What is Realised PNL and Unrealised PNL and How do we calculate Net profit?

Modified on Fri, 11 Jul at 1:49 PM

In trading, PNL stands for Profit and Loss a key metric that shows how much you’ve gained or lost on your trades. There are two types of PNL that every trader should understand:


1. Realised PNL

Realised PNL is the actual profit or loss you make after closing a position.

  • It is calculated when you sell or exit a trade.

  • The result is credited or debited to your trading wallet.

  • It reflects your locked-in gains or losses  meaning it's final and cannot change.

Example:
You bought Bitcoin at $30,000 and sold it at $35,000.
Your realised PNL is +$5,000.


2. Unrealised PNL

Unrealised PNL is the potential profit or loss on your open (ongoing) positions.

  • It changes in real time as the market price fluctuates.

  • It is not final — it becomes realised only when the position is closed.

  • Used to monitor the current performance of your trade.

Example:
You bought Bitcoin at $30,000 and it's currently trading at $35,000.
Your unrealised PNL is +$5,000, but it may rise or fall as the market moves.


Important Note for Delta Exchange Users:

On Delta Exchange, if you want to calculate your net PNL, you must subtract the trading fees from your realised PNL.

  • The PNL Analytics section on Delta shows only your realised PNL.

  • It does not include fees by default.

  • To get your net PNL, manually deduct the fees listed in the same analytics section.



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