Worked example
You buy 1 coin at 100. The fee is 0.1% on the buy and 0.1% on the sell.
| Total paid: 100 + 0.10 fee | 100.10 |
|---|---|
| Share you keep from a sale: 100% − 0.1% | 99.9% |
| Sell price needed: 100.10 ÷ 0.999 | 100.2002 |
| Rise needed from your buy | 0.20% |
Sell at 100.2002 and the sale leaves you 100.10 after the fee, exactly what you paid. Anything lower is a loss, even though the price is above your buy.
How the calculation works
Break-even price = buy price × (1 + buy fee) ÷ (1 − sell fee)
Write the fees as decimals, so 0.1% becomes 0.001. The sell fee is divided, not added, because it is charged on the sale value and that value is higher than your buy.
Why it matters
Selling just above your buy price can still lose money. Knowing the true break-even price helps you place a take-profit order that actually pays, and shows how far the price has to move before a quick trade is worth making.
Common questions
Why doesn’t quantity change the break-even price?
Fees grow in step with trade size, so the break-even price is the same for 1 coin or 1,000. Quantity only changes the money totals shown under the result.
Can I simply add the two fee percentages?
As a quick estimate, yes. For small fees the answer is very close. The exact formula matters more as fees grow: with a 50% sell fee you need double your buy price, not 1.5 times.
What if my exchange takes the buy fee in coins?
You receive slightly fewer coins, and the break-even price comes out almost the same. With a 0.1% fee on each side the two methods differ by about 0.0001%.
Where do I find my fee rate?
Look for the fee schedule on your exchange. Rates often differ between orders that fill at once and orders that wait in the book, so use the rate for the order type you plan to place.