How to calculate your true break-even price
Your break-even price is the level your trade has to reach for net P&L to be exactly zero after every cost. Because commissions and exchange fees come straight out of your pocket, the price must move in your favor just to get you back to flat. For a long position the formula is:
Break-even = entry price + fees / (quantity × multiplier)
For a short position the sign flips — you need the price to fall — so it becomes entry − fees / (quantity × multiplier). The fee term is exactly how far the price has to travel per unit just to cover your round-trip cost.
Worked example
You buy 100 shares at $100 and pay $20 in
total round-trip commissions.
Fee impact per share = $20 / 100 = +$0.20.
True break-even = $100 + $0.20 = $100.20.
At exactly $100.20 your net P&L is zero — anything below that is still a loss.
Why your break-even is not your entry price
Most calculators ignore fees and wrongly tell you break-even equals your entry price. The moment you pay any commission that answer is false: you are already behind, and the price has to climb (or fall, on a short) just to claw the fees back. This calculator bakes your round-trip fees into the number, so the price you see is the real price you must hit to stop losing money — the figure that actually matters for setting stops and targets.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the true break-even price?
- It is the price your trade has to reach for net P&L to be exactly zero after all costs. Because round-trip commissions and fees come out of your pocket, the real break-even is slightly above your entry on a long (and below it on a short) — not the entry price itself.
- How do you calculate break-even with fees?
- Spread your total round-trip fees across the position. For a long: break-even = entry price + fees / (quantity × multiplier). For a short the sign flips: break-even = entry price − fees / (quantity × multiplier). The fee impact per unit is exactly how far the price must move just to cover costs.
- Why is break-even not just my entry price?
- Most quick calculators report break-even = entry, which is wrong the moment you pay any commission. Fees are a real cost, so the price has to move in your favor just to get back to flat. This calculator builds those fees into the number so you know the price you actually need.
- Can I use it for crypto and futures?
- Yes. Crypto supports fractional quantities and small decimal prices. For futures, set the contract multiplier (for example 50 for the E-mini S&P 500) so the per-unit fee impact and break-even price are correct. Forex is coming soon.