Calculation of Expiry Futures Contracts' Profit and Loss

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Understanding how profit and loss (PnL) is calculated in expiry futures contracts is essential for traders aiming to manage risk, evaluate performance, and make informed trading decisions. This guide breaks down the core formulas used in calculating key metrics such as entry price, floating PnL, realized PnL, and more—specifically for both coin-margined and U-stablecoin-margined futures contracts.

Whether you're trading BTC-USD or BTC-USDT futures, knowing how these values are derived helps improve position management and strategic planning.

Core Concepts in Futures PnL Calculation

Before diving into formulas, it's important to define several foundational terms used across futures trading platforms.

Size

"Size" refers to the number of contracts held in a position. In One-way mode, long positions have a positive size, while short positions are represented with a negative value. In Hedge mode, both long and short positions use positive numbers, allowing independent management of directional exposure.

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Entry Price

The entry price reflects the average cost basis of your open position. It updates whenever you add to or reverse a position. After settlement, the entry price is replaced by the settlement price.

For U-stablecoin-margined contracts:

Entry Price = (Current Size × Entry Price + Added Size × Added Size's Entry Price) / (Current Size + Added Size)

For coin-margined contracts:

Entry Price = (Current Size + Added Size) / (Current Size / Entry Price + Added Size / Added Size's Entry Price)

Note: All size values used in calculations are treated as positive numbers.

Floating PnL: Measuring Unrealized Gains or Losses

Floating PnL (Profit and Loss) represents the unrealized gain or loss on an open position, based on the current market price (mark price).

For U-Stablecoin-Margined Contracts

For Coin-Margined Contracts

The inverse pricing mechanism in coin-margined contracts accounts for settlement in the underlying cryptocurrency rather than a stablecoin.

Floating PnL Ratio

This ratio expresses floating PnL as a percentage of the margin allocated to the position:

(Floating PnL / Position's margin) × 100%

A high ratio indicates significant unrealized returns relative to capital at risk—useful for assessing leverage efficiency and potential liquidation risks.

Realized PnL: Capturing Closed and Settled Profits

Realized PnL includes all profits or losses from closed positions, settled contracts, and associated fees.

Closed PnL

Represents gains or losses when a position is manually closed.

U-Stablecoin-Margined:

Coin-Margined:

Settlement PnL

Applies when a futures contract expires. At expiry, open positions are settled at the final settlement price.

Formulas mirror Closed PnL but substitute "Close price" with "Settlement price."

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Realized PnL Formula

Realized PnL = Closed PnL + Settlement PnL + Trading Fees

Note: Trading fees are typically deducted from the account balance and impact net profitability.

Realized PnL Ratio

Measures performance relative to the margin used on closed positions:

(Realized PnL / Closed position's margin) × 100%

This metric helps assess historical trade efficiency and refine future strategies.

Practical Examples

Example 1: Updating Entry Price

U-Stablecoin-Margined Contract (BTC-USDT)

You hold a long position of 10 contracts with an entry price of $100,000. You add 5 more contracts at $160,000.

New Entry Price = (10 × 100,000 + 5 × 160,000) / (10 + 5) = 120,000 USDT

Your average cost increases due to the higher fill price on additional contracts.

Coin-Margined Contract (BTC-USD)

You hold a short position of 10 contracts at $100,000. You add 5 more at $80,000.

New Entry Price = (10 + 5) / (10/100,000 + 5/80,000) ≈ 92,307 USD

Due to the inverse calculation method, adding at a lower price improves the average entry level for shorts.

Example 2: Calculating Floating PnL

U-Stablecoin-Margined (Long BTC-USDT)

PnL = 0.01 × 10 × 1 × (160,000 - 100,000) = 6,000 USDT

Unrealized profit: 6,000 USDT

Coin-Margined (Short BTC-USD)

PnL = 100 × 1,000 × 1 × (1/80,000 - 1/100,000) = 0.25 BTC

Unrealized profit: 0.25 BTC

Example 3: Floating PnL Ratio

With a floating PnL of 6,000 USDT and margin of 1,600 USDT:

Ratio = (6,000 / 1,600) × 100% = 375%

This high return-on-margin signals strong performance but may also indicate elevated risk if market conditions reverse suddenly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between floating and realized PnL?
A: Floating PnL reflects unrealized gains or losses on open positions, changing with market prices. Realized PnL captures actual profits or losses after closing or settling a position.

Q: Why do coin-margined contracts use inverse pricing?
A: Because payouts are made in the base cryptocurrency (e.g., BTC), not USD. The inverse formula ensures accurate valuation when settling in crypto.

Q: How does adding to a position affect entry price?
A: It recalculates the average entry cost. For U-margined contracts, it's a weighted average of prices. For coin-margined, it uses harmonic mean logic due to inverse pricing.

Q: Are trading fees included in realized PnL?
A: Yes. Realized PnL accounts for Closed PnL, Settlement PnL, and any applicable trading fees—providing a complete picture of net profit or loss.

Q: Can floating PnL be negative?
A: Yes. If the mark price moves against your position, floating PnL becomes negative, indicating unrealized losses.

Q: When is settlement PnL applied?
A: At contract expiration. Open positions are automatically settled at the final settlement price determined by the exchange.

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Final Thoughts

Accurate understanding of PnL mechanics empowers traders to better interpret their performance and manage risk effectively. From updating entry prices to calculating both floating and realized gains, each step plays a crucial role in successful futures trading.

Digital asset trading involves substantial risk, especially with leveraged products like futures. Always evaluate your risk tolerance and consider using tools that provide transparent, real-time PnL tracking.

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