Futures Profit Calculator

Calculate futures P&L for ES, NQ, CL, GC, and more with tick, point, fee, and margin breakdowns.

Contract Setup

Futures Contract

Tick Size: 0.25

Tick Value: $12.5

Point Value: $50

Exchange Margin: $25,861

CME maintenance margin for the front-month contract as of Sep 2026. Exchanges change margins often and brokers usually require more — check with your broker.

Position

Trade Details

Entry Price

Exit Price

Contracts

Fee / Contract

One-way commission — doubled for round trip

Net Profit / Loss

+$990.00

ROI: +3.83%

Points Moved

+20

Ticks Moved

+80

Margin Required

$25,861

Breakdown

Profit per Contract+$1,000.00

Gross Profit+$1,000.00

Total Fees-$10.00

Net Profit / Loss+$990.00

Points Moved: 4,520 − 4,500 = 20 pts (long)

Profit per Contract: 20 × $50 = $1,000.00

Gross Profit: $1,000.00 × 1 = $1,000.00

Total Fees: $5 × 1 × 2 = $10.00

Net Profit / Loss: $1,000.00 − $10.00 = $990.00

How Futures Profit Calculation Works

A futures contract is a standardized agreement to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price on a future date. Each contract has a defined tick size (minimum price movement) and tick value (dollar amount per tick). For example, the E-mini S&P 500 (ES) has a tick size of 0.25 points and a tick value of $12.50, meaning each full point is worth $50 per contract.

The core formula is simple: Profit = Points Moved × Point Value × Number of Contracts. For a long position, you profit when the price rises. For a short position, you profit when it falls. For example, if you buy 1 ES contract at 4500 and sell at 4520, you gain 20 points × $50 = $1,000 before commissions.

Going long means you expect the price to rise — you buy first, then sell at a higher price. Going short means you expect the price to fall — you sell first, then buy back at a lower price. Futures make short-selling easy, allowing you to profit in any market direction.

Futures are highly leveraged instruments. Your margin (collateral) is typically 5–15% of the contract's notional value. This amplifies both gains and losses — a 1% move in the underlying can result in a 7–20% ROI on your margin. Losses are not capped at your margin: a fast or gapping market can cost more than the margin you posted, and your broker can demand more funds or close the position. The ROI shown here is calculated as Net Profit ÷ Total Margin Required.

This calculator is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before trading. For other financial calculations, see the options profit calculator, crypto profit calculator, or investment calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is futures profit calculated?

For a long position, futures profit = (Exit Price − Entry Price) × Point Value × Number of Contracts. For a short position, futures profit = (Entry Price − Exit Price) × Point Value × Number of Contracts. Subtract round-trip commissions to get net profit.

How much is 1 point worth in ES or NQ futures?

In ES (E-mini S&P 500), 1 point is worth $50 per contract because each 0.25-point tick is worth $12.50. In NQ (E-mini Nasdaq 100), 1 point is worth $20 per contract because each 0.25-point tick is worth $5. The calculator uses each contract's built-in tick size and point value automatically.

What's the difference between a tick and a point in futures?

A tick is the minimum price increment a futures contract can move. A point is typically one full unit of the contract's price. For ES (E-mini S&P 500), one tick = 0.25 points = $12.50. Four ticks make one full point worth $50. Some contracts like YM use 1 tick = 1 point.

How does leverage affect ROI in futures?

Futures use margin-based leverage, so your ROI is calculated on margin deposited, not the full contract value. With the S&P 500 near 7,600 (September 2026), one ES contract controls about $380,000 of exposure with roughly $25,900 of exchange margin — about 15:1 leverage. A 1% move in the index is roughly a 15% gain or loss on that margin.

What's the difference between long and short in futures?

Long (buy) profits when the price goes up. Short (sell) profits when the price goes down. Futures markets allow short-selling without borrowing — you simply enter a short position, and your broker handles the settlement. Both directions use leverage, and losses can exceed the margin posted. Some contracts, including CL crude oil futures, can trade at negative prices, so a long position's losses are not necessarily capped at a price of zero. A short position's loss has no theoretical limit as prices rise.

Which futures contracts does this calculator support?

This calculator supports the most popular CME Group futures: E-mini S&P 500 (ES), Nasdaq 100 (NQ), Dow Jones (YM), Russell 2000 (RTY), Micro E-mini variants (MES, MNQ), Crude Oil (CL), Natural Gas (NG), Gold (GC), Silver (SI), Euro FX (6E), and agricultural contracts (Corn ZC, Soybeans ZS, Wheat ZW).

Are the prices in this calculator real-time?

No. This is an offline calculator — you enter your own entry and exit prices. Real-time futures quotes require a live data feed from your broker or a market data provider. Use this tool to plan trades or review past performance based on your own prices.

Calculate futures profit using tick size, tick value, point value, contracts, fees, and margin. Includes ES, NQ, CL, and GC examples.

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