Percentage Gain Calculator
Turn two prices into % gain/loss and dollar change — plus the exact gain needed to recover a loss.
Gain / Loss
Live toolPer-share prices or total position values — both inputs must use the same basis.
in the basis you entered
A 20.00% drop from here would erase this gain.
Figures exclude commissions, fees, taxes, and dividends unless already embedded in the values entered; past price changes are not predictive.
Losses and gains are not symmetric
The gain that undoes a loss is measured from the smaller, post-loss base — so it is always bigger than the loss itself.
How it works
Enter what the position started at and what it is worth now — per-share prices or total position values, as long as both use the same basis. The calculator returns the dollar change and the percentage gain or loss. When the result is a loss, it also shows the exact gain needed to get back to even — which is always bigger than the loss, because the recovery is measured from the smaller, post-loss base. When the result is a gain, it shows the mirror insight: the drop that would erase it.
The formula
Absolute change = final value − initial value. Positive means the position gained dollars; negative means it lost dollars.
Percentage gain = ((final − initial) ÷ initial) × 100. Take the dollar change, divide it by the initial value, then multiply by 100 to express it as a percent.
Recovery gain (after a loss of L percent) = (L ÷ (100 − L)) × 100. To find the gain that undoes a loss, divide the loss percent by 100 minus the loss percent, then multiply by 100. A 50% loss needs 50 ÷ 50 × 100 = a 100% gain.
Giveback loss (after a gain of G percent) = (G ÷ (100 + G)) × 100. A gain is fully erased by a smaller loss, because that loss is measured from the larger, post-gain base.
Worked example
A loss, with the recovery insight. You entered at $80.00 and the stock now trades at $62.00.
- Absolute change: 62.00 − 80.00 = −$18.00 per share.
- Percentage: (−18.00 ÷ 80.00) × 100 = −22.50% — a loss.
- Recovery: L = 22.5, so (22.5 ÷ (100 − 22.5)) × 100 = (22.5 ÷ 77.5) × 100 ≈ 29.03%. A 22.50% loss requires a 29.03% gain to break even.
- Check from prices: (80.00 ÷ 62.00 − 1) × 100 ≈ 29.03 ✓ — and $62.00 × 1.2903226 = $80.00, back to entry ✓.
A gain, with the giveback insight. From $100.00 to $125.00: absolute change +$25.00, percentage (25.00 ÷ 100.00) × 100 = +25.00%. Giveback: (25 ÷ (100 + 25)) × 100 = 20.00% — a 20.00% drop from here would erase this gain, since $125.00 × (1 − 0.20) = $100.00.
FAQ
How do I calculate the percentage gain on a stock?
Subtract what you paid from what it's worth now, divide by what you paid, and multiply by 100. Buying at $80 and seeing $92 is (92 − 80) ÷ 80 × 100 = a 15% gain.
Why does a 50% loss require a 100% gain to break even?
Because the recovery is measured from a smaller base. A $100 position that falls 50% is worth $50, and $50 must double — gain 100% — to return to $100. The general rule is gain = loss ÷ (100 − loss) × 100.
What is the difference between absolute change and percentage change?
Absolute change is the dollar move (final minus initial); percentage change scales that move by your starting value. A $10 move is 20% on a $50 stock but only 1% on a $1,000 stock.
Can I enter total position values instead of per-share prices?
Yes — percentage gain is the same either way, as long as both inputs use the same basis. The dollar change will then be for the whole position rather than per share.
Does this calculator include commissions, fees, or dividends?
No — it compares the two values you enter. For a fee-inclusive number, use the Break-Even Calculator or the Stock Profit Calculator, which itemize costs.
Is percentage gain the same as annual return?
No. Percentage gain ignores time — a 25% gain over one year and over ten years read identically here. Use the CAGR Calculator to annualize a multi-year return.
Continue your analysis
Your numbers ride along — the next tool opens pre-filled.
Educational use only — nothing here is investment, tax, or legal advice. This calculator compares the two values you enter: figures exclude commissions, fees, taxes, and dividends unless already embedded in the values entered, and past price changes are not predictive of future results. US markets / USD framing throughout.