Break-Even Price Calculator
Calculates the minimum sale price needed to cover your purchase cost plus all transaction fees. Use it before selling an asset to know exactly what price avoids a loss.
About this calculator
The break-even price is the selling price at which your total revenue exactly equals your total cost — producing neither profit nor loss. The formula used here is: Break-Even Price = purchasePrice + buyFees + sellFees. The purchase price is what you originally paid for the asset, while buy fees and sell fees represent commissions, brokerage charges, or other transaction costs incurred when entering and exiting the position. Adding all three together gives the minimum price you must receive upon selling to fully recover your investment. For example, if you paid $500 for an asset with $10 in buy fees and $10 in sell fees, you must sell for at least $520 to break even. Understanding your break-even price helps prevent inadvertent losses on trades where fees erode a seemingly profitable price move.
How to use
Suppose you bought 1 share of stock for $250.00, paid a $4.95 buy commission, and expect a $4.95 sell commission. Enter $250.00 as Purchase Price, $4.95 as Buy Transaction Fees, and $4.95 as Sell Transaction Fees. The calculator computes: $250.00 + $4.95 + $4.95 = $259.90. You must sell the share for at least $259.90 to avoid a loss. If your target sell price is only $255.00, you would actually lose $4.90 even though the stock price rose $5 from your purchase price.
Frequently asked questions
How do transaction fees affect the break-even price of a trade?
Every fee you pay — whether on entry or exit — raises the price at which you need to sell to recover your full investment. The formula Break-Even Price = purchasePrice + buyFees + sellFees shows this directly. Even modest fees can meaningfully shift your break-even point, particularly on lower-priced assets or high-frequency trades. This is why understanding the all-in cost of a trade, not just the asset price, is essential before deciding whether a trade is worthwhile.
What is the difference between break-even price and purchase price?
The purchase price is simply what you paid for the asset itself. The break-even price is higher — it is the purchase price plus all costs you incurred to buy and sell the asset. If there were no fees, the two would be identical. In reality, commissions, platform fees, and taxes mean you must sell above your purchase price just to recoup your capital. Confusing the two can lead investors to believe they are profitable when they are actually at a slight loss after costs.
When should I use a break-even price calculator for stocks or other assets?
Use it before placing a sell order whenever fees are a material part of the trade — common with lower-value assets, options, or accounts that charge per-trade commissions. It is also useful when evaluating whether a stop-loss level is set correctly, to ensure you are not stopping out below your true break-even. Real estate investors similarly use break-even pricing to account for agent commissions and closing costs when setting a minimum acceptable sale price.