A swap cost calculator computes the overnight rollover charge or credit on a Forex position held past the daily session close. Brokers either pay you or charge you a small amount each night based on the interest rate differential between the two currencies in the pair. Swap costs add up fast for swing and position trades, and a profitable EA can be turned unprofitable by a high swap rate. Use this calculator to estimate the holding cost before deploying any EA that holds positions overnight.
Swap Cost Calculator
How the Swap cost calculator works
Total swap cost = Lot size * Broker swap rate per standard lot * Effective nights held. Most brokers apply a triple-swap on Wednesday (5 PM New York time) to cover the weekend in advance: a Wednesday hold counts as 3 nights instead of 1. Effective nights held = Calendar nights + 2 extra nights per Wednesday hold. Swap rates are quoted in account currency per standard lot per night, separately for long and short positions.
Frequently asked questions about the swap cost calculator
What is swap in Forex trading?
Swap (also called rollover) is the interest rate differential between the two currencies in a Forex pair, paid or charged each night that a position is held past the daily session close. The exact swap rate depends on the broker, the pair, and the position direction (long or short).
Why is there triple swap on Wednesday?
Wednesday triple-swap covers the weekend in advance. Because Forex markets are closed Saturday and Sunday but interest still accrues, brokers apply three days of swap on Wednesday at 5 PM New York time. The effect is that a Wednesday-overnight hold counts as three nights, not one.
Can swap rates be positive?
Yes. When the base currency has a higher interest rate than the quote currency, going long earns positive swap. For example, long AUDJPY historically earned positive swap because AUD interest rates were higher than JPY. Negative carry pairs cost you to hold long positions overnight.
Do scalping EAs care about swap?
Generally no, because scalpers close all positions before the daily rollover. EAs that hold positions overnight (trend-followers, hedging EAs, position traders) need to factor swap into their backtests and live performance.
Where do I find my broker swap rates?
Most brokers publish swap rates on their website or in the MT4/MT5 platform itself (right-click the symbol in Market Watch and select Specification). Rates change occasionally based on central bank policy. Always use current broker rates for accurate swap calculations.