Impermanent Loss Calculator

Considering providing liquidity in DeFi pools? Before locking your tokens, understand the risk of impermanent loss. Our calculator helps you quantify potential IL and determine if LP fees can offset the loss over your time horizon.

What is Impermanent Loss Calculator?

Impermanent loss occurs when token prices in a liquidity pool diverge from their initial ratio. The AMM (Automated Market Maker) rebalances the pool, causing you to hold more of the depreciating token and less of the appreciating one compared to simply holding both tokens separately.

Key features

Instant IL percentage calculation. Dollar value impact assessment. LP fee compensation analysis. Break-even time estimation. Support for any token pair. Comparison to holding strategy. Mobile-friendly interface. Free unlimited calculations.

How it works

Enter initial and final prices for both tokens in the pair. Input your LP position size and the pool's fee APR. We calculate your impermanent loss percentage, dollar value of the loss, and estimate how long fees take to offset the IL.

Common use cases

Evaluating new LP positions before committing capital. Monitoring existing positions for IL accumulation. Comparing different pool opportunities. Determining optimal exit timing. Calculating true net returns. Educational purposes for understanding AMM mechanics.

Why use Impermanent Loss Calculator

IL is often underestimated by DeFi users. Our calculator reveals the true cost of providing liquidity. Knowing your IL helps you: select appropriate pairs, size positions correctly, and time exits optimally.

Who should use this tool

DeFi liquidity providers evaluating new pools. Current LPs monitoring positions. Yield farmers comparing opportunities. DeFi beginners learning about LP risks. Portfolio managers assessing LP allocations. Developers building LP strategies.

How to get started

Calculate IL for your planned pool before entering. Compare the result against expected fee earnings. If fees exceed projected IL over your time horizon, the pool may be profitable. Start small to test actual results.

Best practices

Calculate IL before every new position. Choose stable or correlated pairs for lower IL. Higher fee tiers compensate better for volatility. Monitor positions regularly. Don't panic exit during temporary divergence. Diversify across multiple pools. Consider hedging large positions.

Limitations to keep in mind

Calculations assume constant fee rates. Actual trading volume varies. Price impact on large trades not accounted for. Gas costs for entering/exiting not included. Smart contract risks not reflected.

Frequently asked questions

What is impermanent loss?

Impermanent loss is the temporary loss liquidity providers experience when token prices in a pool change from their initial ratio. It represents the opportunity cost of holding tokens in an LP position versus holding them separately. The loss is 'impermanent' because it disappears if prices return to their original ratio.

Can LP fees compensate for IL?

Yes, trading fees can offset impermanent loss over time. However, this depends on volume, fee tier, and how long you stay in the pool. High-volume pools with good fee tiers typically compensate for moderate IL. Calculate your break-even time before entering.

When is IL highest?

IL increases as price ratios diverge. A 2x price change causes ~5.7% IL. The relationship is non-linear - larger price moves cause disproportionately higher IL. Stablecoin pairs (USDC/USDT) have near-zero IL. Volatile altcoin pairs have high IL risk.

Is IL permanent?

IL only becomes permanent when you exit the position at different prices than entry. If prices return to original ratio before exit, IL disappears. This is why some LPs hold through volatility, waiting for prices to realign.

Is this calculator free?

Yes, completely free with no registration required. All calculations happen in your browser.

Which pairs have lowest IL?

Stablecoin pairs (USDC/USDT) have minimal IL since prices stay pegged. Correlated assets like ETH/stETH also have low IL. Avoid pairs where one token is much more volatile than the other.

Should I avoid pools with high IL?

Not necessarily. High IL pools often have higher fee APRs to compensate. Calculate net return: Fees earned - Impermanent Loss = True profit. Some high IL pools are still profitable if volume is high.

How do I minimize IL?

Choose stable or correlated pairs. Consider concentrated liquidity (Uniswap v3) to limit price range. Time entries when volatility is low. Use hedging strategies for large positions. Diversify across multiple pools.

What's a good fee tier?

Higher fee tiers (1% on Uniswap v3) better compensate for IL on volatile pairs. Lower tiers (0.05%) work for stable pairs. Calculate whether your expected fees exceed projected IL.

Can I lose money from IL?

Yes, if fees earned don't exceed IL, you lose money compared to simply holding the tokens. Always calculate both sides before providing liquidity.

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