Profit & Loss Calculator

How the calculation works

You do not have to hold a contract until it settles — on most platforms you can sell at the current price any time. Your profit or loss is simply the difference between what you sold for and what you paid, across every contract: buy 100 at 45¢ and sell at 60¢, and you make 15¢ each, or $15. Setting the sell price to 100¢ models your side settling Yes; setting it to 0 models it settling No.

Selling early vs holding on

Selling before resolution lets you take a profit while a market is in your favour, or cut a loss before it settles against you — you are trading the certainty of $1-or-$0 for the price on offer now. Whether that is wise depends on how the current price compares with the true probability; if the market has overshot your estimate, selling can be the higher-value move. To model the settlement outcome instead of an early exit, use the profit calculator; to hedge rather than sell, the hedging calculator.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate profit and loss?

Your realised profit or loss is the difference between what you sold for and what you paid, across every contract. Buy 100 contracts at 45 cents and sell at 60 cents, and you make 15 cents each, or $15.

Can I sell before a market settles?

Yes. On most platforms you can sell your contracts at the current market price any time before resolution, letting you take a profit or cut a loss rather than waiting for the final $1 or $0 outcome.

What if my side settles Yes or No?

Set the sell price to 100 cents to model your side settling Yes (each contract pays $1), or to 0 to model it settling No (each is worthless). The calculator then shows your result at settlement.