Crypto Break-Even Price Calculator
Knowing your break-even price tells you the minimum price at which you must sell a cryptocurrency to recover your full investment including all fees. This is important for setting stop-loss orders, evaluating whether to hold through a downturn, and planning tax-efficient sales. Enter your total cost (including buy fees), the quantity you hold, and expected sell fees.
Break-even price formula
Average Cost Per Coin = Total Cost / Quantity
Break-Even Price = Total Cost / (Quantity x (1 - Sell Fee Rate))
Distance to Break-Even (%) = (Break-Even - Current Price) / Current Price x 100
Current P/L = Current Price x Quantity x (1 - Sell Fee Rate) - Total Cost
Source: IRS Publication 550 (cost basis) and standard financial accounting principles.
When to use the break-even calculator
- Setting stop-loss orders: place a stop-loss below the break-even price to limit your maximum loss to fees only.
- Evaluating recovery time: compare the break-even price to the current price to understand the percentage gain needed.
- DCA planning: after adding to a position at a lower price, recalculate your blended break-even to see if it has dropped below the current market price.
- Tax-loss harvesting: if current price is below your break-even, selling locks in a deductible capital loss.
Break-even price: frequently asked questions
What is the break-even price for a crypto trade?
The break-even price is the minimum sell price at which you recover all costs (purchase price plus all fees) without making a profit or loss. Any sale above the break-even price generates a net profit; any sale below it generates a net loss.
How is the crypto break-even price calculated?
Break-Even Price = (Total Amount Paid + Total Sell Fees) / Quantity of Coins. Where Total Amount Paid includes the purchase price plus any buy-side fees. Sell fees are the expected fees you will pay when selling (expressed as a percentage of the sale proceeds).
Why does the break-even price exceed my average buy price?
Transaction fees paid at the time of purchase increase your effective cost basis. Anticipated sell fees add to the price you need to achieve to break even. For example, if you paid $40,000 for 1 BTC with $200 in buy fees, your cost basis is $40,200. If you expect a 0.5% sell fee, you must sell at approximately $40,402 to break even.
Does this calculator work for multiple buys at different prices?
Yes. Enter your total cost (the sum of all purchases including all buy fees) and total quantity to get the blended break-even price across all purchases. For example, if you bought 0.5 BTC at $30,000 and 0.5 BTC at $50,000, your total cost is $40,000 for 1 BTC, giving a break-even of $40,000 plus sell fees.
Is the break-even price the same as the average cost per coin?
Your average cost per coin is your total purchase cost divided by quantity. The break-even price is slightly higher because it also accounts for anticipated sell-side fees. Without sell fees, the two figures would be equal.
Official sources
- IRS Publication 550, Investment Income and Expenses (cost basis): irs.gov/publications/p550.
- IRS Virtual Currency FAQ: irs.gov virtual currency FAQ.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 14 June 2026. See our methodology.