee before trading, and factor it into your break-even price.
Break-Even Price Concept
Because of fees, your break-even sell price is always slightly higher than your buy price — not equal to it. For example, with a 0.1% fee on both sides, you'd need the price to rise by roughly 0.2% just to break even, before any actual profit. This calculator's results account for that automatically.
Important Disclaimer
This tool is for calculation purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency markets are highly volatile and trading carries substantial risk of loss. Always do your own research and never invest more than you can afford to lose.