Worked example
You buy 2 coins at 100 and sell them at 120. Your exchange charges 0.1% on each trade.
| Cost of the buy: 100 × 2 | 200.00 |
|---|---|
| Value of the sale: 120 × 2 | 240.00 |
| Buy fee: 0.1% of 200 | 0.20 |
| Sell fee: 0.1% of 240 | 0.24 |
| Net profit: 240 − 200 − 0.44 | +39.56 |
| Percent: 39.56 ÷ 200 | +19.78% |
The price rose 20%, but you keep 19.78%. A small gap on one trade turns into a large one over hundreds.
How the calculation works
Cost = buy price × quantity
Sale value = sell price × quantity
Fees = fee % × (cost + sale value)
Net result = sale value − cost − fees
Percent = net result ÷ cost × 100
If you enter fees as a set amount, that amount is taken off directly instead of being worked out from a percentage.
Why it matters
A trade screen often shows the price change, not what you actually kept. Fees are charged on the full size of each trade, so they take a bigger share of your profit when the price barely moves. Looking at net numbers shows whether a strategy earns money or only looks busy.
Common questions
Why is my percentage lower than the price change?
Fees come out of the result. If the price rises 20% and you pay 0.22% of the cost in fees, your net result is about 19.78%.
What should I put for quantity?
The number of coins you traded, not the amount of money. If you spent 500 at a price of 100, your quantity is 5.
What is the percentage measured against?
The cost of the buy, which is buy price times quantity, before fees. Some exchanges include the buy fee in that figure, so their percentage can differ by a very small amount.
Does this include tax or funding payments?
No. It covers the buy, the sell and the fees you enter. Tax, withdrawal fees and funding payments on leveraged trades are extra. If you know them, add them to the set fee amount.