Free tool
Recovering a drawdown: the true cost
Losses are asymmetric: -50% requires +100% to get back to zero. Enter your drawdown and see the gain you'll need.
%
Gain required to recover
+33,3 %
| Loss | Gain required |
|---|---|
| -5 % | +5,3 % |
| -10 % | +11,1 % |
| -20 % | +25 % |
| -30 % | +42,9 % |
| -40 % | +66,7 % |
| -50 % | +100 % |
| -60 % | +150 % |
| -70 % | +233,3 % |
| -80 % | +400 % |
| -90 % | +900 % |
Then journal every trade and track your real risk in PipBook.
Try PipBook for freeFrequently asked questions
Why do you need to gain more than you lost?+
Because the gain is computed on a reduced capital. After -50%, only half the account remains: you need to double (+100%) what's left to get back to the starting point.
At what drawdown should I worry?+
Beyond 20% the slope gets steep: you already need +25% to recover. Most professional traders stop and reassess their method well before that, often around 10-15%.
How do I limit my drawdowns?+
Small fixed risk per trade (1% or less), a daily stop after a losing streak, and a trading journal to identify the periods and setups that dig your losses.