Why does this matter more for small profit targets?

Commission is usually a flat dollar cost per trade. As a percentage of a small profit target, that same flat cost is much larger than it is against a bigger target, which is why frequent, small-target strategies are more sensitive to costs.

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What percent of my profit target does commission and slippage eat up on this trade?

Q: What percent of my profit target does commission and slippage eat up on this trade?

Enter your share size, gross profit target per share, round-trip commission, and estimated slippage per share. The tool adds commission and total slippage together, then divides that by your gross profit target to show the percentage costs consume.

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Enter Your Trade and Costs

Your Result

Fill in the fields on the left and click Calculate to see how much of your planned profit costs actually take.

How this is calculated

Total cost combines your round-trip commission with your estimated slippage per share, multiplied by your share count.
Percent of profit consumed by costs equals total cost divided by your gross profit target. This is the share of your planned gain that costs take before you keep anything.
Small profit targets and small share counts are hit hardest by flat commissions. The same dollar commission is a much bigger percentage bite on a small scalp target than on a larger swing target.
This uses your own slippage estimate, not a live measurement. Wider bid-ask spreads and lower liquidity both push actual slippage higher than a rough guess.

Risk & liability disclaimer: This calculator produces a mathematical estimate based on the profit target, commission, and slippage estimate you enter. It is not financial advice, does not reflect your broker's actual commission schedule, and does not predict actual slippage on a live order. Trading Habits is not a broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, or tax professional, and is not affiliated with any broker, exchange, or data provider. We do not guarantee this tool is error-free or suitable for your situation, always verify results independently and consult a licensed professional before making any trading or financial decision. You could lose some or all of the capital you trade with.

What percent of my profit target does commission and slippage eat up on this trade?

Enter Your Trade and Costs

Your Result

How this is calculated

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