Calculate your stock trading profit or loss instantly. Enter your buy price, sell price, number of shares, and any commissions to see your net profit, return on investment (ROI), break-even price, and total return percentage. Whether you're a day trader, long-term investor, or just tracking a single stock trade, this free stock profit calculator gives you a complete picture of your investment performance.
Buy Price: $100.00 per share
Sell Price: $150.00 per share
Shares: 50
Commissions: $5 buy + $5 sell = $10 total
Cost Basis: (100 × 50) + 5 = $5,005.00
Proceeds: (150 × 50) − 5 = $7,495.00
Profit: $7,495 − $5,005 = $2,490.00
ROI: ($2,490 ÷ $5,005) × 100 = 49.75%
✅ Excellent return with nearly 50% ROI on this trade.
Buy Price: $50.00 per share
Sell Price: $52.00 per share
Shares: 200
Commissions: $10 buy + $10 sell = $20 total
Cost Basis: (50 × 200) + 10 = $10,010.00
Proceeds: (52 × 200) − 10 = $10,390.00
Profit: $10,390 − $10,010 = $380.00
ROI: ($380 ÷ $10,010) × 100 = 3.80%
💡 Small but positive return. After accounting for commissions, the net gain is modest.
Buy Price: $200.00 per share
Sell Price: $180.00 per share
Shares: 100
Commissions: $8 buy + $8 sell = $16 total
Cost Basis: (200 × 100) + 8 = $20,008.00
Proceeds: (180 × 100) − 8 = $17,992.00
Loss: $17,992 − $20,008 = −$2,016.00
ROI: (−$2,016 ÷ $20,008) × 100 = −10.08%
⚠️ A loss of $2,016 or 10.08%. The stock dropped 10% and commissions added to the loss.
Buy Price: $10.00 per share
Sell Price: $10.50 per share
Shares: 1,000
Commissions: $0 (zero-commission broker)
Cost Basis: (10 × 1000) + 0 = $10,000.00
Proceeds: (10.50 × 1000) − 0 = $10,500.00
Profit: $10,500 − $10,000 = $500.00
ROI: ($500 ÷ $10,000) × 100 = 5.00%
✅ A 5% return on a $10,000 position yields $500 profit with zero commissions thanks to commission-free trading.
This is your total investment — the amount you paid to acquire the shares, including the commission charged when you bought them.
This is the total amount you receive from selling your shares, minus the commission charged at the time of sale.
A positive value means you made a profit; a negative value means you incurred a loss on the trade.
ROI expresses your profit as a percentage of your total investment, accounting for all costs including commissions. This gives you the true percentage return on the capital you deployed.
This is the raw price return of the stock itself, without accounting for the number of shares or commissions. It tells you how much the stock price moved in percentage terms.
The break-even price is the stock price at which you would neither make a profit nor incur a loss, accounting for all commissions on both sides of the trade.
Stock profit — also called capital gain — is the difference between the price at which you sell a stock and the price at which you bought it, minus any transaction costs like commissions. When the sell price exceeds the buy price after all costs, you've made a profit. When it's lower, you've incurred a loss.
Calculating stock profit accurately is essential for several reasons. First, it tells you whether your trading strategy is actually working — a stock can go up in price but still result in a net loss if commissions eat into your gains. Second, understanding your profit helps with tax reporting, since capital gains and losses must be reported to tax authorities. Third, tracking profit per trade helps you evaluate which strategies and stocks are most effective for your portfolio.
For example, if you buy 100 shares of a stock at $50 each with a $5 commission, your cost basis is $5,005. If you later sell at $60 with another $5 commission, your proceeds are $5,995. Your net profit is $990, and your ROI is 19.78% — a strong return. But if you had bought at $50 and sold at $51 with the same commissions, your profit would be just $90 (a 1.80% ROI), showing how commissions can significantly impact small gains.
The holding period of your stock investment has significant implications for both your tax liability and your investment strategy. In most countries, including the United States, the tax treatment of stock profits depends on whether the trade qualifies as a short-term or long-term capital gain.
If you hold a stock for one year or less before selling, any profit is classified as a short-term capital gain. Short-term gains are taxed at your ordinary income tax rate, which can be as high as 37% for top earners in the US. This makes short-term trading significantly less tax-efficient for investors in higher tax brackets. Day traders and active swing traders primarily generate short-term gains and must factor this tax burden into their profit calculations.
If you hold a stock for more than one year before selling, the profit qualifies as a long-term capital gain. Long-term gains benefit from preferential tax rates — typically 0%, 15%, or 20% in the US depending on your income level. This tax advantage is one of the primary arguments for a buy-and-hold investment strategy. Over time, the compounding effect of lower taxes can significantly boost your after-tax returns.
Losses on stock trades aren't entirely wasted. Through a strategy called tax-loss harvesting, you can use capital losses to offset capital gains, reducing your overall tax bill. If your losses exceed your gains, you can deduct up to $3,000 ($1,500 if married filing separately) of net capital losses against ordinary income each year, with unused losses carrying forward to future years. This makes accurate profit and loss tracking essential for tax-efficient investing.
Use our stock profit calculator to track both winning and losing trades throughout the year. At tax time, you'll have a clear record of all your gains and losses, making it easier to implement tax-loss harvesting strategies and accurately report your trading activity.
Understanding the tax implications of stock trading is crucial for accurate profit calculation and financial planning. The tax treatment of your stock profits depends on several factors, including your holding period, the type of account you use, and your overall income level.
One of the most important distinctions in stock investing is between tax-advantaged accounts (like IRAs, 401(k)s, and Roth accounts) and regular taxable brokerage accounts. In tax-advantaged retirement accounts, you generally don't pay taxes on trading profits within the account — taxes are deferred until withdrawal (traditional) or tax-free (Roth). In taxable accounts, however, every profitable trade triggers a taxable event. This means that active trading in a taxable account can create a significant annual tax liability that must be factored into your true net return.
The wash sale rule is an IRS regulation that prevents investors from claiming a tax loss on a security if they repurchase the same or a substantially identical security within 30 days before or after the sale. If you sell a stock at a loss and buy it back within the 61-day wash sale window (30 days before + day of sale + 30 days after), the loss is disallowed for tax purposes and must be added to the cost basis of the new position. This rule primarily affects active traders who might otherwise harvest losses while maintaining their market position.
Accurate record keeping is essential for stock investors. For each trade, you should record: the date of purchase and sale, number of shares, buy and sell prices per share, total commissions and fees, and the resulting profit or loss. Our stock profit calculator helps you track these key metrics for every trade. At year-end, your broker will provide a Form 1099-B summarizing your realized gains and losses, but having your own records helps ensure accuracy and catch any discrepancies. Remember that certain corporate actions — stock splits, dividends, mergers, and spin-offs — can affect your cost basis and require adjustments to your profit calculations.
⚠️ Important Disclaimer: This Stock Profit Calculator is for educational and informational purposes only. It provides estimates based on the values you enter and is not a substitute for professional financial advice. Stock market investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Commission rates, tax rates, and currency exchange rates vary and should be verified with your broker and tax professional. This calculator does not account for dividends, stock splits, margin interest, short selling, options, or other complex investment scenarios. Always consult with a qualified financial advisor, tax professional, or investment professional for advice specific to your financial situation.