What this calculator does
This stock profit calculator shows you what you actually walk away with after a trade. You plug in how many shares you bought, what you paid for them, and what you sold for. It does the math in a second and hands you both your profit in dollars and your return as a percentage, so you never have to guess whether a trade really paid off.
Enter your number of shares
Type in how many shares you bought. Use the same number you plan to sell.
Add your buy price
Put in the price you paid per share. The tool multiplies it by your shares to find your starting cost.
Add your sell price
Enter the price you sold each share for, or a price you're thinking about selling at to test the outcome.
Include any fees or commissions
If your broker charged you to buy or sell, add those amounts. Lots of US brokers run $0 commissions on stocks now, but some accounts still cost you, so check first.
Read your result
The calculator gives you your net profit in dollars and your return as a percentage, right below your inputs.
How the math works
The formula is simple. Take what you sold for, subtract what you paid, then subtract any fees. What's left is your profit.
Here's a real example. Say you buy 50 shares at $120.00 each. Your starting cost is $6,000.00, and your broker charges a $5.00 buy fee, so you're in for $6,005.00.
A few months later you sell all 50 shares at $155.50 each. That's $7,775.00 in proceeds. Take off a $5.00 sell fee and you net $7,770.00.
Your profit is $7,770.00 minus $6,005.00, which comes to $1,765.00. Divide that by your $6,005.00 cost and your return works out to 29.4%.
Costs and taxes to keep in mind
The calculator gives you your gross profit, but a few things take a bite before the money is truly yours.
Commissions and fees. Even small per-trade charges add up if you trade often. Many US brokers run $0 commissions on stocks, though options, foreign shares, or older accounts may still cost you.
Taxes. When you sell for a gain, you usually owe capital gains tax. The IRS treats stock you held a year or less differently from stock you held longer, and your rate depends on your income. This tool doesn't figure tax, so set some aside and check with the IRS or a tax pro.
Dividends. If the stock paid you dividends while you held it, your real return is a bit higher than what this calculator shows.
The price you actually get. On fast-moving or thinly traded stocks, your real fill can land a few cents off the price you saw. Enter your actual buy and sell prices for the most honest result.
Tips to get the most from it
Run the numbers before you sell, not after. Seeing the net profit in black and white can stop you from selling on emotion.
Test a few sell prices to find the point where the trade is worth it once fees come out.
Always include fees if your broker charges them. A trade that looks green can turn red after costs.
Compare your percent return, not just the dollar amount. A $500 gain on $2,000 beats a $500 gain on $20,000.
Keep a record of your buy price and the date you bought. You'll need both at tax time.
Stock profit calculator FAQ
How do I calculate profit on a stock?
Multiply your shares by your sell price to get your proceeds, then subtract what you paid and any fees. The amount left over is your profit. This stock profit calculator does all of that for you the moment you enter your numbers.
Does this calculator include fees and commissions?
Yes, as long as you enter them. Add your buy fee and sell fee in the right fields and the tool takes them off your profit. If your broker charges $0, just leave those fields empty.
Does the stock gain calculator account for taxes?
No, it shows your profit before taxes. When you sell for a gain you usually owe capital gains tax, and the rate depends on how long you held the shares and your income. Check with the IRS or a tax professional to estimate what you'll owe.
How is my percentage return figured out?
The calculator divides your profit by your total cost, then turns it into a percentage. So a $1,765.00 profit on a $6,005.00 cost gives you a 29.4% return. The percentage helps you compare trades of different sizes fairly.
Can I use it before I actually sell?
Definitely. Enter a sell price you're considering and the tool shows what you'd make at that level. It's a quick way to test whether holding for a higher price is worth the wait.
What if I bought my shares at different prices?
Use your average price per share as the buy price. Add up everything you spent on the shares, then divide by the total number of shares you own. That average gives you an accurate starting cost for the calculation.
Invest