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Breakeven Calculator

Calculate the exact price you need to reach to break even after commissions, swap, and spread

Calculate Breakeven Price
Enter your trade parameters and costs

1 standard lot = 100,000 units

Typical spread in pips for the selected pair

Total round-trip commission for the trade

Accumulated swap fees (enter 0 for intraday trades)

Stop Calculating Manually

Journal IQ automatically tracks commissions, swap, and spread for every trade synced from MT4/MT5. Get your Decision IQ Score and see real breakeven data across your entire portfolio.

What is the Breakeven Price?

The breakeven price is the exact price level your trade must reach before you start making a net profit. It accounts for all trading costs including spread, commissions, and swap fees.

Why It Matters:

  • • Every trade starts at a loss due to spread and commissions
  • • Swing trades accumulate swap fees overnight
  • • Knowing your breakeven helps set realistic take-profit targets

For example, buying EUR/USD at 1.08500 with 1.5 pips spread and $7 commission means your breakeven is approximately 1.08520 — you need a 2.2 pip move just to cover costs.

How is Breakeven Calculated?

Formula:

Total Costs = Spread Cost + Commission + |Swap|

Pips Needed = Total Costs / Pip Value

Breakeven = Entry ± (Pips Needed × Pip Size)

Example (Buy EUR/USD):

  • • Entry: 1.08500, 1 lot, Spread: 1.5 pips
  • • Spread cost: 1.5 pips x $10 = $15.00
  • • Commission: $7.00, Swap: $2.30
  • • Total costs: $24.30
  • • Pips needed: $24.30 / $10 = 2.43 pips
  • Breakeven: 1.08524
Tips to Lower Your Breakeven
  • Trade during high-liquidity sessions — London and New York sessions typically offer tighter spreads.
  • Use an ECN/Raw Spread broker — Lower spreads mean a lower breakeven point, even with commissions.
  • Close intraday when possible — Avoid accumulating swap fees by closing positions before market close.
  • Choose swap-free pairs strategically — Some brokers offer swap-free accounts for specific pairs.