Stop-Loss Calculator
Find the stop-loss price for a given risk amount, percentage or position size.
Please note: Trading carries substantial risk of loss. These calculators are planning tools, not trading advice, and no position sizing method prevents losses.
What the Stop-Loss Calculator does
A stop-loss is a pre-committed exit that caps the loss on a trade. Setting it by percentage is quick; setting it by the amount you are prepared to lose ties it directly to your risk budget. Either way, the decision belongs before the trade, not during it.
Formula
Long stop = Entry − DistanceShort stop = Entry + DistanceDistance from amount = Risk ÷ QuantityDistance from percent = Entry × Percent ÷ 100
Inputs explained
| Input | Unit | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direction | one of 2 options | Yes | — |
| Entry price | selected currency | Yes | Accepts more than 0. |
| Set the stop by | one of 2 options | Yes | — |
| Stop distance | % | In some modes | Shown Set the stop by is Percentage from entry. |
| Total amount at risk | selected currency | In some modes | Accepts more than 0. Shown Set the stop by is Currency amount at risk. |
| Quantity | number | In some modes | Accepts 0 or more. Shown Set the stop by is Currency amount at risk. |
| Currency | one of 10 options | Optional | — |
How to use it
- Choose Direction and Set the stop by.
- Enter Entry price.
- Fill in the remaining inputs the form shows for your choice.
- Select Calculate.
Worked example
Long entry at $80 with a 2.5% stop.
- Direction
- Long
- Entry
- 80
- Mode
- Percentage
- Distance
- 2.5
Distance $2.00, stop-loss at $78.00.
Frequently asked questions
Should the stop be based on percentage or volatility?
Volatility is generally better. A 2% stop is far too tight on a volatile stock and unnecessarily wide on a stable one. Many traders use a multiple of Average True Range instead.
Does a stop-loss guarantee my exit price?
No. A standard stop becomes a market order once triggered, so gaps and fast markets can fill you well below it. Only a guaranteed stop, where offered, removes that risk.
Method and sources
Method. Stop price from the entry and the distance chosen, expressed as a percentage, a price offset or a multiple of volatility, with the resulting loss valued at the position size.
Assumptions
- The stop fills at the price set — the single assumption most likely to fail when it matters.
Limitations
- A stop is an instruction, not a guarantee. Gaps and fast markets fill beyond it, and the realised loss then exceeds the figure here.
- Placement is a trading decision this calculator takes no view on. It prices the stop you choose; it does not tell you where to put it.