Brokerage Calculator
Calculate the true cost of any NSE/BSE trade. Get a full breakdown of brokerage, STT, exchange charges, GST, SEBI fees and stamp duty — for equity delivery, intraday, and F&O.
Brokerage Calculator
Calculate exact charges for NSE/BSE equity, intraday and F&O trades — brokerage, STT, GST, exchange, SEBI and stamp duty.
About Brokerage Calculator
When you buy or sell stocks on NSE or BSE, you pay far more than just brokerage. Every Indian stock market transaction incurs a combination of charges: brokerage (your broker's fee), STT (Securities Transaction Tax paid to the government), exchange transaction charges (NSE/BSE fees), GST (18% on brokerage and exchange charges), SEBI turnover fees, and stamp duty. Each of these has a different calculation method and varies by trade type — delivery (CNC), intraday (MIS), or F&O (futures and options). Understanding the total cost is essential for accurate profit and loss calculation.
The distinction between gross P&L and net P&L is critical for active traders. Gross P&L is simply (Sell Price − Buy Price) × Quantity. Net P&L = Gross P&L minus all transaction charges. For large delivery trades, total charges are typically 0.2–0.5% of trade value. For intraday equity trades, charges are lower (0.05–0.15%) due to the lower STT rate (0.025% on sell side only vs 0.1% on both sides for delivery). For options, the charge structure is entirely different — STT is 0.02% of premium on the sell side, making costs very different from equity trading.
For active intraday traders making multiple trades daily, transaction costs compound significantly. A trader making 5 round trips daily on ₹5 lakh turnover at typical intraday charges of ₹300 per ₹5 lakh round-trip spends approximately ₹6,000/month purely on transaction costs — ₹72,000/year. This invisible drain on returns is why profitable intraday trading requires a large enough edge to consistently exceed transaction costs before generating net profit.
Flat-fee discount brokers (Zerodha, Upstox, Groww — charging a flat ₹20 per order regardless of trade size) are almost always cheaper than percentage brokers for trades above ₹8,000–10,000 in value. Below this threshold, the flat fee becomes a significant percentage of trade value. This calculator helps you compare costs across broker types and trade sizes so you can choose the most cost-efficient execution for your trading style.
How to Use the Brokerage Calculator
Select trade type — Equity Delivery (CNC) for multi-day holdings, Equity Intraday (MIS) for same-day trades, or F&O for futures and options contracts.
Enter buy and sell prices — the exact prices at which you bought and sold the security.
Enter quantity — number of shares (equity) or number of lots × lot size (F&O).
Choose broker type — Flat fee (₹20 per order, used by Zerodha, Upstox, Groww) or percentage-based (traditional brokers at 0.25–0.5%).
Read the full breakdown — brokerage, STT, exchange charges, GST, SEBI fee, stamp duty, total charges, gross P&L, and net P&L all itemised.
Pro Tips
For intraday trades with thin profit margins, calculate breakeven (the minimum price move needed to cover all charges) before entering. Many intraday setups that look profitable on a gross basis are actually losses after charges — especially on small lot sizes.
Delivery trades pay 0.1% STT on both buy and sell sides (0.2% total). Intraday pays 0.025% only on the sell side — 8× lower STT. For short-term trades (1–5 days), delivery vs intraday is almost the same cost but delivery avoids the overnight risk premium some brokers charge for MIS positions.
When backtesting a trading strategy, always include realistic transaction costs in your P&L calculation. A strategy that shows 20% annual return before costs at 0.2% per trade and 100 trades/year actually returns approximately 0% after costs. Costs can make or break a strategy's viability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the total charges on equity delivery trades in India?
For delivery trades: brokerage (₹0 at Zerodha/Upstox free delivery, ₹20 flat, or up to 0.5% at traditional brokers), STT 0.1% on both buy and sell sides (0.2% total), NSE/BSE exchange transaction charges ~0.00335%, GST 18% on brokerage and exchange charges, SEBI turnover fee ₹10 per crore, and stamp duty 0.015% on buy side only. Total transaction cost: typically 0.3–0.5% of trade value.
Can STT be avoided or reduced?
No — STT is a mandatory government tax levied on all exchange-traded transactions in India under the Securities Transaction Tax Act. Your broker has no discretion to reduce or waive it. However, the STT rate differences across trade types are significant: intraday equity incurs 8× less STT than delivery because it is levied only on the sell side. For active traders making multiple round trips daily, choosing intraday (MIS) over delivery for same-day trades significantly reduces this cost. F&O options have a very different STT structure — 0.02% on premium on sell side — making them tax-efficient for hedging strategies.
Do flat-fee brokers like Zerodha always work out cheaper?
For trades above ₹8,000–10,000, yes — ₹20 flat is always cheaper than 0.25% brokerage. For very small trades (₹1,000), ₹20 is 2% — far more expensive than 0.25%. The break-even trade size is approximately ₹8,000 (₹20 = 0.25% of ₹8,000). Most active equity intraday and F&O traders benefit significantly from flat-fee brokers since position values are usually much larger.
What is SEBI turnover fee and why is it charged?
SEBI charges ₹10 per crore of turnover (0.0001%) as a regulatory fee for market oversight and investor protection. While negligible for retail traders, it adds up for high-frequency traders and institutions. The fee applies to all NSE/BSE transactions.
How are F&O charges different from equity charges?
F&O trades have a completely different charge structure. For options, STT applies at 0.02% of premium on the sell side only. Exchange transaction charges differ from equity. There is no stamp duty on F&O trades (unlike equity). Brokerage for futures is typically ₹20 flat per order at discount brokers. The total cost per options trade is generally much lower in percentage terms than equity since you are trading a small premium, not the full notional value.
Can trading charges affect tax calculations?
Yes. For intraday trading, which is treated as speculative business income under Indian tax law, all transaction charges are deductible business expenses. STT paid can be offset against trading income. For F&O trading (also business income), all charges including STT are deductible. For delivery equity investments, transaction charges are added to the cost of acquisition, reducing capital gains. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
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