Forex Profit/Loss Calculator
Calculate the profit or loss on a forex trade from your entry and exit price, lot size, and direction.
1.00 = standard lot (100,000 units). 0.10 = mini lot. 0.01 = micro lot.
Use the current or expected exit price.
How this calculator works
A forex trade's profit or loss is the difference between your entry and exit price, multiplied by how large a position you took, adjusted for whether you were buying or selling. This calculator uses the same underlying formula that trading platforms like MetaTrader use internally:
Profit = (Close price − Open price) × Contract size × Lots × Direction
Where contract size is 100,000 units for a standard lot, and direction is +1 for a Buy position and −1 for a Sell position. The result is expressed in the quote currency of the pair — the second currency listed, so USD for EUR/USD or JPY for USD/JPY.
A worked example
Buy 1.00 lot of EUR/USD at 1.08450, and the price rises to 1.08650. That's a 20 pip move in your favour. At $10 per pip for a standard lot on a USD-quoted pair, the trade nets $200. Flip the same trade to a Sell instead and that identical 20 pip rise becomes a $200 loss, since you'd be short a pair that moved against you.
Lot size scales the result directly. The same 20 pip move on a 0.10 lot (mini lot) nets $20 instead of $200 — a tenth of the position, a tenth of the outcome, in either direction.
Why profit shows in the pair's own currency
Converting the result into your account's funding currency would require a live exchange rate, which a static calculator can't reliably provide without going stale. Showing the honest, unconverted figure in the pair's quote currency is more accurate than guessing at a conversion rate that may already be wrong by the time you read it. If your account is funded in a different currency, apply the current exchange rate yourself, or check your broker's platform for the converted figure.
What this calculator does not include
- Spread. The gap between the bid and ask price is a cost paid on every trade, effectively before your position is even in profit.
- Commission. Some brokers charge a fixed fee per lot traded in addition to, or instead of, a wider spread.
- Swap or rollover charges. Positions held overnight typically accrue a daily swap fee or credit, which varies by broker, pair, and direction, and compounds over multi-day holds.
- Slippage. Your actual fill price during fast-moving markets can differ from the price you intended to trade at.
Treat the figure here as the theoretical result of a perfectly filled trade. Your broker's own calculator or trade confirmation will reflect these additional costs.
Using this to plan risk before you trade
The more useful habit is running this calculator before placing a trade, not after. Enter your intended open price, then try a handful of realistic close prices — one where you'd take profit, one where you'd cut a loss. Seeing both outcomes in real numbers, not just pips, makes it far easier to size a position you can actually afford to be wrong on.
Frequently asked questions
What is a pip and how is pip value calculated?
A pip is the smallest standard price move in a currency pair — 0.0001 for most pairs, 0.01 for pairs quoted in Japanese yen. Pip value is the pip size multiplied by your position size in units, which is why the same pip movement is worth more on a larger lot size.
Why is my profit shown in a different currency than my trading account?
Forex profit is calculated in the quote currency of the pair you traded — the second currency in the pair, such as USD in EUR/USD or JPY in USD/JPY. If your account is funded in a different currency, your broker converts the result at the current exchange rate, which this calculator does not have access to.
Does this calculator include spread, commission, or swap fees?
No. It calculates the raw price-based profit or loss only. Spread cost, commission, and overnight swap or rollover charges are broker-specific and will reduce your actual return below the figure shown here.
What is a standard lot versus a mini or micro lot?
A standard lot is 100,000 units of the base currency. A mini lot is 10,000 units (0.1 in this calculator) and a micro lot is 1,000 units (0.01). Smaller lot sizes reduce both risk and pip value proportionally.
Is forex trading legal where I live?
It depends on your country. Retail forex and CFD trading is permitted with regulated brokers in many jurisdictions including the UK, EU, and Australia, but is restricted or prohibited with overseas brokers in some countries, including for residents of India under FEMA rules. Check your local financial regulator before trading.
What's the difference between Buy and Sell profit calculation?
On a Buy (long) position, you profit when the close price is higher than the open price. On a Sell (short) position, you profit when the close price is lower than the open price. The calculator flips the sign of the calculation automatically based on which you select.