| Updated: Pips: 0
Profit / Loss: 0
The Profit calculator converts a price move into pips and estimates profit or loss for your lot size. It is useful for both planning (testing take-profit/stop-loss levels) and reviewing closed trades with consistent, comparable numbers. If your account currency differs from the pair’s quote currency, you can also estimate the converted result using an exchange rate.
What This Calculator is Used for
Use this tool anytime you want a fast, practical estimate of trade outcome without manually calculating pip distance and P/L. It is especially helpful when you are comparing different position sizes or validating whether a potential setup fits your risk limits. The output is meant to be a planning and review aid, not a replacement for broker-side statements.
- Pre-trade “what-if” checks: see how different open/close prices change your result.
- Position sizing comparison: compare 0.10 vs 1.00 lots to understand how exposure scales.
- Trade journaling: convert a move into pips and P/L for consistent record keeping.
- Currency conversion: estimate results in your account currency using an exchange rate.
How to Use It
Filling in the fields takes less than a minute, and you can use either real fill prices (for a closed trade) or hypothetical levels (for planning). The direction you choose (buy vs sell) matters because the “profitable” price movement is opposite for shorts. If you are unsure about the conversion rate, you can still calculate pips first and convert later.
- Select the Symbol you traded (or plan to trade).
- Choose Buy for long trades or Sell for short trades.
- Enter your Lot Size.
- Enter the Open Price and Close Price.
- Select your Account Currency and set the Exchange Rate to Account Currency if needed.
- Click Calculate to view pips and profit/loss. Use Reset to clear inputs.
Fields Explained
Each field maps directly to a standard trade parameter so the calculator stays easy to audit. If you want your estimate to mirror broker results more closely, use your actual executed prices and a realistic conversion rate. Small differences in the exchange rate can slightly change the final P/L when converting.
| Field | What it means | Practical guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Symbol | The instrument/pair you are trading (example: EURUSD, XAUUSD). | Make sure the symbol matches your broker’s contract (forex vs metals can differ in tick sizing). |
| Buy / Sell | Buy means profit increases when price rises. Sell means profit increases when price falls. | If your pips show as negative when you expected profit, double-check the direction. |
| Lot Size | Your trade size in lots. Standard forex convention is 1.00 lot ≈ 100,000 base units. | Use decimals (0.10, 0.25) to model smaller positions. Bigger lot size scales P/L linearly. |
| Open Price | The price where your position is opened (entry). | Use your filled entry price if reviewing a trade. For planning, use a realistic expected entry. |
| Close Price | The price where your position is closed (exit). | For planning, you can use either a take-profit level or a stop-loss level as the close price. |
| Account Currency | The currency your trading account is denominated in (USD, EUR, GBP, etc.). | This determines the currency label shown next to the final profit/loss number. |
| Exchange Rate to Account Currency | A conversion factor used to translate results into your account currency. | Use it when the quote currency of the pair is different from your account currency (example: trading EURJPY with a USD account). |
Results Explained
The results summarize both the movement (pips) and what that movement is worth for your position size. A positive number indicates an outcome in your favor for the selected direction, while a negative number indicates the opposite. If you are converting into your account currency, the profit/loss value reflects that conversion rate.
| Result | Meaning | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Pips | The distance between open and close expressed in pips, adjusted for buy or sell. | Positive pips suggest the move went in your favor; negative pips suggest it went against you. |
| Profit / Loss | The estimated P/L for the position size, optionally converted into your account currency. | Use it to compare scenarios. Real broker results can vary slightly due to spreads, commissions, swaps, and execution. |
Pros and Cons
This calculator is intentionally straightforward, which makes it easy to understand and use for quick scenario checks. At the same time, simplicity means it does not automatically account for every broker-specific cost. Treat it as a decision-support tool rather than a final accounting statement.
Pros
- Fast estimate of pips and P/L for a chosen lot size.
- Works for both planning and post-trade review.
- Supports account-currency conversion via exchange rate.
- Simple outputs that are easy to journal and compare.
Cons
- Does not automatically include spreads, commissions, or swaps.
- Conversion depends on the exchange rate you enter.
- Different instruments can have different contract specs at brokers.
Reliability and Limitations
The pip count is reliable as long as the pip size for the instrument matches the pricing you are using and your open/close prices are correct. Profit/loss is a solid estimate for standard contract assumptions, but broker-specific factors can shift the final number. For the closest match to real results, use your executed prices, enter a realistic exchange rate, and remember that spreads, commissions, and overnight financing can affect the broker’s final P/L.
- Most reliable for: quick scenario planning, journaling, and comparing lot sizes.
- Less reliable for: exact accounting when trading costs (spread/commission/swaps) are significant.
- Tip: if you trade frequently, record your broker’s typical spread and commission separately and account for them in your plan.