Break-Even Calculator
Find the exact price your trade needs to reach so spread and commission are covered. Beyond that level, every additional pip is real profit.
Enter trade + cost details
The break-even price is the exact level your trade must reach to cover spread and commission.
The formula
break_even_pips = total_cost / (pip_value × lots)
break_even_price_move = break_even_pips × pip_size
break_even_price = entry ± break_even_price_move
(+ for Long, − for Short)
Frequently asked questions
What is the break-even price?⌄
The exact price the market must reach so that your trade's profit equals the total cost of opening it (spread + commission). Below break-even and you're still in the red. Above it, you start banking actual profit.
How is break-even calculated?⌄
Total cost = (commission per lot × lots) + (spread in pips × pip value × lots). Break-even pips = total cost ÷ (pip value × lots). Break-even price = entry ± (break-even pips × pip size), where you add for longs and subtract for shorts.
Why does commission scale with lot size but spread also scales?⌄
Both costs scale with position size. Commission is usually quoted per standard lot (e.g. $7/lot round-trip). Spread is in pips — a fixed pip count but the USD value of each pip scales with the lot size you trade. The result: doubling your lot size roughly doubles your total break-even cost.
Does this account for swap/rollover?⌄
No — break-even here covers spread and commission only. If you hold a position overnight, swap (positive or negative) adjusts your break-even target. For multi-day trades, factor swap separately from your broker's swap table.
What spread should I use?⌄
Use the average spread you actually see at your broker for that pair during your trading session — not the broker's headline 'from 0.0 pips' marketing claim. ECN brokers commonly run 0.2–1.0 on majors during London/NY; STP brokers 1.5–2.5. Wider spreads at NY close and during news.
Plan the trade end-to-end
Combine the break-even price with your R-multiple analysis — if your TP is too close to break-even, the trade isn't worth taking.
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