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Break-Even Calculator

Calculate the sell price needed to break even after your buy price, initial investment, trading fees, and optional slippage.

Instantcalculation Feesincluded Works forstocks, crypto, forex, ETFs Educationalestimate only

Calculate break-even price

Enter investment, buy price, fees, and optional slippage.

Use the same currency for all fields. Enter 0 if there are no fees. Slippage estimates the price difference between quoted and executed sell price. Results are estimates and may not include taxes, spreads, dividends, or financing costs.

Break-even sell price
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Instant browser-based estimate

Shares / units —
Total cost (incl. fees) —
Total fees —
Slippage-adjusted target —
Cost per unit —

Educational estimate only. Not financial advice. Fees and slippage vary by broker and market.

How the break-even price is calculated

Shares = initial investment ÷ buy price

Total cost = initial investment + total fees

Break-even sell price = total cost ÷ shares

Slippage-adjusted target = break-even price ÷ (1 − slippage %)

If slippage is 0.5%, the calculator estimates a higher target sell price so the received price after slippage still covers your total cost.

Break-even calculator examples

No fees

$10,000 · buy $100 · $0 fees · 0% slippage

Break-even $100.00

100 shares at $100 per share. With no fees, the break-even sell price equals the buy price.

With trading fees

$10,000 · buy $100 · $20 fees · 0% slippage

Break-even $100.20

Fees raise total cost to $10,020. Spread across 100 shares, break-even rises by $0.20 per share.

With fees and slippage

$10,000 · buy $100 · $20 fees · 0.5% slippage

Target ~$100.70

Break-even is $100.20. With 0.5% slippage, you need a higher quoted target so proceeds after slippage still cover cost.

How to read the result

  • Break-even sell price is the price needed to recover your total cost—not a profit target.
  • Fees increase the break-even price because you must recover more than the purchase amount alone.
  • Slippage increases the target price because the executed sell price may be lower than the quoted price.
  • Break-even does not mean profit—it only covers cost. Any gain requires selling above break-even.
  • Taxes, dividends, spreads, and financing costs may change real outcomes and are not modeled here.

What is a break-even price?

Break-even price is the sell price at which your proceeds equal what you paid—including trading fees. It answers: “What price do I need to sell at just to get my money back?”

This educational calculator works for stocks, crypto, forex, ETFs, indexes, and commodities when you know your buy price and investment amount. It is a planning tool—not a live quote feed.

How the break-even calculation works

  • Derive shares from investment ÷ buy price, unless you enter a quantity override.
  • Add trading fees (combined or buy + sell) to get total cost.
  • Divide total cost by shares to estimate break-even sell price per unit.
  • Optionally adjust for slippage to estimate a higher target quoted price.

Assumes one purchase and one sale. Does not model partial fills, multiple buys, or taxes.

Why fees and slippage matter

Even small fees raise the price you must reach to break even. On a 100-share position, $20 in total fees adds $0.20 per share to break-even versus a no-fee trade.

Slippage matters when execution price differs from the quote—common in fast markets, thin liquidity, or large orders. The slippage-adjusted target shows a higher sell price so that after the estimated shortfall you still cover total cost.

Break-even vs ROI

Break-even tells you the minimum sell price to recover cost. ROI measures percentage gain or loss at a specific sell price. Use break-even for cost recovery planning; use ROI when you already have a target sell price.

Frequently asked questions

What is break-even price?
Break-even price is the sell price at which proceeds equal your total cost—initial investment plus trading fees. Below that price you would not recover your full cost; above it you would have an estimated gain before other costs.
How do I calculate break-even sell price?
Shares = initial investment ÷ buy price (unless you override quantity). Total cost = initial investment + fees. Break-even sell price = total cost ÷ shares. This page calculates each step instantly in your browser.
Why do fees increase break-even price?
Fees add to the amount you must recover when you sell. A $20 fee on a 100-share position raises the per-share break-even price by $0.20 versus a no-fee scenario.
Why include slippage?
Slippage estimates the gap between a quoted sell price and the price you actually receive. The calculator shows a higher target price so that after slippage you still cover total cost.
Can I use this for stocks?
Yes. Enter investment, buy price, and fees in the same currency. For ticker-specific historical scenarios, open a stock calculator hub page.
Can I use this for crypto or forex?
Yes. Use one consistent currency for crypto. For forex, enter the exchange rate or notional price per unit. The break-even formula is the same for any single buy position.
Does this include taxes or dividends?
No. This educational calculator estimates price, fees, and slippage only. Taxes, dividends, spreads, and financing costs are not included unless you adjust inputs manually.
Is this calculator free?
Yes. No sign-up is required. Calculations run locally in your browser; inputs are not sent to our servers.
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Calculate break-even by market

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Past performance does not predict future results. CalculatorInvest provides educational tools only—not financial advice. Read our disclaimer.