Crypto Arbitrage Profit Calculator
A large displayed spread can still lose money after fees, withdrawal costs, gas, and slippage. Use the calculator below to estimate net profit and the break-even spread before you execute a route.
In this guide
5 topics- 1Calculate gross and net arbitrage profit
- 2Include trading, transfer, gas, and slippage costs
- 3Find the break-even spread
- 4Work through a real example
- 5Validate the route in the Spot Scanner
1) The arbitrage profit formula
Net profit is the gross spread captured by your trade minus every cost required to enter, move, and close the route.
- •Gross profit = trade size × gross spread %
- •Net profit = gross profit − trading fees − transfer fees − gas − expected slippage
- •Net ROI = net profit ÷ trade size × 100
2) Costs traders often miss
The visible exchange spread rarely includes all execution costs. A route can look profitable until fixed withdrawal fees or a shallow order book are included.
- •Buy and sell fees apply to separate legs of the trade
- •Withdrawal fees are often fixed, so they hurt small trade sizes more
- •Slippage is the gap between a displayed price and the average price your full order receives
3) Use break-even spread before entering
The break-even spread is the minimum gross spread needed to cover your expected costs. Your target must be meaningfully above it to leave room for execution uncertainty and price movement.
- •Increase the buffer for volatile assets and slow transfers
- •Use the order book or DEX price impact for your real trade size
- •When a route only barely clears break-even, skip it
4) Example: is a 2.5% spread profitable?
On a $1,000 trade, a 2.5% gross spread produces $25. If buy and sell fees cost $2, slippage costs $2, and the transfer costs $3, the estimated net profit is $18 or 1.8%.
- •The same $3 transfer fee would be much more significant on a $100 trade
- •A rising gas fee or one partial fill can remove the remaining buffer
- •Use the calculator with the current network fee before clicking withdraw
5) Calculate first, then validate the route
A positive calculation is only the first filter. The exact withdrawal and deposit route must also be open and supported at both venues.
- •Check the source withdrawal and destination deposit status
- •Confirm the network, memo/tag, minimums, and confirmation requirement
- •Keep a time-stop or hedge plan when transfer time creates price exposure
Net profit checklist
- •Gross spread entered from a current quote
- •Buy and sell fee tiers included
- •Withdrawal and gas costs updated for the selected route
- •Slippage estimated from actual depth or price impact
- •Net profit clears your required risk buffer
- •Deposit and withdrawal route is available on both venues
Interactive tool
Crypto arbitrage profit calculator
Estimate whether a displayed spread remains profitable after trading, transfer, gas, and slippage costs.
What each calculation input means
Use the exact values you would pay on the current route. The calculator is an estimate, not a quote or a guarantee of execution.
| Input | Include | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Gross spread | Live buy-to-sell price difference | Using a stale headline spread |
| Trading fees | Buy and sell exchange fees | Forgetting the closing or second leg |
| Withdrawal fee | Source CEX withdrawal charge | Treating it as zero because the chain is cheap |
| Gas / bridge | On-chain approval, swap, or bridge cost | Spending all native gas in the swap |
| Slippage | Expected price impact at your size | Using the top-of-book price for the whole order |
Market conditions change quickly. Always validate current fees, liquidity, and transfer availability before trading.
Related arbitrage resources
Live route validation
Turn a displayed spread into a trade-ready estimate
Use the Spot Scanner to identify a live buy and sell venue, route network, volume, and withdrawal/deposit status. Then bring the route costs into the calculator before you execute.
- •Start with routes whose deposit and withdrawal status are available
- •Compare volume and order-book depth before estimating slippage
- •Recalculate when you change trade size or transfer network
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate crypto arbitrage profit?
Multiply trade size by the gross spread, then subtract fees on both trades, withdrawal cost, gas or bridge costs, and estimated slippage. The remaining amount is estimated net profit.
What is a good arbitrage spread after fees?
There is no fixed threshold. A suitable spread must exceed your complete break-even cost by a buffer that reflects volatility, liquidity, and transfer-time risk.
Why can a profitable spread become a loss?
The spread can close while an order fills or funds are in transit. Slippage, fee changes, deposit delays, and unavailable routes can also change the result.
Find a live spread to evaluate
Open the Spot Scanner, select a transfer-ready route, and put its current costs into the calculator before trading.