Forex Breakeven Calculator
FOREX · BREAKEVEN · SPREAD AND COMMISSION
Breakeven price for a forex position accounting for spread and round-trip commission, in pips and in price.
Position Side
Commission is round-trip, per standard lot (100,000 units), in the pair's own quote currency.
Why breakeven isn't just your entry price
Spread and commission both cost you before a trade turns profitable. Breakeven is the exit price where those costs are exactly covered, expressed in pips and translated back into a real price.
The formula
- Commission (pips) = commission per lot ÷ (100,000 × pip size)
- Total cost (pips) = spread (pips) + commission (pips)
- Breakeven = entry ± total cost × pip size (+ for long, − for short)
Commission is quoted per standard lot, and pip value also scales with lot size, so the commission-in-pips figure works out the same regardless of your actual position size.
Worked example
Long EUR/USD at 1.1000, 1.0 pip spread, $7 round-trip commission per lot:
- pip value per lot = 100,000 × 0.0001 = $10
- commission = 7 ÷ 10 = 0.7 pips
- total cost = 1.0 + 0.7 = 1.7 pips
- breakeven = 1.1000 + 1.7 × 0.0001 = 1.10017
Where to go next
Know your breakeven, now check the risk/reward ratio on the same setup, or run a scenario table across a range of possible exits.
Use via API or MCP
This calculation is available as a deterministic API call for bots and AI agents.
Why does breakeven move even though I haven't placed a stop or target?
Spread and commission are both real costs charged at entry (spread) or on both legs (round-trip commission), independent of where you place your stop or target. Breakeven accounts for those costs alone.
Why is commission expressed "per lot" instead of per unit?
That's the standard way ECN/commission-based brokers quote it. Because pip value also scales with lot size, converting a per-lot commission into pips gives a figure that's the same regardless of your actual position size.
What if my broker doesn't charge commission?
Leave it at 0 (or blank): the calculator then computes a pure spread-only breakeven, which is how most retail market-maker brokers price their spread.
Does leverage change my breakeven price?
No. Leverage changes how much margin a position requires, not the price level where costs are covered. Breakeven depends only on spread, commission, and pip size.