Futures trading offers powerful opportunities for traders to capitalize on price movements, but understanding how profits and losses are calculated is essential for informed decision-making. Two key concepts—unrealized profit and loss (P&L) and realized P&L—often cause confusion. Why might your displayed profit while holding a position differ from the actual gain or loss after closing the trade? This article clarifies these differences using clear formulas, real-world examples, and practical insights.
What Are Unrealized and Realized P&L?
The fundamental distinction between unrealized and realized profit and loss lies in whether the position has been closed.
- Unrealized P&L: This reflects the current profit or loss of an open position, fluctuating in real time with market prices. On platforms like MEXC, unrealized P&L is typically calculated using a fair price, which combines index and market data to reduce manipulation risks. Users can often choose their price benchmark within the active position settings.
- Realized P&L: This is the actual profit or loss locked in once a position is closed. It includes all costs such as trading fees, funding payments, and the difference between entry and exit prices based on actual executed trades.
Fair price helps prevent price manipulation by anchoring valuation to broader market indicators, but it may differ slightly from the latest traded price—contributing to discrepancies between unrealized and realized outcomes.
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Comparing the Calculation Formulas
Understanding the math behind each type of P&L enables more precise risk assessment. Below are the standard formulas used for both long and short positions.
Long Position
- Unrealized P&L = (Fair Price – Entry Price) × Position Size × Contract Value
- Realized P&L = (Exit Price – Entry Price) × Position Size × Contract Value – Fees – Funding Costs
Short Position
- Unrealized P&L = (Entry Price – Fair Price) × Position Size × Contract Value
- Realized P&L = (Entry Price – Exit Price) × Position Size × Contract Value – Fees – Funding Costs
These formulas highlight that while unrealized gains depend on fair value estimates, realized results hinge on actual execution prices and associated costs.
Practical Example: Why Profits May Differ After Closing
Let’s examine a real scenario using a USDT-margined futures contract for ETHUSDT, where a trader opens a long position.
Trade Details:
- Trading Pair: ETHUSDT (Long/Going Long on ETH)
- Entry Price: 2721.18 USDT
- Fair Price: 2723.92 USDT
- Exit Price: 2722.91 USDT
- Position Size: 50 contracts (1 contract = 0.01 ETH)
- Opening Fee: -0.2722 USDT
- Closing Fee: -0.2722 USDT
- Funding Cost: 0 USDT
Step-by-Step Calculation:
Unrealized P&L (while holding):
= (Fair Price – Entry Price) × Contracts × Contract Value
= (2723.92 – 2721.18) × 50 × 0.01
= 1.37 USDT
This means the trader sees a floating profit of $1.37 before closing.
Realized P&L (after closing):
= (Exit Price – Entry Price) × Contracts × Contract Value – Total Fees
= (2722.91 – 2721.18) × 50 × 0.01 – (0.2722 + 0.2722)
= 0.865 – 0.5444
= 0.3206 USDT
Despite showing $1.37 in unrealized gains, the final realized profit is only $0.32—a significant drop due to fees and pricing differences.
👉 See how accurate exit pricing affects net returns
Why Unrealized and Realized P&L Don’t Always Match
Several factors contribute to discrepancies between what you see during holding and what you get after closing:
Reason 1: Fair Price vs. Market Execution Price
Unrealized P&L uses fair price, which smooths out volatility by referencing an index. However, when you close a trade, it executes at the current market price, which can diverge sharply during high volatility or large order imbalances.
Reason 2: Transaction Fees and Funding Costs
Every trade incurs fees—both when opening and closing positions. Additionally, if you hold a position across funding intervals:
- A positive funding rate means longs pay shorts.
- A negative funding rate means shorts pay longs.
These periodic transfers reduce net profitability even if price moves favorably.
Reason 3: Market Volatility and Slippage
Cryptocurrency markets react rapidly to large orders. A single whale trade can spike or crash prices momentarily, causing slippage—your order fills at a worse rate than expected, especially with market orders.
Pro Tip: Use limit orders to control execution price and minimize slippage impact.
FAQ: Common Questions About Position P&L
Q: Can unrealized P&L ever equal realized P&L?
A: Yes, under ideal conditions—low volatility, minimal fees, and no funding costs—if fair price and execution price align closely.
Q: Does leverage affect unrealized P&L?
A: No, leverage doesn’t change the raw P&L amount, but it amplifies percentage returns relative to your initial margin.
Q: How often is fair price updated?
A: Typically every few seconds, based on real-time index data and funding mechanisms to reflect true market equilibrium.
Q: Is it possible to have positive unrealized P&L but negative realized P&L?
A: Absolutely. If the market reverses before you close—or if fees and slippage outweigh gains—you may lock in a loss despite earlier profits.
Q: Should I trust the unrealized P&L shown on my dashboard?
A: Use it as a guide, not a guarantee. Final outcomes depend on execution quality, fees, and timing.
How to Calculate Position Profit and Loss Rate
Beyond absolute profit figures, traders should evaluate performance through P&L rate, which measures return relative to capital at risk.
Formula:
Position P&L Rate = (Net P&L / Initial Margin) × 100%
Where:
- Net P&L = Unrealized P&L – Fees – Funding
- Initial Margin = (Entry Price × Contracts × Contract Value) ÷ Leverage
Example:
- Trading Pair: ETHUSDT (Long)
- Leverage: 500x
- Entry Price: 2697.30 USDT
- Current Fair Price: 2703.67 USDT
- Contracts: 50 (each = 0.01 ETH)
- Fees: 0.2697 USDT
- Funding: 0 USDT
Step 1: Initial Margin
= (2697.30 × 50 × 0.01) / 500
= 1348.65 / 500
= 2.6973 USDT
Step 2: Unrealized P&L
= (2703.67 – 2697.30) × 50 × 0.01
= 3.185 USDT
Step 3: Net P&L After Fees
= 3.185 – 0.2697 = 2.9153 USDT
Step 4: P&L Rate
= (2.9153 / 2.6973) × 100% ≈ 108%
This means the trader achieved over a 100% return on their initial capital—impressive, but highly sensitive to volatility and liquidation risk at such high leverage.
👉 Maximize your return potential with smarter position sizing
Final Thoughts
Understanding the mechanics behind unrealized vs. realized P&L empowers traders to make better-informed decisions. While floating profits look promising on screen, final results depend on execution quality, fee structure, funding costs, and market dynamics.
Key takeaways:
- Monitor both fair price and market price.
- Account for all costs before calculating net gains.
- High leverage boosts returns but increases liquidation risk.
- Use limit orders to control slippage.
By mastering these concepts, you're better equipped to navigate the fast-moving world of crypto futures trading with confidence and precision.
Keywords: unrealized profit and loss, realized profit and loss, futures trading P&L, fair price vs market price, position profit calculation, crypto futures fees, funding rate impact