Buying and selling are separate charges, often at different rates
A round trip costs you on entry and again on exit. Many exchanges also price the two differently — a maker order that adds liquidity typically costs less than a taker order that removes it, so the same trade can carry two different rates depending on how each leg was filled.
Profit = (sell price x quantity x (1 - sell fee)) - (buy price x quantity x (1 + buy fee))
That is why the buy and sell fees are separate inputs. Applying one rate to both understates the cost of a round trip made with two taker orders, which is how most market orders actually execute.
The price has to rise before you are level, not just to get back
With a 0.5% fee on each side, selling at exactly your purchase price loses about 1% of the position. Break-even is the entry price divided by (1 − sell fee) and multiplied by (1 + buy fee), which sits meaningfully above the number most people watch.
On a small move that gap is the whole trade. For anyone trading frequently rather than holding, the cumulative fee drag is usually a larger force on the result than any single price call.
Which matters for tax as well as for the return
In most systems, acquisition fees add to the cost basis and disposal fees reduce the proceeds, so both reduce the taxable gain. Recording only the coin prices and ignoring the fees means reporting a larger gain than you actually made.
The cost basis calculator handles that side properly if you need the figure for a return. This tool is the trading view of the same arithmetic — what the round trip actually earned.
Spread, slippage, network fees and the tax on the gain
The percentage fee is only part of the cost. The bid-ask spread is paid whether or not it is itemised, large market orders move the price against themselves, and moving coins on-chain costs a network fee that has nothing to do with the exchange.
The profit shown is also pre-tax. Crypto disposals are taxable in most jurisdictions, sometimes at a flat rate with no loss offset, so the figure here is the gross result of the trade rather than what you keep.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate crypto profit?
Take your sell price times quantity and subtract the sell fee to get proceeds, then take your buy price times quantity plus the buy fee to get cost. Profit is proceeds minus cost. This calculator does that automatically once you enter the numbers.
Does this calculator predict future crypto prices?
No. It only computes a what-if result from the buy and sell prices you enter. It contains no forecast and no recommendation. Crypto markets are highly unpredictable, so any sell price you type is an assumption.
Are exchange fees included?
Yes. You enter a buy fee and a sell fee as percentages, and the calculator applies them to each side of the trade. It does not include network or withdrawal fees, which you would need to account for separately.
Why is my return lower than the raw price gain?
Fees reduce both the amount invested and the amount received, so your net return is always a little below the headline price change. Even small percentage fees add up across both legs of a trade.
Can I use fractional quantities?
Yes. Crypto is usually divisible to many decimal places, so the quantity field accepts fractions such as 0.5 or 0.001. Enter the exact amount of coins or tokens you hold.
Is crypto a safe investment?
No asset is guaranteed, and cryptocurrency is among the most volatile and speculative. Prices can swing dramatically and an investment can lose all of its value. This tool helps with arithmetic, not with judging whether to invest.
Does it handle tax on my gains?
No. Capital gains and other tax rules differ widely by country and change over time. Treat the profit figure as pre-tax and confirm your actual liability with a tax professional.
What if my sell price is below my buy price?
The calculator will return a negative profit, which is a loss. Fees make the loss slightly larger than the raw price difference. This is a useful reminder that downside is a real and frequent outcome in volatile markets.
Sources & References
Figures on this page are checked against primary, authoritative sources. Links open in a new tab.
Returns are assumptions, not guarantees. Actual results may vary because of market performance, taxes, fees, inflation, and timing. This is an educational projection, not investment advice.
Published the calculator with its formula, worked example, assumptions, limitations and a bespoke guide, and added an automated formula test suite covering it.
Tested cost with the buy fee added and proceeds with the sell fee deducted, against totals recomputed from quantity and price.
Tested that selling at the purchase price always loses money once both fees apply, and that break-even sits above the entry price.
Frequently Asked Questions now show on the page: 8 answers, checked in a page-by-page audit.
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