Crypto Arbitrage Profit Calculator
Find the real profit from buying a cryptocurrency cheaply on one exchange and selling it higher on another, after fees and slippage. Use it to evaluate whether an apparent price gap is actually worth trading.
About this calculator
Crypto arbitrage exploits price differences for the same asset across exchanges. The gross arbitrage gain is the number of coins purchased on Exchange A (tradeAmount / buyPrice) multiplied by the higher sell price on Exchange B. Slippage reduces the effective sell price, so the adjusted proceeds are: tradeAmount / buyPrice × sellPrice × (1 − slippage / 100). From this, three cost layers are subtracted: the buy-side trading fee, the sell-side trading fee, and the fixed withdrawal/transfer fee. The full formula is: Profit = adjustedProceeds − (withdrawalFee + adjustedProceeds × buyFee / 100 + adjustedProceeds × sellFee / 100). A positive result means the trade is profitable after all real-world costs; a negative result means fees and slippage have wiped out the apparent price gap. Speed matters — gaps can close in seconds.
How to use
Assume you invest $10,000, buying Bitcoin at $30,000 on Exchange A and selling at $30,600 on Exchange B. Slippage is 0.2%, buy fee 0.1%, sell fee 0.1%, withdrawal fee $5. Adjusted proceeds = (10,000 / 30,000) × 30,600 × (1 − 0.002) = 0.3333 × 30,600 × 0.998 = $10,193.94. Buy fee = $10,193.94 × 0.001 = $10.19. Sell fee = $10,193.94 × 0.001 = $10.19. Profit = $10,193.94 − $10.19 − $10.19 − $5 = $168.56. That is a 1.69% return if executed successfully.
Frequently asked questions
What is slippage and why does it matter in crypto arbitrage?
Slippage is the difference between the expected trade price and the price at which the trade actually executes, caused by low liquidity or rapid market movement. In arbitrage, even 0.5% slippage can eliminate a thin price gap entirely. Large orders are particularly vulnerable because they consume multiple levels of the order book, driving the average fill price away from the quoted best price. Always estimate slippage conservatively when evaluating an arbitrage opportunity.
How do withdrawal fees affect crypto arbitrage profitability?
Withdrawal fees are fixed costs charged by the exchange when you move funds or coins to another platform, and they apply regardless of trade size. On small trade amounts, a $10–$25 withdrawal fee can represent a large percentage of potential profit and make the trade loss-making. Larger trade sizes dilute the impact of fixed fees, which is why professional arbitrageurs typically operate with significant capital. Factor in both the fiat withdrawal fee and any network transfer fee for the coin being moved.
When is crypto arbitrage actually profitable in practice?
Arbitrage is reliably profitable only when the net price gap — after buy fees, sell fees, slippage, and withdrawal costs — exceeds zero and the gap persists long enough to execute both legs. In efficient markets, algorithmic bots close most gaps within milliseconds, leaving little opportunity for manual traders. Better opportunities tend to appear during high-volatility periods, for less liquid altcoins, or between exchanges with limited bot coverage. Transfer time between exchanges is also a risk: prices can equalise before your coins arrive.