Options Profit Calculator
Calculate breakeven price, maximum profit, maximum loss, and see a detailed profit/loss table for call and put options at various stock prices.
Quick Answer
For a call option: breakeven = strike price + premium paid. For a put option: breakeven = strike price − premium paid. A $150 call bought for $5.00 breaks even at $155. Each contract covers 100 shares, so total cost is $500 and your max loss is $500. Your profit is unlimited above breakeven for calls or capped at (strike − premium) × 100 for puts.
Each contract = 100 shares
Options Analysis
Position Summary
- Option Type
- call Option (Long)
- Strike Price
- $150.00
- Premium Per Share
- $5.00
- Contracts
- 1 (100 shares)
- Total Cost (Max Loss)
- $500.00
- Breakeven at Expiration
- $155.00
Profit / Loss at Expiration
| Stock Price | Intrinsic Value | P/L Per Contract | Total P/L | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $118.00 | $0.00 | -$500.00 | -$500.00 | -100.0% |
| $122.00 | $0.00 | -$500.00 | -$500.00 | -100.0% |
| $126.00 | $0.00 | -$500.00 | -$500.00 | -100.0% |
| $130.00 | $0.00 | -$500.00 | -$500.00 | -100.0% |
| $134.00 | $0.00 | -$500.00 | -$500.00 | -100.0% |
| $138.00 | $0.00 | -$500.00 | -$500.00 | -100.0% |
| $142.00 | $0.00 | -$500.00 | -$500.00 | -100.0% |
| $146.00 | $0.00 | -$500.00 | -$500.00 | -100.0% |
| $150.00 | $0.00 | -$500.00 | -$500.00 | -100.0% |
| $154.00 | $4.00 | -$100.00 | -$100.00 | -20.0% |
| $155.00BE | $5.00 | +$0.00 | +$0.00 | +0.0% |
| $158.00 | $8.00 | +$300.00 | +$300.00 | +60.0% |
| $162.00 | $12.00 | +$700.00 | +$700.00 | +140.0% |
| $166.00 | $16.00 | +$1,100.00 | +$1,100.00 | +220.0% |
| $170.00 | $20.00 | +$1,500.00 | +$1,500.00 | +300.0% |
| $174.00 | $24.00 | +$1,900.00 | +$1,900.00 | +380.0% |
| $178.00 | $28.00 | +$2,300.00 | +$2,300.00 | +460.0% |
| $182.00 | $32.00 | +$2,700.00 | +$2,700.00 | +540.0% |
About This Tool
The Options Profit Calculator helps traders and investors quickly evaluate the risk and reward profile of call and put options before placing a trade. By entering a strike price, premium paid, number of contracts, and the current stock price, you get an instant breakdown of breakeven price, maximum profit potential, maximum loss, and a detailed profit/loss table showing outcomes at various stock prices at expiration.
How Options Work
An option is a financial contract that gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy (call) or sell (put) an underlying asset at a specified strike price before or at expiration. When you buy a call option, you are betting the stock price will rise above the strike price by more than the premium you paid. When you buy a put option, you are betting the stock price will fall below the strike price by more than the premium. Each standard options contract represents 100 shares of the underlying stock, so a premium of $5.00 per share means a total cost of $500 per contract.
Understanding Breakeven Price
The breakeven price is the stock price at which your option position neither makes nor loses money at expiration. For a long call, the breakeven is the strike price plus the premium paid. For a long put, the breakeven is the strike price minus the premium paid. For example, if you buy a $150 call for $5.00, your breakeven is $155. The stock must trade above $155 at expiration for you to profit. Understanding breakeven is critical because it tells you exactly how much the stock needs to move in your favor just to cover the cost of the option.
Maximum Profit and Maximum Loss
One of the key advantages of buying options (as opposed to selling them) is that your maximum loss is limited to the premium you paid. If you buy one call contract for $5.00, your max loss is $500, regardless of how far the stock drops. For a long call, the maximum profit is theoretically unlimited because there is no cap on how high a stock price can rise. For a long put, the maximum profit is capped because a stock can only fall to zero; your max profit is (strike price minus premium) multiplied by 100 shares per contract. This asymmetric risk/reward profile is what makes options attractive to many traders.
Reading the Profit/Loss Table
The profit/loss table generated by this calculator shows your expected outcome at various stock prices at expiration. The "Intrinsic Value" column shows the in-the-money value of the option. The "P/L Per Contract" column subtracts the premium from the intrinsic value and multiplies by 100 shares. The "Total P/L" column multiplies by the number of contracts. The "Return" column shows the percentage return on your initial investment. Rows highlighted in green mark the breakeven price, and the "Now" badge marks the current stock price so you can see where you stand today.
Factors Not Included in This Calculator
This calculator shows profit and loss at expiration, which is the simplest scenario to model. In reality, several other factors affect an option's price before expiration. Time decay (theta) erodes the value of options every day, especially as expiration approaches. Implied volatility changes can increase or decrease option prices regardless of the stock's direction. The Greeks (delta, gamma, theta, vega, rho) quantify these sensitivities. Commissions and fees also reduce your net profit. For a more complete analysis, consider using a tool that models these factors, but this calculator gives you a solid foundation for understanding the basic risk/reward of any options trade.
Common Options Strategies
While this calculator focuses on single-leg long calls and puts, options can be combined into multi-leg strategies. A covered call involves owning stock and selling a call against it to generate income. A protective put involves buying a put on stock you own as insurance. Vertical spreads (bull call spread, bear put spread) involve buying and selling options at different strikes to reduce cost and cap risk. Iron condors and straddles are popular volatility strategies. Each strategy has its own breakeven points, max profit, and max loss profile. Understanding single-leg options is the first step toward mastering these more advanced strategies.
When to Use This Calculator
Use this calculator before entering any options trade to understand exactly what you are risking and what you stand to gain. Compare different strike prices and premiums to find the best risk/reward ratio for your market outlook. Check how many contracts you can afford within your risk budget by adjusting the contracts field. If your max loss exceeds what you are comfortable risking on a single trade, reduce the number of contracts or consider a different strike price. Disciplined risk management is the single most important factor in long-term options trading success.