Options Profit Calculator — Calls & Puts P&L
Options payoffs are non-linear — the stock can hit your price target and you still lose if you bought too far out-of-the-money. Enter strike, premium, contracts, and a target stock price to see your exact break-even price, maximum loss (always the premium paid), and P&L at expiry. Covers long calls, long puts, short calls, and short puts — know the full picture before you place the trade.
Updated · Reviewed by Foysal Mostafa
1 contract = 100 shares
Long Call (Buy Call) — Profitable at $160
P&L at $160
+$700.00
Break-Even Price
$153.00
Max Loss
-$300.00
Total Cost / Credit
$300.00
Why Use the Options Profit Calculator?
Options have non-linear payoffs that confuse many new traders. Before buying any call or put, you need to know your exact break-even price, your maximum loss (always the premium paid), and your P&L at any target stock price. This calculator maps everything out so you can evaluate the trade before entering — not after.
Formula Used
Long Call Break-Even = Strike + Premium | Long Put Break-Even = Strike − Premium | P&L = (Price − Break-Even) × 100 × ContractsWorked Example
Buy 2 SPY call contracts, strike = $500, premium = $4.50/share, SPY at $495. Break-even = $500 + $4.50 = $504.50. Max loss = $4.50 × 100 × 2 contracts = $900. If SPY = $515 at expiry: P&L = ($515 − $504.50) × 100 × 2 = $10.50 × 200 = $2,100 profit (133% return). If SPY = $498: entire $900 premium is lost — options expire worthless.
How to Use the Options Profit Calculator — Step by Step
- 1
Select option type
Choose Call (bet price goes up) or Put (bet price goes down). Long = you bought the option. Short = you sold/wrote the option.
- 2
Enter strike price
Input the strike price of the option contract — the price at which you have the right to buy (call) or sell (put) the underlying stock.
- 3
Enter premium paid
Input the premium you paid per share for the option. Options are priced per share but sold in contracts of 100 shares. A $2.50 premium = $250 per contract.
- 4
Enter number of contracts
Input how many option contracts you bought or sold. Each contract covers 100 shares.
- 5
Enter target stock price
Input the stock price at which you want to see your P&L — your price target or current stock price.
What Your Options Profit Calculator Results Mean
Break-Even Price
The stock price at expiry where you neither profit nor lose. For a long call, it is strike + premium. For a long put, it is strike − premium. The stock must be beyond this level at expiry for you to profit.
Maximum Loss
For long options, maximum loss = premium paid × 100 × number of contracts. This is your full downside — you cannot lose more than the premium regardless of how far the stock moves against you.
P&L at Target Price
Your profit or loss if the underlying stock is at your entered target price at expiration. Use this to evaluate whether the risk-reward of the options trade matches your price target and conviction level.
Options Profit Calculator — Frequently Asked Questions
Q.How do I calculate options profit?
For a long call: P&L = (Stock Price − Strike Price − Premium) × 100 × Contracts, if stock price > strike. Below strike, you lose the full premium. For a long put: P&L = (Strike Price − Stock Price − Premium) × 100 × Contracts, if stock price < strike. Above strike, you lose the full premium.
Q.What is the break-even price for a call option?
Long Call Break-Even = Strike Price + Premium Paid. If you buy a $50 call for $3 premium, your break-even is $53. The stock must be above $53 at expiry for you to profit. Below $53, you lose some or all of the $3 premium.
Q.What is the maximum loss on a long option?
For a long call or long put, your maximum loss is always the total premium paid. If you pay $3 premium for 2 contracts, your max loss = $3 × 100 × 2 = $600. This is one advantage of buying options over selling — your downside is capped.
Q.What is the difference between a call and a put option?
A call option gives you the right to BUY the underlying stock at the strike price. You profit when the stock price rises above your break-even. A put option gives you the right to SELL the stock at the strike price. You profit when the stock price falls below your break-even. Calls are bullish; puts are bearish.
Q.How do I calculate my break-even price for a call option?
Break-even for a long call = Strike Price + Premium Paid. Example: buying a $100 strike call for $5 premium means you need the stock above $105 at expiry to profit. For a put: Break-even = Strike Price − Premium Paid. Options lose value from time decay (theta) daily, so even if the stock reaches your break-even near expiry, you may still lose money if you bought the option much earlier.
About the Author
Forex Trader & Software Developer · Founder, TradeCalc
Active forex trader since 2019, specializing in risk management and systematic position sizing. Built TradeCalc to replace manual spreadsheets used in live trading. Every calculator is cross-verified against broker platforms before publishing.
More Stocks Calculators
Profit / Loss Calculator
Free profit and loss calculator for forex, stocks, and crypto. Enter your entry price, exit price, and position size to instantly see your exact P&L in dollars and pips.
Compounding Calculator
Free trading compounding calculator for forex, binary options & crypto. Enter starting balance, % gain per trade, and periods to see your account grow.
Break-Even Calculator
Calculate your break-even price after broker fees, spread, and commissions for any trade. Know exactly what price you need to reach to cover your trading costs.
Gain & Loss % Calculator
Calculate the percentage gain or loss on your trading account. Enter your starting and ending balance to see exact % change, dollar amount, and recovery needed.