About the Take Profit Ladder Calculator
This take profit ladder calculator helps you plan an exit in stages instead of trying to sell the exact top. Enter how many coins or shares you hold and your average entry price, then set up to four price targets and the percentage of your original position to sell at each. It returns the total proceeds, your weighted average exit price, profit after fees, return on the portion sold and how much of the position you keep.
Laddering out is a common way for crypto investors to lock in gains during a rally while keeping exposure if the price keeps rising. A typical plan sells enough at the first target to recover the original investment, then trims at higher levels and leaves a small “moon bag”. The table shows each step and the running profit so you can see when your cost basis is fully recovered.
Percentages are of the original holding, and if they add up to more than 100% the later targets are reduced. Fees are charged as a percentage of each sale. Taxes are not included — selling at a profit is usually a taxable event, so check the rules where you live.
With the default inputs, the profit on sold portion (after fees) is $13,963.50. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the take profit ladder calculator
- 1Enter your position size and average entry price.
- 2Set the trading fee your exchange charges.
- 3Enter up to four target prices and the % of your original position to sell at each.
- 4Review the average exit, profit and how many coins you keep.
- 5Adjust targets until your first sale recovers your initial investment, if that is your goal.
Formula and method
Each target sells a share sᵢ of the original position Q at price Pᵢ. Gross proceeds are coins × price, and the trading fee f is deducted from each sale. The average exit price is the coin-weighted average of the target prices, which is what you would have needed to sell everything at once to receive the same gross amount.
Profit compares net proceeds with the cost of the coins sold (coins × average entry price E). Return on the sold portion divides that profit by the cost of those coins. Unsold coins keep their original cost basis, and their future value depends on where you eventually sell them.
- Q
- Total coins held
- E
- Average entry price
- Pᵢ, sᵢ
- Price and share of position for target i
- f
- Trading fee rate per sale
Worked examples
10 ETH from $2,500 with four targets
Selling 2.5 ETH each at $3,000, $3,500 and $4,500 plus 1.5 ETH at $6,000 raises $36,500 gross, an average exit of $4,055.56. After $36.50 in fees and the $22,500 cost of the 9 ETH sold, profit is $13,963.50 and 1 ETH remains.
1 BTC split between two targets, no fees
Half a bitcoin sold at $70,000 and half at $80,000 averages $75,000. Against a $60,000 entry, that is $15,000 profit, a 25% return, with nothing left in the position.
Recover the initial investment first
Selling half the 100 coins at a 2× price nearly returns the $10,000 invested; further sales at $300 and $500 bring gross proceeds to $21,000. After $21 of fees, profit on the 80 coins sold is $12,979, and 20 coins remain as a free position.
Frequently asked questions
What is a take profit ladder?+
It is a plan to sell a position in several pieces at increasing price targets rather than all at once. It locks in gains as the price rises while keeping some exposure in case the rally continues, and removes the pressure of picking the exact top.
How much should I sell at each target?+
There is no universal rule. A common approach is to sell enough at the first target to recover your initial investment, then take 20%–30% at each higher level and keep a small remainder. Your choice depends on conviction, risk tolerance and taxes.
How is the average exit price calculated?+
It is the total gross amount received divided by the total coins sold, so larger sales carry more weight. For example, selling 3 coins at $100 and 1 coin at $200 gives an average exit of $125.
Should I use take profit orders on an exchange?+
Limit sell or take-profit orders execute automatically when the price reaches your target, which helps you stick to the plan. They may not fill during sudden spikes or on illiquid pairs, so check order types and fees on your exchange.
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.