Stock Profit Calculator
Calculate profit or loss on stock trades.
Input
Result
What is a Stock Profit Calculator?
A Stock Profit Calculator helps you determine the profit or loss from any stock trade. By entering your buy price, sell price, number of shares, and any fees, you get an immediate breakdown of your net gain or loss and percentage return.
How to calculate stock profit manually (the formula)
Total Cost = (Buy Price × Shares) + Buy Fees
Total Proceeds = (Sell Price × Shares) − Sell Fees
Net Profit/Loss = Total Proceeds − Total Cost
Percentage Return = (Net Profit ÷ Total Cost) × 100
Example calculation
Bought 50 shares at $30 each, sold at $45 each, $5 commission per trade:
Total cost = (50 × $30) + $5 = $1,505
Total proceeds = (50 × $45) − $5 = $2,245
Net profit = $2,245 − $1,505 = $740
Return = ($740 ÷ $1,505) × 100 = 49.17%
Common mistakes
- Forgetting to include commissions and fees — Even with commission-free brokers, there may be SEC fees, exchange fees, or other transaction costs that reduce your net profit.
- Ignoring dividends received — If you held the stock and received dividends, those are part of your total return and should be added to your proceeds.
- Calculating return as a percentage of sale price instead of cost — Percentage return is based on what you invested (cost), not what you sold for.
- Not accounting for wash sales — A wash sale occurs when you sell a stock at a loss and buy it back within 30 days. The loss may be disallowed for tax purposes, affecting your net tax liability.
Frequently asked questions
What is a stock profit calculator?
A stock profit calculator computes your profit or loss from stock trades by comparing your buy price, sell price, number of shares, and transaction fees.
How is stock profit calculated?
Profit = (Sell Price × Shares) − (Buy Price × Shares) − Total Fees. A positive result is profit and a negative result is a loss.
What fees should I include?
Include broker commissions, exchange fees, SEC fees, and any other transaction costs. Many brokers now offer commission-free trading, but fees may still apply for certain types of trades.
How do I calculate percentage return?
Percentage Return = (Net Profit ÷ Total Cost) × 100. Total cost includes the purchase price plus all buying fees. This shows how much you gained relative to what you invested.
What is the difference between realized and unrealized gains?
Realized gains occur when you actually sell the stock and lock in the profit or loss. Unrealized gains are paper profits on stocks you still own but have not sold yet.
How do stock splits affect profit calculation?
Stock splits adjust the number of shares and price per share but do not change the total value of your position. When calculating profit, use the adjusted cost basis per share after the split.