Stock profit calculator
Gain or loss on a stock trade after commissions, with the break-even price and short or long-term status.
- ๐บ๐ธ US federal & state rules
- IRS Topic 409 holding period
- See sources
Profit
$1,500.00
+30% on $5,000.00
- Cost basis
- $5,000.00
- Sale proceeds
- $6,500.00
- Break-even sell price
- $50.00
- Price change
- +30%
This is an example. Enter your numbers above and press the button to see your own result.
- Held more than one year: a long-term gain, taxed at the 0%, 15% or 20% capital gains rates depending on your taxable income.
- Before taxes. Watch the wash sale rule if you buy the same stock within 30 days before or after selling it at a loss.
Show the math
| Cost basis | $50.00 ร 100 + $0.00 = $5,000.00 |
|---|---|
| Proceeds | $65.00 ร 100 - $0.00 = $6,500.00 |
| Gain or loss | $6,500.00 - $5,000.00 = $1,500.00 |
What to do next
How it works
Your cost basis is what you paid for the shares plus the buy commission. Sale proceeds are what you received minus the sell commission. The difference is your gain or loss, and the percentage is that difference divided by the cost basis.
Things to keep in mind
The IRS counts a holding period of more than one year as long-term. The tax rate on a long-term gain depends on your taxable income and filing status, so this page leaves the tax out and links to the federal calculator.
If you sell at a loss and buy the same stock within 30 days before or after, the wash sale rule delays the loss deduction.
Sources
Rules applied as of 2026-10-19. See the sources below for details.
- IRS Topic 409, Capital gains and lossesChecked 2026-10-19
- IRS Publication 550, wash salesChecked 2026-10-19
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate stock profit?
Profit = (sell price ร shares - sell commission) - (buy price ร shares + buy commission). Buying 100 shares at $50 and selling at $65 makes $1,500, a 30% gain.
What is the difference between short-term and long-term capital gains?
Stock held more than one year gives a long-term gain, taxed at 0%, 15% or 20%. Held one year or less, it is short-term and taxed at your regular income tax rate.
What price do I need to sell at to break even?
Divide your cost basis plus the sell commission by the number of shares. With $5,005 in cost, a $5 sell fee and 100 shares, you break even at $50.10.
Can I deduct a stock loss?
Losses first offset gains. Up to $3,000 of net loss a year can reduce other income ($1,500 if married filing separately), and the rest carries forward to later years.