Futures Contract Profit Calculator
Calculate profit or loss on futures contracts from entry price, exit price, contract size, and quantity.
Returns gross P&L, commission, and percentage return.
Futures contracts allow traders to buy or sell a standardized quantity of an asset at a predetermined price on a future date. Profit and loss calculations involve contract size, price movement (in ticks), and the dollar value of each tick — understanding these prevents costly surprises.
Formula: Profit/Loss = (Exit Price − Entry Price) × Contract Size × Number of Contracts
For short (sell) positions: reverse the sign. Short P&L = (Entry Price − Exit Price) × Contract Size × Number of Contracts
Tick value approach: P&L = Ticks Moved × Tick Value × Number of Contracts
What each variable means:
- Entry Price — the price at which you opened the position.
- Exit Price — the price at which you closed it.
- Contract Size — the standardized quantity per contract (varies by market).
- Tick — the minimum price movement allowed in that market.
- Tick Value — the dollar amount that one tick represents per contract.
Worked example — E-mini S&P 500 (ES): Contract size: $50 × index value Tick: 0.25 index points | Tick value: $12.50 per contract
Long entry: 5,200.00 | Exit: 5,215.00 | 1 contract Price move: 15.00 points = 60 ticks P&L = 60 × $12.50 × 1 = $750 profit
Common futures contract specs:
| Market | Ticker | Contract Size | Tick Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-mini S&P 500 | ES | $50 × index | $12.50 |
| Crude Oil | CL | 1,000 barrels | $10.00 |
| Gold | GC | 100 troy oz | $10.00 |
| Treasury Bonds | ZB | $100,000 face | $31.25 |
| Euro FX | 6E | €125,000 | $12.50 |
Important: Futures are leveraged instruments — a $12,500 margin deposit controls a $260,000 ES contract. Always calculate maximum loss before entering.