Stock Profit/Loss Calculator
Calculate your profit or loss on any stock trade. Enter your buy price, sell price, number of shares, and optional commissions to see your total return, percentage gain or loss, and net proceeds. Understand exactly how much you made or lost on a trade.
Educational purposes only.
This calculator is for educational purposes only. It does not account for taxes, dividends, or stock splits. Actual trading results may differ.
Educational purposes only. These calculators illustrate concepts and do not constitute investment advice. Read our disclaimer
StockCram is not a broker-dealer, investment adviser, or financial institution. All content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice. Consult a qualified financial professional before making investment decisions. Past performance does not guarantee future results.How It Works
Enter your buy price
The price per share when you purchased the stock.
Enter your sell price
The price per share when you sold (or plan to sell) the stock.
Enter the number of shares
How many shares were involved in the trade.
Add commissions (optional)
Include any buy or sell commissions to see net proceeds.
See your profit or loss
View total P/L, percentage return, and full cost breakdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
Stock profit or loss is calculated by subtracting your total cost (buy price × shares + buy commission) from your total proceeds (sell price × shares - sell commission). If the result is positive, you made a profit. If negative, you incurred a loss. The percentage return is your profit or loss divided by your total cost, multiplied by 100.
Gross proceeds are the total amount you receive from selling shares (sell price × shares) before any deductions. Net proceeds subtract commissions and fees from the gross proceeds. Your actual profit or loss is based on net proceeds minus your total cost, so commissions reduce your real return.
Many major brokers now offer commission-free trading for stocks and ETFs, making commissions less of a factor for typical trades. However, commissions still apply for options, bonds, and certain brokers. For frequent traders or large positions, even small per-trade fees can add up significantly over time.
Returns vary widely depending on the holding period, risk level, and market conditions. The S&P 500 has historically returned roughly 10% per year on average. Individual stock trades can produce much higher or lower returns. Short-term trades carry more risk and variability than long-term investments.
Your cost basis is typically the purchase price per share plus any commissions or fees paid to acquire the stock. If you bought shares at different times, you may use specific identification, FIFO (first in, first out), or average cost methods. Cost basis determines your taxable capital gain or loss when you sell.
Realized gains or losses occur when you actually sell a stock — the profit or loss becomes "real" and may be subject to taxes. Unrealized gains or losses are paper gains — the value of your holdings has changed but you have not yet sold, so no taxable event has occurred.
This calculator shows your gross profit or loss and factors in trading commissions, but does not calculate taxes. Capital gains taxes depend on your holding period (short-term vs long-term), tax bracket, and filing status. Use our Capital Gains Tax Calculator for tax estimation.