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Stop-Loss & Take-Profit Calculator

Plan the exit before you enter. Enter your entry price, a stop-loss and a take-profit (as % or price) plus your share count to get exact exit prices, dollar risk, dollar reward and the all-important risk/reward ratio.

How the stop-loss & take-profit calculator works

Answer first: professional traders decide where they will get out before they get in. This tool turns your entry price and your stop-loss / take-profit percentages into concrete exit prices, then multiplies the gap by your share count to show the actual dollars at risk and at stake — and the risk/reward ratio that decides whether the trade is even worth taking.

Stop price = Entry × (1 − stop%)  ·  Target = Entry × (1 + profit%)
Example: buy 100 shares at $100, stop at −8% ($92), target at +20% ($120). You risk $8 × 100 = $800 to make $20 × 100 = $2,000 — a risk/reward of 1 : 2.5.

Why risk/reward beats win rate

A trader who wins only 40% of the time can still be highly profitable if every winner is 2.5× the size of every loser. The calculator shows your break-even win rate — the percentage of trades you must win just to break even at that risk/reward. At 1:2.5, you only need to be right about 29% of the time. That single insight is why disciplined risk control matters more than being “right.”

How to size the stop, not just place it

A stop-loss only protects you if the position size behind it is sensible. Most risk frameworks cap the loss on any one trade at 1–2% of the total account. If you risk $800 on a trade but that is 10% of your account, the stop is too loose or the position is too big — use the position size calculator to work backwards from the dollars you are willing to lose to the number of shares you should buy.

Where to put the stop

A stop placed at a random round percentage often sits right where normal volatility will trigger it for no reason. Experienced traders anchor stops to structure — just below a support level, a recent swing low, or a multiple of average true range — so the stop only fires if the trade thesis is genuinely wrong. Practise this risk-free in the day-trading simulator before risking real money.

Reality check: a stop-loss order is not guaranteed to fill at your stop price — in a fast-moving or gapping market it executes at the next available price, which can be worse (slippage). Stops manage risk; they do not eliminate it. Educational tool only — not financial advice.

Pair this with the position size calculator, the risk/reward calculator, and read what is a stop-loss order and risk management basics.

Last updated 27 June 2026 · Written by Mustafa Bilgic. Educational only — not financial advice.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How do you calculate a stop-loss price?

Multiply the entry price by one minus your stop-loss percentage. A $100 entry with an 8% stop gives a stop price of $92. Your dollar risk is that gap times the number of shares.

What is a good risk/reward ratio?

Many traders look for at least 1:2, meaning the potential reward is twice the risk. A higher reward-to-risk ratio lowers the win rate you need to break even, but it must be realistic for the setup.

What is the break-even win rate?

It is the percentage of trades you must win to break even at a given risk/reward ratio. At 1:2 you need to win about 33%; at 1:3 only about 25%. It shows why managing the size of wins and losses matters more than being right.

Is a stop-loss guaranteed to fill at my price?

No. A standard stop-loss becomes a market order once triggered, so in a fast or gapping market it can fill at a worse price than your stop, a phenomenon called slippage. It limits risk but does not remove it.

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