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The grid calculator takes a range, a number of grids and an investment and returns the spacing and the money per grid.
What is included
- What it is, in plain words
- The formula or mechanism, with exact arithmetic
- How it hits grid, martingale and DCA bots
- A check you can run before you switch a bot on
Who it is for
- People who run or plan to run a trading bot
- Anyone reading a backtest or a bot sales page
- Readers who want the numbers, not the pitch
- Not advice, and not a signal service
Key facts
- A grid bot has a few settings that decide everything: the lowest and highest price, how many grids sit between them, whether the steps are equal in price or in percent, and how much money is used.
- Spacing is the range divided by the number of grids. In a made-up range of 90 to 110 with 20 grids, the arithmetic step is 1.00, which is 1.11 percent at a price of 90 and 0.92 percent at 109 (calculated by us on 31 Oct 2026, exact).
- Geometric spacing makes every step the same percent. In the same range with 20 grids that is 1.01 percent at every level.
- If price then falls through the range, the bought grids lose: in the made-up example 10 bought grids that cost 1000 are worth 847.34 at a price of 80.
- This page explains how something works and does not recommend it. We have not tested it for this page. Check the current terms.
The settings, in general terms
A grid bot places buy orders below the price and sell orders above it at fixed steps. When a buy fills, it places a sell one step higher, and when that sells the gap is earned, less fees. Pionex is one venue that offers grid bots built in. We did not read its current screens or help pages for this page, so we do not state its defaults, limits, names of options or fees. Check them on the venue before relying on anything here. The general settings below are common to grid bots, and the arithmetic below works whatever the venue calls them.
- Lower and upper price. The range. Outside it the bot does not place orders.
- Number of grids. How many steps the range is cut into.
- Spacing type. Arithmetic: each step is the same size in price. Geometric: each step is the same percent. Check whether the venue offers both and what it calls them.
- Investment. The money the bot may use, shared between the grids.
- Stop and trigger options. Many grid bots can start at a set price or stop at one. Check what your venue offers.
How to compute what a setting means
Then subtract the round trip fee, twice the fee on one side, from the step in percent. If the answer is not clearly above zero after fees and the spread, each completed grid loses. The grid calculator does the first part for you.
Worked example: arithmetic against geometric spacing
The numbers are made up. Range 90 to 110, 20 grids, investment 2000, so 100 per grid, and a made-up fee of 0.1 percent each side. With arithmetic spacing every step is 1.00 in price. The table shows what that is in percent at different levels, and compares it with geometric spacing, where the percent is the same everywhere.
| Grid starts at | Arithmetic step (price) | Arithmetic step (percent) | Arithmetic net after fees | Geometric step (percent) | Geometric net after fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90 | 1.00 | 1.111% | 0.911% | 1.008% | 0.808% |
| 95 | 1.00 | 1.053% | 0.853% | 1.008% | 0.808% |
| 100 | 1.00 | 1.000% | 0.800% | 1.008% | 0.808% |
| 105 | 1.00 | 0.952% | 0.752% | 1.008% | 0.808% |
| 109 | 1.00 | 0.917% | 0.717% | 1.008% | 0.808% |
Calculated by us on 31 Oct 2026, exact for the stated inputs. Arithmetic spacing pays a little more per grid at the bottom of the range and a little less at the top. Geometric pays the same percent throughout. In a narrow range the two are almost the same. The more important point is that the net per grid is only about 0.80 percent after fees: a venue with a higher fee, or a spread you pay on each fill, can take it to zero. The fee here is invented, so use the real one. For where fees bite see grid bot fees and costs.
Worked example: what a fall through the range does
The price starts at 100. The 20 grids have 10 buy orders below it, at 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 91, 90, each for 100. If price falls all the way down, the bot spends 1000 and holds 10.59 units at an average cost of 94.41. The figure shows what those units are worth at different exit prices, ignoring fees.
At a price of 95 the loss is -6.22. At 90, the bottom of the range, it is 46.74. At 80 it is 152.66, and at 70 it is 258.57. Once the price is under the lower line the bot has no more buy orders to place and is simply holding. Each completed grid earned about 0.80, so the loss at 90 equals many completed grids of gain. Calculated by us on 31 Oct 2026, exact.
How the settings interact
- More grids in the same range make each step smaller, so each completed grid earns less and fees take a larger share.
- A wider range survives a bigger fall and pays less per grid, because the same grids are spread over more price.
- More investment scales both the gain per grid and the loss in a fall. It does not change the shape of the risk.
- If you use leverage on a futures grid, the forced close can come inside the range. See futures grid liquidation.
How to check your own settings
- Work out the step in percent at the top and the bottom of the range, then subtract twice the fee.
- Work out the fall from the start price to the lower line, in percent, and compare it with falls the asset has had before.
- Work out the loss on all bought grids at the lower line, and compare it with the gain per completed grid.
- Run the same settings on a practice mode first if the venue has one, then a very small amount.
What this page does not tell you
It does not state any default, limit, fee, supported pair or screen of the venue. It does not say a grid bot makes money. All prices, ranges and fees here are made up. For the full picture of the strategy see grid trading bot and grid trading strategy settings.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What settings does a spot grid bot need?
A lower and upper price, a number of grids, a spacing type and an amount of money. Many also offer a start price or a stop. Check which ones your venue offers.
What is the difference between arithmetic and geometric grids?
Arithmetic steps are equal in price. Geometric steps are equal in percent. In a narrow range they are nearly the same.
How do I work out the profit per grid?
Divide the spacing by the price for the step in percent, then subtract the fee on both sides. If the result is not above zero, each completed grid loses.
What happens if price leaves the range?
The bot stops placing orders. If price falls below the lower line, it holds the bought units at a loss. If it rises above the upper line, it has sold everything and sits out the rise.
Does more investment change the risk?
It scales both the gain per grid and the loss in a fall. It does not change the shape of the risk.
Are the numbers on this page real?
Example numbers are made up to show how the maths works, and the page says so. A figure only counts as exact when the page says it was calculated on a stated date. Nothing you enter in a calculator leaves your browser.
Can I use this to decide whether to run a bot?
It can show whether a bot's numbers hold together and how much an account can lose. It cannot say what the market will do, and it is not advice. Use it to ask better questions, then read the terms of your own broker or exchange.
Is this financial advice?
No. It explains grid settings with made-up numbers and recommends nothing.
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