Crypto Unrealized PnL Calculator

About the Crypto Unrealized PnL Calculator

Unrealized PnL — also called floating PnL or paper profit/loss — is the current profit or loss on your open positions. It changes with every price tick and only becomes realized (locked in) when you close the trade. Understanding your unrealized PnL helps you decide when to take profits, cut losses, or hold your position.

This calculator computes the unrealized PnL for any open crypto position. Enter your entry price and current market price along with your position size to see your exact profit or loss. It works for both long and short positions across any cryptocurrency.

Tracking unrealized PnL is crucial for managing your emotions and risk. A large unrealized gain might warrant taking partial profits, while a growing unrealized loss might signal that your trade thesis is no longer valid and it's time to cut the position.

Use the result to map token-release or fee scenarios and revisit the model when market conditions, unlock terms, or portfolio assumptions change.

When This Page Helps

Seeing your exact unrealized PnL in dollar and percentage terms helps you make objective decisions about open trades. Instead of guessing whether you're up or down, you have a precise number that you can compare to your original risk plan and take appropriate action.

How to Use the Inputs

1. Enter the price at which you opened the position.
2. Enter the current market price of the cryptocurrency.
3. Enter your position size in units.
4. Select whether the position is long or short.
5. View your unrealized PnL in dollars and as a percentage.
6. Use the result to decide whether to hold, add, or close the trade.

Example Calculation

Tips & Best Practices

• Don't confuse unrealized PnL with realized PnL — profits aren't real until you close the trade.
• Set rules for when to take profits: e.g., scale out 50% when unrealized gains reach 2R.
• Monitor unrealized losses closely — if a trade exceeds your planned risk, close it immediately.
• Remember that unrealized PnL does not include fees, which reduce your actual profit when closing.
• On leveraged positions, the ROE percentage appears larger but the dollar amount is the same.
• Track unrealized PnL across all open positions to monitor total portfolio exposure.

Monitoring Unrealized PnL Effectively

Professional traders monitor unrealized PnL relative to their original risk plan. If you risked $200 on a trade and the unrealized PnL is +$600, you've achieved 3R (three times your risk). Having predefined rules like "take 50% profit at 2R" prevents emotional decision-making and ensures consistent execution.

The Danger of Unrealized Gains

One of the biggest psychological traps in trading is watching unrealized gains shrink back to zero or turn into losses. This happens when traders don't have exit rules and let greed override their plan. Using trailing stops or partial profit-taking protects against giving back gains while still allowing profitable trades room to grow.

Portfolio-Level Unrealized PnL

Beyond individual trades, tracking total unrealized PnL across all open positions gives you a portfolio-level risk picture. If your total unrealized PnL is deeply negative across multiple positions, it may indicate a broader market move against your bias, warranting a reduction in overall exposure.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the difference between unrealized and realized PnL?

  Unrealized PnL is the profit or loss on positions you still hold. Realized PnL is from closed trades. Unrealized PnL fluctuates with the market and can go from profit to loss and back. Realized PnL is fixed once the trade is closed.

• Does unrealized PnL affect my margin?

  Yes. Unrealized losses reduce your available equity, which can bring you closer to liquidation. Unrealized gains increase your equity, providing additional margin buffer. In cross margin mode, unrealized PnL from all positions affects your total available margin.

• Should I hold a position with large unrealized gains?

  This depends on your strategy. If the trade has reached your take-profit target, closing or partially closing is wise. If the trend is strong and there's no sign of reversal, letting profits run with a trailing stop can capture more upside while protecting gains.

• How are taxes on unrealized gains handled?

  In most jurisdictions, unrealized gains are not taxable — you only owe taxes when you realize the gain by closing the position. However, tax rules vary by country. Some jurisdictions have mark-to-market rules for professional traders that tax unrealized gains annually.

• Why does my exchange show a different PnL than this calculator?

  Exchanges may include or exclude fees, funding payments, and use the mark price instead of the last traded price for PnL calculations. Mark price is typically the index price plus a basis, which reduces manipulation risk but may differ slightly from the spot price.

• Should I include fees in my PnL calculation?

  For a rough assessment, unrealized PnL without fees is fine. When deciding whether to close, factor in the exit fee. For leveraged positions, also consider any accumulated funding payments. The true PnL upon closing = unrealized PnL − exit fee − accumulated funding.