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Commission Break-Even Calculator

How far price must move before you're at zero.

Commission in pips0.7 pips
Total break-even distance1.7 pips
Break-even cost per lot$17

Educational tool only — not financial advice. Verify figures with your broker.

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What is the Commission Break-Even Calculator?

The Commission Break-Even Calculator shows the true distance a trade must move before it covers its own costs. It answers: once I add round-trip commission converted into pips and the spread, how many pips must price travel just to reach zero? It returns commission expressed in pips, the total break-even distance, and the break-even cost per lot.

How to use it

  1. Enter the Commission per lot, round-trip ($) — the total commission charged to open and close one lot.
  2. Enter the Spread (pips) you pay on the instrument.
  3. Enter the Pip value per lot ($) so commission can be converted into pips.
  4. Read the highlighted Total break-even distance: the pips price must move before the trade is at zero. Commission in pips shows the converted commission, and Break-even cost per lot shows the same friction in dollars.

How it's calculated

Commission is converted to pips by dividing the round-trip commission per lot by the pip value per lot. The total break-even distance is that commission-in-pips figure plus the spread in pips. The break-even cost per lot in dollars is the commission plus the spread expressed in dollars (spread pips times pip value). It is direct conversion and addition of your cost inputs.

Frequently asked

How do I convert commission into pips?

Divide the round-trip commission per lot by the pip value per lot, and the result is the commission expressed in pips. This commission breakeven calculator does that conversion and then adds the spread to show the full pip distance to break even.

Why does break-even distance matter?

It is the minimum move a trade needs just to cover costs — any target inside that distance loses money even if price moves your way. Knowing the pip figure helps you judge whether a setup has enough room to clear its friction.

Does a small break-even distance mean the trade is worth taking?

No. A low break-even distance only means costs are small; it says nothing about whether price will move far enough or in your direction. It is a cost figure, not a signal.

Keep in mind: This calculator only totals the cost side — commission plus spread converted to pips and dollars. It does not include slippage, swap/overnight financing, or price movement, and it makes no claim about whether a trade will reach or exceed break-even. Covering costs is the starting line, not a profit.

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