SPREADS · EXPIRATION PAYOFF

Bear Put Spread Calculator

Compare the cost and capped profit of a put spread as the stock falls.

Your position

Illustrative starting values · USD

Use one stock or ETF and the same expiration for every option leg. Prices are per share.

Stock quantities are shares. Option quantities are contracts. Enter the total fees for the entire position once.

About this calculator

How to use the Bear Put Spread calculator

Buy a higher-strike put and sell a lower-strike put in equal quantities with the same expiration.

Understanding the payoff

Maximum loss is the net debit paid. Maximum profit = (strike width − net debit per share) × shares represented. Breakeven = higher strike − net debit per share.

These formulas describe the standard strategy before fees. The results above include the total fees entered and are calculated from your actual legs.

Worked example

Buy 1 $40 put option at $3 per share; Sell 1 $35 put option at $1 per share. All options share one expiration and a 100-unit multiplier. Fees are zero in this example.

Read the strategy guide →

Assumptions and limits

This is an expiration payoff estimate, not a live option quote or a prediction. It assumes all option legs expire together on one stock or ETF, the stock price cannot be negative, and options settle at intrinsic value. The default multiplier is 100 shares per contract; adjust it for the contract being modeled. Early assignment, exercise decisions, dividends, interest, taxes, and slippage can change realized results. Cash requirements and broker margin are separate from maximum loss. Different expirations, futures options, and adjusted contracts with non-cash deliverables are not supported.

Method: add each leg’s intrinsic value at expiration, subtract its entry cost with the correct buy/sell sign, and subtract total fees. See Cboe’s worked spread example on Fidelity for a reference calculation.