Drawdown Calculator

Calculate the percentage gain needed to recover from drawdowns. Understand the asymmetric nature of losses and why protecting capital is crucial in trading.

Drawdown Settings

USD

Your account balance before the loss

%
0%50%99%

Percentage of capital lost

Recovery Analysis

Recovery Needed
+0.0%
to break even
Loss Amount -0.00 USD

Money lost from drawdown

Remaining Balance0.00 USD

Current account balance

Required Profit +0.00 USD

Profit needed to recover

Recovery Time (Est.)0 months

Quick recovery possible (at 5%/month)

Asymmetry Ratio
0.00x

You need 0.0x more gain than loss

Drawdown vs Recovery Chart

DrawdownRecovery NeededDifficulty
-10% +0.0% Manageable
-20% +0.0% Moderate
-25% +0.0% Moderate
-30% +0.0% Challenging
-40% +0.0% Challenging
-50% +0.0% Challenging
-60% +0.0% Very Difficult
-70% +0.0% Very Difficult
-80% +0.0% Extremely Difficult
-90% +0.0% Extremely Difficult

Key Drawdown Examples

20% Loss
-20%
requires
+25%

Manageable recovery needed

50% Loss
-50%
requires
+100%

Double your remaining capital

75% Loss
-75%
requires
+300%

Nearly impossible to recover

Understanding Drawdowns

What is a Drawdown?

A drawdown is the peak-to-trough decline in your account balance. It measures the maximum loss from a previous high point before reaching a new peak.

Asymmetric Nature

Losses and gains are not symmetric. A 50% loss requires a 100% gain to break even. This is why capital preservation is paramount in trading.

Risk Management

Professional traders limit drawdowns to 10-20% maximum. Use stop losses, position sizing, and diversification to protect your capital.

Recovery Strategy

After a drawdown, reduce position sizes and focus on high-probability setups. Don't revenge trade or try to recover losses quickly.