Use the calculator above to estimate your profit or loss before entering a trade. A positive result means profit; a negative number means loss.
How to Use This Calculator
- Select a currency pair — the pair you plan to trade
- Enter the entry price — the price at which you open the position
- Enter the exit price — your target price or stop-loss level
- Choose your position — long (buy) or short (sell)
- Enter the lot size — 1 standard lot = 100,000 units, 1 mini lot = 10,000 units, 1 micro lot = 1,000 units
- Calculate — see your estimated profit or loss in USD
The Forex Profit Formula
Profit/Loss = (Exit Price − Entry Price) × Position Size
For a long (buy) position, you profit when the exit price is higher than entry. For a short (sell) position, you profit when the exit price is lower.
Worked Examples
Long trade — profit: Buy EUR/USD at 1.1251, sell at 1.1261, position size 100,000 units:
(1.1261 − 1.1251) × 100,000 = $100 profit
Long trade — loss: Buy EUR/USD at 1.3646, price drops to 1.3616, position size 100,000 units:
(1.3616 − 1.3646) × 100,000 = −$300 loss
Understanding Pip Values
A pip is the smallest standard price movement in a currency pair — typically 0.0001 for most pairs (0.01 for JPY pairs).
| Lot Size | Units | Pip Value (EUR/USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 100,000 | $10 per pip |
| Mini | 10,000 | $1 per pip |
| Micro | 1,000 | $0.10 per pip |
For JPY pairs like USD/JPY, the pip value calculation differs because a pip equals 0.01 instead of 0.0001.
Unrealised vs Realised P&L
- Unrealised P&L — the profit or loss on an open position at the current market price. This changes in real time.
- Realised P&L — the final profit or loss after closing the position. This is what hits your account balance.
To estimate unrealised P&L on an open trade, use the current bid price (for long positions) or ask price (for short positions) as your exit price in the calculator.
Costs to Factor In
The calculator shows gross profit or loss. Your actual result will also depend on:
- Spread — the difference between bid and ask price, which is an immediate cost on entry
- Commission — some brokers charge a per-lot commission instead of (or in addition to) a wider spread
- Swap/rollover — overnight holding costs if you keep the position open past the daily rollover time. Use our Forex Swap Calculator to estimate these.
Related Tools
- Forex Margin Calculator — check whether your account has enough margin to open the trade
- Forex Leverage Calculator — understand how leverage affects your position
- Forex Compounding Calculator — project how reinvesting profits grows your account over time
- CFD Margin Calculator — calculate margin for stock and commodity CFD trades
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate forex profit manually?
Multiply the price difference between your entry and exit by the position size. For a buy trade: (Exit Price − Entry Price) × Lot Size = Profit or Loss. For a sell trade, reverse the prices: (Entry Price − Exit Price) × Lot Size.
What is a pip worth in dollars?
For most USD-quoted pairs (EUR/USD, GBP/USD), one pip on a standard lot (100,000 units) is worth $10. For a mini lot it is $1, and for a micro lot it is $0.10. JPY pairs and cross pairs have different pip values depending on the exchange rate.
Should I account for spread in my profit calculation?
Yes. The spread is the first cost you pay when opening a trade. If the spread is 1.2 pips on EUR/USD and you trade a standard lot, you start approximately $12 behind. Your trade needs to move at least 1.2 pips in your favour before you break even.
How do overnight swap fees affect profit?
If you hold a position overnight, your broker applies a swap charge or credit based on the interest rate differential between the two currencies. Over multiple days, swap fees can meaningfully reduce profits or increase losses. Use our Forex Swap Calculator to estimate the daily cost.