Free trading calculator
Loss recovery calculator: how much do I need to win back a loss?
Losing 50% needs a 100% gain to get back to the start. This calculator shows that maths for any loss, and what a run of losing trades does at your risk level.
After losing 20%, you need +25.0% just to get back to where you started. Losses hurt more than gains help, which is why small risk per trade matters.
| Loss | Gain to recover |
|---|---|
| −10% | +11.1% |
| −20% | +25.0% |
| −30% | +42.9% |
| −40% | +66.7% |
| −50% | +100.0% |
| −75% | +300.0% |
| −90% | +900.0% |
| Losses in a row | Account left |
|---|---|
| 3 | 94.1% |
| 5 | 90.4% |
| 10 | 81.7% |
| 15 | 73.9% |
| 20 | 66.8% |
How to use the loss recovery calculator
- Type how much of your account is down from its highest point.
- Read the gain you need to get back to the start.
- Type your usual risk per trade to see how a losing streak of 3, 5, 10 or 20 trades shrinks the account.
Example: two traders, ten losses in a row
- Trader A risks 1% per trade: about 90% of the account is left.
- Trader B risks 10% per trade: about 35% is left, and needs +187% to recover.
Common mistakes
- Doubling the trade size after a loss to “win it back”. It speeds up losses.
- Believing a losing streak will not happen. Even a good strategy has runs of 5 to 10 losses.
Questions
Why is the gain needed bigger than the loss?
After a loss you have a smaller balance to grow. Down 20% from 100 leaves 80, and 80 needs 25% to get back to 100.
What is drawdown?
The fall from your account's highest balance to its lowest point before a new high. Prop firm challenges often fail traders who go past a set drawdown.
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Calculators are for education and planning. Results exclude spread, commission and swap, and brokers may use different contract sizes. Check your broker's contract specification before trading. Not investment advice.