Profit/Loss Calculator
Calculate your trade P&L in dollars and percentage. Works for long and short positions across stocks, forex, futures, and crypto.
Want to track P&L across all your trades automatically?
Try TradeZella →How to Calculate Trading P&L
Profit and loss calculation is straightforward, but the formula changes depending on whether you are long (buying) or short (selling).
Long P&L = (Exit Price − Entry Price) × Shares − Commission
Short P&L = (Entry Price − Exit Price) × Shares − Commission
The percentage return is your dollar P&L divided by the total cost of entering the position.
Long example:
Buy 100 shares at $150.00, sell at $162.00
P&L = ($162 - $150) × 100 = +$1,200 (+8.0%)
Short example:
Short 100 shares at $150.00, cover at $140.00
P&L = ($150 - $140) × 100 = +$1,000 (+6.7%)
Why Tracking Every Trade Matters
Knowing your P&L on individual trades is just the starting point. The real value comes from analyzing patterns across hundreds of trades: which setups produce the best results, which times of day you perform best, and how your position sizing affects your equity curve.
- Identify your edge: Some setups may look good but consistently underperform. P&L data reveals the truth.
- Catch bad habits: Overtrading, revenge trading, and poor risk management show up clearly in your numbers.
- Measure improvement: Without tracking, you are guessing whether you are getting better or worse over time.
More Free Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you calculate profit and loss on a trade?
For a long trade: P&L = (Exit Price - Entry Price) x Number of Shares. For a short trade: P&L = (Entry Price - Exit Price) x Number of Shares. The percentage return is the dollar P&L divided by the total cost of the position.
How do you calculate P&L for a short position?
For a short position, profit comes when the price drops: P&L = (Entry Price - Exit Price) x Shares. If you short 100 shares at $50 and cover at $45, your profit is ($50 - $45) x 100 = $500.
Should I include commissions in my P&L calculation?
Yes, for accurate performance tracking. Most modern brokers offer commission-free stock trading, but options, futures, and forex often still have fees. Trading journal software typically includes commissions automatically when importing trades from your broker.
What is a good P&L percentage per trade?
There is no universal target. It depends on your strategy and timeframe. Day traders might target 0.5% to 2% per trade, while swing traders might aim for 5% to 15%. What matters more is your average P&L relative to your average loss (your risk/reward ratio) over many trades.