Author
LoansJagat Team
Read Time
5 Min
02 Jun 2025
Ritika, a final-year MBA student from Ahmedabad, was ecstatic. After weeks of studying YouTube videos and following finance influencers on Instagram, she decided to buy her first stock—100 shares of a mid-cap IT business for ₹520 per share.
Her colleague Abhay enquired the following day, "So, how much profit did you make?"
She laughed and replied, "₹1,000!" "I sold them for ₹530.
Abhay: "Did you check your brokerage charges, taxes, and transaction fees?"
Ritika stopped. "Wait… what charges?"
That's when she realised the value of a stockbroking calculator.
Thousands of new traders in India, like Ritika, enter the stock market each day without fully understanding the costs. This blog explains what a broking calculator is, how to use one, and why it is essential for every investor and trader.
A stock broking calculator is an online application that allows you to estimate the total charges you will incur when purchasing and selling stocks.
The breakdown is as follows:
So, before you jump to conclusions regarding profit or loss, use the calculator to get a clear picture.
Traders often believe that buying a stock for ₹500 and selling it at ₹510 results in a profit of ₹10 per share.
That is not true.
Let's examine the kind of fees that may be incurred in a simple, everyday transaction.
Type of Charge | Applies On | Approximate Rate |
Brokerage | Trade value | ₹20 per order (or percentage-based) |
Securities Transaction Tax (STT) | Sell-side (for intraday) | 0.025% |
Exchange Transaction Charges | NSE/BSE | 0.00345% |
SEBI Charges | Trade value | ₹10 per crore |
Stamp Duty | Buy-side only | 0.003% |
GST | On brokerage + transaction charges | 18% |
Even on small transactions, these fees can reduce your profits, and for high-volume traders, they can make or break your strategy.
Let's imagine you wish to assess the costs of purchasing and selling 100 shares of a corporation.
A broking calculator often asks for:
Some brokers, including Zerodha, Upstox, and Angel One, provide their own calculators online.
Read More - How to Become a Stock Broker in India
Let's look at Ritika's actual trade utilising a broking calculator.
Trade Details:
Broker: Zerodha (fixed rate of ₹20 for each executed order).
Particulars | Value (₹) |
Buy Value | ₹52,000 |
Sell Value | ₹53,000 |
Brokerage (Buy + Sell) | ₹40 |
STT on Sell | ₹13.25 |
Exchange Txn Charges | ₹3.65 |
GST (18% on brokerage + txn) | ₹7.83 |
SEBI Charges | ₹0.10 |
Stamp Duty | ₹1.56 |
Total Charges | ₹66.39 |
Net Profit | ₹933.61 (not ₹1,000) |
Ritika imagined she earned ₹1,000. However, after the charges, she made ₹933.61.
Doing 10 trades every week adds up to roughly ₹650 in hidden charges.
Charge Type | Intraday Trade | Delivery Trade |
Brokerage | Usually flat (e.g., ₹20/order) | Some brokers frequently offer complimentary services. |
STT | Only on the sell side | Available on both the purchase and sell sides. |
Stamp Duty | On the buy side only | On the buy side only |
GST | Regarding broking and exchange charges | On brokerage and exchange charges |
Exchange Fees | Applies | Applies |
SEBI Charges | Applies | Applies |
Long-term investors benefit from delivery trades as they are cheaper. Intraday traders pay more frequently since their transactions are bigger in volume and frequency.
Example- Ritika purchased 100 shares at ₹500 each and chose delivery. She paid just ₹75 in total charges. Abhay earned ₹1,000 from buying and selling shares on the same day (intraday) but had to pay ₹110 in expenses, leaving him with only ₹890. Ritika laughed and said, "Delivery is cheaper." Abhay laughed, "This is fun, but it costs more!"
Would you like to give one a try? Here are some of the most trusted stock-broking calculators:
Broker | Brokerage Calculator Link | Charge Type |
Zerodha | zerodha.com /calculator | Flat ₹20/order |
Upstox | upstox.com | ₹20/order |
Groww | groww.in | ₹20/order |
Angel One | angelone.in | 0.25% or ₹20 max |
ICICI Direct | icicidirect.com | Slab-based (varies) |
Try a few and see how your charges differ by broker.
A stock broking calculator is not just for finance professionals; it is necessary for all traders. Ritika learnt that it is not about the buy-sell price, but rather what you actually take home after expenses. Before your next trade, take a few seconds to use the calculator, you will save your penny. Stay smart with tools like this, available exclusively on LoansJagat.
Is utilising a broking calculator free?
Yes. All big brokers make it available for free on their websites or apps.
Will my costs be the same as shown?
Almost. Minor variations may occur owing to rounding or changes in tax rates.
Can I use it for F&O trades?
Yes. Most calculators support computations for options and futures.
Do calculators include DP (Depository Participant) charges?
Not always. DP charges (₹10-₹20) apply to every delivery transaction and should be checked individually.
Can I use a single calculator for trading across many brokers?
You can, however, the fees differ by broker. It is recommended to utilise the calculator offered by your individual broker.
Do all brokers charge the same broking fees?
No. Broking fees vary depending on the broker and the package. Discount brokers such as Zerodha, Upstox, and Groww charge a flat fee of ₹20 per trade, whereas full-service brokers may charge a percentage (e.g., 0.3%) of the transaction value.
Is it possible to calculate my brokerage without a calculator?
Yes, but it is difficult. You'll need to account for broking, STT, exchange charges, GST, SEBI fees, and stamp duty, which makes calculators a lot easier and more accurate.
About the Author
LoansJagat Team
We are a team of writers, editors, and proofreaders with 15+ years of experience in the finance field. We are your personal finance gurus! But, we will explain everything in simplified language. Our aim is to make personal and business finance easier for you. While we help you upgrade your financial knowledge, why don't you read some of our blogs?
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