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This tool is for education and planning only and is not financial advice. Forex and CFD trading carries a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Check your broker's own contract specifications, fees and margin rules before you trade.
Watch this on video
Can You Make $100 a Day Trading Forex?, in 3:01
$100 a day in forex is about $2,000 a month, and on a small account that means extreme risk. Here are the honest numbers.
How profit and loss is worked out
- Pips moved
(Exit − entry) ÷ pip size, for a buy. For a sell, entry − exit.
- Money
Pips × pip value per lot × lots. Buy 1 lot of EUR/USD from 1.1000 to 1.1050 = 50 pips × $10 = $500.
- Pairs not quoted in USD
The result is in the quote currency first. 1 lot of USD/JPY from 150.00 to 150.50 is 50,000 yen, about $332 at 150.50.
- Take off the costs
Spread, commission and swap come out of every result.
The inputs that decide the result
Direction
A buy profits when the price rises; a sell profits when it falls.
Lot size
Doubling the lots doubles both the profit and the loss.
Entry and exit
The distance between them, in pips, sets the size of the move.
Stop-loss
Add it to see the loss if you are wrong and your risk-reward ratio.
Profit targets and the risk-reward ratio
Comparing the planned profit with the planned loss tells you how often you need to be right.
1 : 1
Win as much as you risk. You need to win more than half your trades, after costs, to come out ahead.
1 : 2
Win twice what you risk. Being right about a third of the time can break even, before costs.
Targets must be realistic
A distant target looks good on paper but is hit less often.
Profit calculation mistakes
Spread, commission and swap are not in the raw pip result.
On a sell, a falling price is a profit, not a loss.
Yen and cross pairs convert at the current exchange rate.
Always know the loss if you are wrong before the gain if you are right.
Profit Calculator FAQs
What is a forex profit calculator?
A tool that turns a planned trade, direction, size and prices, into profit or loss in pips and money before you place it.
How is forex profit calculated?
Pips moved × pip value per lot × lots. Buying 1 lot of EUR/USD from 1.1000 to 1.1050 makes 50 pips × $10 = $500, before costs.
What is a pip in forex and how does it affect profit?
A pip is 0.0001 on most pairs and 0.01 on yen pairs. Profit grows with every pip the price moves in your favour, scaled by your lot size.
How do I use a profit calculator to plan stop-loss and take-profit?
Enter your entry, your target as the exit price and your stop. The calculator shows the profit at the target, the loss at the stop and the ratio between them.
What is the risk-reward ratio and why does it matter?
It compares the possible loss with the possible gain. A 1:2 ratio means you aim to win twice what you risk, so you can be right less often and still break even.
Does pip value differ between currency pairs?
Yes. Pairs quoted in USD are $10 per pip per lot in a USD account; yen and cross pairs depend on the exchange rate.
Can I use this calculator for gold and commodities?
Gold (XAU/USD) is included, using 100 oz per lot and a $0.10 pip. Other commodities use different contract sizes, so check your broker's specifications.