What This Calculator Computes
The stock profit calculator turns a share transaction into four numbers. Cost basis is the money you committed: shares times buy price, plus any trading fees you paid to buy. Proceeds are what you walk away with: shares times sell price, minus the sell fees. Profit is proceeds minus cost basis, and return expresses that profit as a percentage of what you risked.
Worked example: buy 100 shares at $50, sell at $75, with no fees. Cost basis is $5,000, proceeds are $7,500, profit is $2,500, and the return is 50%. Add a $10 buy fee and a $10 sell fee and the profit drops to $2,480.
Cost Basis and Taxable Gains
The profit this calculator shows is the pre tax gain, which is a starting point for taxes, not the final number. Your tax depends on how long you held the stock and your other income.
Shares held for more than one year are long term gains, taxed at 0%, 15%, or 20% depending on your taxable income. For married couples filing jointly in 2026, the 0% long term rate applies up to roughly $96,700 of taxable income. Shares held for one year or less are short term gains, taxed at your ordinary income rate.
Losses Have Rules Too
A losing sale still needs the same math. If proceeds are less than cost basis, the calculator shows a negative profit, which is a capital loss. Losses offset gains for the year, and leftover losses can offset up to $3,000 of ordinary income per year, with the remainder carrying forward.
The wash sale rule blocks one common loophole: if you sell at a loss and buy the same stock within 30 days before or after, the loss is disallowed and your basis is adjusted instead. This calculator does not apply the wash sale rule, so check the dates before you bank a loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is stock profit calculator calculated?
The formula is: Profit = (shares x sell price - sell fees) - (shares x buy price + buy fees). Enter your values above and click Calculate to see your personalized result instantly. Cost basis is what you paid for the shares plus any buy fees. Proceeds are what you receive from the sale minus sell fees. Profit is proceeds minus cost basis, and return is profit divided by cost…
What inputs do I need for the stock profit calculator?
You need: Shares, Buy Price, Sell Price, Buy Fees, Sell Fees. Default values are pre-filled — adjust them to match your personal finances for a customized result.
Is the stock profit calculator free to use?
Yes — all TorchFI calculators are completely free. No registration, no email required. Calculations run entirely in your browser for maximum privacy. We never see or store your financial data.
How does the stock profit calculator help with FIRE planning?
Calculate profit on a stock sale from shares, buy price, sell price, and trading fees. See your cost basis, proceeds, total profit, and return percentage. This calculator helps you make data-driven decisions about your financial independence journey instead of relying on guesswork.