How to build a ladder
Enter the coin, the number of coins you hold, your average entry price and the fee you pay per sale. Then add targets: each has a price and the percentage of the ORIGINAL position to sell there. Percentages of the original position keep the plan predictable โ โ20% at each of four targetsโ always leaves 20% of the coins, regardless of the order in which targets are hit. If the percentages add up to more than 100%, the last targets are capped at what remains and a note appears.
The โGenerate an even ladderโ option creates targets for you: first target at +X%, then every +Y%, N targets, the same percentage at each. Adjust any row afterwards.
sell qty_i = position ร % to sell_i
proceeds_i = qty_i ร price_i ร (1 โ fee)
profit_i = proceeds_i โ qty_i ร entry
average exit = ฮฃ proceeds รท ฮฃ qty soldExample: 50 SOL bought at $150
Targets at $225, $300, $375 and $450 (+50%, +100%, +150%, +200%), selling 20% of the original 50 SOL โ 10 SOL โ at each, with a 0.5% fee. The four sales bring in $2,238.75, $2,985, $3,731.25 and $4,477.50: $13,432.50 in total and $7,432.50 of realized profit. The average exit price is about $335.81. The original $7,500 is recovered at the third target, and 10 SOL โ worth $4,500 at the last target โ remain as a โfreeโ position.
Compare that with two extremes: selling everything at the first target ($11,193.75 after fees) leaves nothing if the price keeps rising; holding everything gains most at $450 but nothing is locked in if the price reverses at $350. The ladder sits deliberately in between.
Designing a sensible ladder
- Decide the targets before the move starts. Ladders set in the heat of a rally tend to be too greedy.
- Make early steps smaller and later steps larger if you want more upside; reverse that if protecting capital matters more.
- Aim to recover your initial cost somewhere in the ladder โ the calculator shows which target does it.
- Keep a remainder you are comfortable holding through a full cycle.
- Place real limit orders where your exchange allows it; a plan in a spreadsheet does not execute itself.
- Pair the ladder with a stop or a rule for the downside โ a ladder only handles the way up.
Fees and taxes
Each step is a separate sale, so each pays a trading fee โ include it, especially for small steps. In many countries each sale is also a taxable event; the realized profit per step here uses your average entry price, while your tax rules may require FIFO or another method. The tax-lot calculator shows the gain per sale under FIFO, LIFO and HIFO, and the Excel template above keeps the ladder and the actual fills side by side.
Frequently asked questions
+What is a take-profit ladder?
A plan to sell a position in several parts at increasing prices instead of all at once. It locks in gains gradually while keeping some exposure if the price continues to rise.
+How many take-profit levels should I use?
Three to six is common. More levels smooth the average exit but add fees and effort; fewer levels are simpler but more sensitive to where the top is.
+Should percentages be of the original or the remaining position?
This calculator uses the original position, which makes the plan easy to read: four targets at 20% always leave 20%. If your exchange asks for a percentage of the remaining balance, convert each step.
+Can I export the ladder?
Yes. Download it as Excel or CSV, or start from the free template file at the top of the page.
+Does the calculator place orders?
No. It only calculates. Place limit orders on your exchange or set alerts, and swap manually when a target is hit.
+Can I download the template for free without registration?
Yes. The Excel (.xlsx) file is a direct link on this page: no account, no e-mail and no payment. You can also use the online version above and export your own numbers.
Calculations run entirely in your browser; nothing you type is sent to KOT.CASH. Results are estimates for information only and are not financial, tax or legal advice.