About the Crypto Arbitrage Calculator
This crypto arbitrage calculator tells you whether buying a coin on one exchange and selling it on another actually makes money once every cost is counted. Enter the amount you will trade, the buy price on the cheaper exchange, the sell price on the dearer one, both exchanges’ trading fees, the withdrawal (network) fee for moving the coins and an allowance for slippage, and it returns net profit, return on capital and the minimum price gap you need to break even.
Price differences between exchanges look tempting, but a 1% spread can disappear after two taker fees, a withdrawal fee and a little slippage. This tool is for traders checking a spread they have spotted, comparing fee tiers, or working out how much capital a trade needs before a fixed withdrawal fee stops mattering.
It models a simple transfer arbitrage: buy, withdraw the coins to the second exchange, then sell. In practice prices can move while you wait for confirmations, deposits can be delayed or suspended, and order books may be too thin for your size. Pre-funding both exchanges avoids the transfer delay but ties up more capital.
With the default inputs, the net profit is $57.63. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the crypto arbitrage calculator
- 1Enter how much you will trade.
- 2Enter the buy price on the cheaper exchange and the sell price on the more expensive one.
- 3Enter each exchange’s trading fee and the withdrawal fee for the coin.
- 4Add a slippage allowance based on order size and order-book depth.
- 5Check net profit and the break-even spread before acting.
Formula and method
The trade amount C buys coins on exchange A after its trading fee f_A, at a price pushed up by slippage s. The withdrawal fee W is deducted in coins during the transfer. On exchange B the remaining coins are sold at a price reduced by slippage, and fee f_B is taken from the proceeds. Net profit is what comes back minus what you started with.
Profit before costs is simply C ÷ P_A × P_B − C. The break-even sell price is the price at which proceeds exactly equal C, and the break-even spread expresses it as a percentage above the buy price. Because the withdrawal fee is fixed in coins, the break-even spread falls as the trade size grows.
- C
- Trade amount (capital)
- P_A, P_B
- Buy price on A, sell price on B
- f_A, f_B
- Trading fee rates
- W
- Withdrawal fee in coins
- s
- Slippage per trade
Worked examples
1% BTC spread on $10,000
Buying at $60,030 after slippage, with a 0.1% fee, gets 0.166417 BTC; the 0.0002 BTC withdrawal fee leaves 0.166217. Selling at $60,569.70 after slippage and a 0.1% fee returns $10,057.63, a $57.63 profit from a $100 headline gap. The break-even spread is about 0.42%.
A 0.3% spread that loses money
At a 0.3% gap, the two fees, withdrawal fee and slippage cost more than the $30 headline profit, so the trade loses about $12. The spread has to exceed roughly 0.42% just to break even.
Larger trade with an altcoin
A $50,000 trade buys about 332.75 coins at $150.15 after slippage and a 0.075% fee. After a 0.01-coin withdrawal fee and selling at $152.10 less a 0.1% fee, the 1.5% spread nets about $558 — and the break-even spread is only about 0.38%.
Frequently asked questions
Is crypto arbitrage still profitable?+
Large, obvious gaps on major coins are usually closed within seconds by automated traders. Opportunities still appear on smaller coins, regional exchanges and during volatile moments, but after fees, transfer time and slippage the margins are typically thin.
What costs eat into arbitrage profit?+
Trading fees on both exchanges, withdrawal or network fees for moving coins, slippage when your order moves the price, and the risk that the price changes while coins are in transit. Some routes also involve deposit fees or fiat conversion spreads.
How long does a cross-exchange transfer take?+
It depends on the network and the exchange’s confirmation requirements — from seconds on fast chains to an hour or more for Bitcoin. Many arbitrage traders keep balances on both exchanges so they can trade both sides instantly.
What is the break-even spread?+
It is the minimum percentage difference between the sell and buy prices at which the trade exactly covers all fees and slippage. Any spread above it is profit; below it, the trade loses money.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial advice. Rates, fees and terms vary — confirm with your lender or a licensed advisor before making decisions.