Break-Even Calculator
Find the exact price you need to sell at to recover your investment
Calculate Break-Even Price
Determine the minimum selling price to recover your investment costs
What is a Break-Even Price?
The break-even price is the minimum price per share you need to sell at to recover your total investment, including all fees and commissions. At this price, you neither make a profit nor incur a loss.
Formula
Total Investment = (Shares × Average Cost) + Fees
Break-Even Price = Total Investment ÷ Shares
Why is This Important?
- Set realistic price targets before selling
- Configure stop-loss orders intelligently
- Understand the true cost of trading fees
- Make informed hold vs. sell decisions
Setting Profit Targets
Use the optional profit field to calculate the price needed to achieve your desired return. This helps you set realistic expectations and plan your exit strategy.
Break-Even in Different Market Conditions
During bull markets, stocks often surge past break-even points quickly. You might buy at $50, set a break-even of $51, and watch the stock climb to $60 within weeks. The break-even becomes a psychological milestone rather than a sell trigger.
In bear markets or sideways trading, break-even matters more. If your stock hovers around your break-even price for months, you need to decide: hold for a future recovery, or exit and deploy capital elsewhere? The calculator helps you make this decision with clarity.
Stop-Loss Strategy
Professional traders set stop-loss orders below their break-even price to limit losses. If you bought at $50 with a break-even of $51, you might set a stop-loss at $47 - risking $4 per share maximum. This protects your capital if the trade goes wrong.
Our Position Sizing Calculator helps you determine exactly how many shares to buy based on your risk tolerance and stop-loss level.
Fee Impact on Returns
Trading fees eat into profits more than most investors realize. A $10 fee on a $5,000 trade is 0.2% of your position. That means you need at least 0.2% price appreciation just to break even - before considering the sell-side fee.
This is why day traders typically fail - they need massive price swings to overcome constant fee drag. For long-term investors, buy-and-hold strategies minimize this friction.
Practical Example
You buy 200 shares at $48.50 per share ($9,700 total), with $15 in fees. Your break-even is $48.58 per share. The stock currently trades at $48.30 - you're underwater by $56 (before sell fees).
If you want a $500 profit, you need the stock to hit $51.08. That's a 5.2% gain from your purchase price. Understanding these numbers helps you set realistic expectations and avoid emotional selling.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a break-even price?
The break-even price is the minimum price per share you need to sell at to recover your total investment, including all fees and commissions. At this price, you neither make a profit nor incur a loss.
Should I include trading fees in the calculation?
Yes, always include all trading fees, commissions, and transaction costs to get an accurate break-even price. Even small fees can significantly impact your break-even point, especially on smaller trades.
How do I use the target profit feature?
The optional target profit field calculates the price needed to achieve your desired return. This helps you set realistic profit targets and plan your exit strategy before entering a trade.