Day Trading Simulator
Test a trading plan's expectancy and projected account balance from win rate, reward-to-risk and fees, see payoff tables for calls, puts and spreads at expiration, and calculate total and annualized ROI. Includes the 2026 FINRA change that removed the $25,000 PDT minimum.
Day trading simulator
Options profit calculator
ROI calculator
How the day trading simulator works
It uses expectancy: win rate × average win − loss rate × average loss, measured in R (multiples of the amount risked). At a 50% win rate with 1.5R winners and 1R losers, expectancy is +0.25R per trade. Risking 1% of a $10,000 account, 40 trades compound to about $11,050 before fees. A strategy needs a win rate above 1 ÷ (1 + reward-to-risk) just to break even: 40% at 1.5R. Real results vary a lot around the expected value, and most day traders lose money after costs, so treat this as a stock trading simulator for testing assumptions, not a forecast.
The $25,000 pattern day trader rule is gone (2026)
FINRA Regulatory Notice 26-10 replaced the day trading margin rules, including the pattern day trader designation (4+ day trades in 5 business days) and the $25,000 minimum equity, with new intraday margin standards under Rule 4210, effective June 4, 2026. Brokers must now check whether a margin account's equity covers its margin requirement during the day and collect any intraday deficit promptly. Firms may phase the change in until October 20, 2027, so your broker may still apply the old rule for now; check with them. Cash accounts still can't use unsettled funds (good-faith violations).
Options profit calculator: payoff at expiration
A long call profits when the stock ends above strike + premium: a $100 call bought for $3 breaks even at $103 and makes $700 per contract at $110; the most you can lose is the $300 premium. A bull call spread (buy the $100 call for $3, sell the $110 call for $1) costs $2, breaks even at $102 and makes at most $800. The table shows profit at expiration only; before expiration, option prices also depend on time and volatility.
ROI calculator
ROI = (final value − amount invested) ÷ amount invested. $10,000 growing to $13,000 is a 30% ROI; over 2 years that's 14.02% a year annualized ((1.3)1/2 − 1). Compare investments by annualized ROI. Gains are taxable: see the capital gains pages for rates.
Common questions
Is the pattern day trader rule still in effect?
FINRA replaced it with intraday margin standards effective June 4, 2026, but brokers can phase the change in until October 20, 2027.
How do I calculate trading expectancy?
Win rate × average win − loss rate × average loss. 50% × 1.5R − 50% × 1R = +0.25R.
How is options profit calculated?
At expiration, a call is worth max(0, price − strike); subtract the premium and multiply by 100 shares per contract.
What is a good ROI?
Compare annualized ROI with alternatives; broad US stocks have historically returned roughly 10% a year nominal over long periods.
Can I day trade with less than $25,000?
Under the new FINRA standard there's no fixed $25,000 minimum, once your broker has implemented it; margin requirements still apply.
Sources
- FINRA Regulatory Notice 26-10: New intraday margin standards
- Investor.gov: Pattern day trader
- OCC / Options Industry Council: Options strategies
Related
General information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Check important numbers with the official source before acting on them.