Calculating Profit and Loss
Learn how to calculate your profit or loss on trades.
Updated August 24, 2026
Profit and loss (P/L) is the measure of how much you have gained or lost from a trade. Understanding how it is calculated helps you manage risk and evaluate strategies.
The basic formula is:
(Closing Price – Opening Price) × Contract Size × Number of Lots
Opening Price: The rate at which you entered the trade.
Closing Price: The rate at which you exited the trade.
Contract Size: The standard lot size for the instrument (e.g., 100,000 units for Forex, 100 ounces for Gold).
Number of Lots: The trade volume you selected.
For sell trades, the calculation is reversed: (Opening Price – Closing Price) × Contract Size × Lots.
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