Published: 2026-01-13
Crypto ROI Calculator Guide: Formula, Examples, and Fees
ROI tells you how well your investment actually performed. Here's the formula, two number examples, and why fees change your real result.
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ROI, or return on investment, measures how much you gained or lost relative to what you put in.
It's expressed as a percentage, which makes it easy to compare different trades or time periods.
- Shows performance as a simple percentage
- Works for a single trade or a whole portfolio
- Easier to compare than raw profit numbers
The Basic Formula
ROI = (Current value − Amount invested) ÷ Amount invested × 100.
A positive number means profit. A negative number means loss.
- Subtract what you invested from what it's worth now
- Divide the result by what you invested
- Multiply by 100 to get a percentage
Worked Example
You invested $1,000 in Bitcoin. It's now worth $1,300.
ROI = ($1,300 − $1,000) ÷ $1,000 × 100 = 30%.
- Invested: $1,000
- Current value: $1,300
- ROI: 30% gain
Why Fees Change the Real Number
The simple formula ignores fees paid to buy and sell. Real ROI should subtract those costs too.
If you paid $10 in buy fees and expect to pay $13 in sell fees, your true gain is smaller than it first appears.
- Add buy fee and estimated sell fee to your cost
- Recalculate ROI using total cost, not just purchase price
- Frequent traders should always check ROI after fees
ROI With Fees, Worked Example
Same trade: $1,000 invested, now worth $1,300. Buy fee was $1, expected sell fee is $1.30.
Real ROI = ($1,300 − $1.30 − $1,000 − $1) ÷ $1,000 × 100 = 29.77%.
- Gross ROI: 30%
- Real ROI after fees: 29.77%
- The gap grows with more frequent trading
ROI Checklist Before You Trust the Number
Before you celebrate or worry about an ROI figure, check these points.
This helps you trust the number you're looking at.
- Did I include buy and sell fees, not just the price change?
- Am I comparing the same currency and time period?
- Did I account for any withdrawal fees if I cashed out?
- Is this ROI for one trade or my whole portfolio?
- Have I recalculated after any additional purchases?
FAQ: ROI Questions
Here are quick answers to common questions about calculating returns.
These apply to a single trade or a broader portfolio view.
- Is ROI the same as profit? No, ROI is a percentage; profit is the raw dollar or won amount.
- Should I calculate ROI before or after taxes? Most investors track pre-tax ROI, then handle taxes separately.
- Does ROI account for time held? No, for time-adjusted comparisons you'd need a separate annualized return figure.
- Why does my exchange show a different number? Some platforms exclude fees or use a different starting price.
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