Calculate Brokerage Charges: Free, Instant, Online

When you trade stocks, commodities, or derivatives (F&O) in India, brokerage charges are an unavoidable part of the process. If you don’t account for them properly, they can eat into your profits more than you expect.

Whether you’re an intraday trader, long-term investor, or F&O trader, brokerage fees, STT (Securities Transaction Tax), exchange charges, and GST all add up. Knowing exactly how much you're paying per trade helps you manage costs and maximise returns.

That’s why we’ve created a Brokerage Calculator—a simple tool to help you calculate brokerage charges online before placing a trade, so you can choose the most cost-effective broker and optimise your trading strategy.

But how does brokerage work? How are brokerage charges calculated? What should you expect to pay? Let’s break it all down.

What is Brokerage?

Brokerage is the fee charged by a stockbroker for executing your buy or sell orders in the stock market. This fee varies depending on:

• The broker you use (Zerodha, Upstox, Angel One, ICICI Direct, etc.)
• The type of trade (Intraday, Delivery, Futures & Options, Commodities, Currency, etc.)
• The stock exchange (NSE, BSE, MCX)
• The trade volume and frequency

Good to know

At first, brokerage fees may seem small, but if you trade frequently, they add up quickly and affect overall profitability.

What Are the Types of Brokerage Charges in India?

Each trading segment has different brokerage fee structures. Below are the most common charges you will encounter:

1. Brokerage Fees (Stock Trading & F&O)

• Charged as a flat fee per order or a percentage of trade value.
• Example: Zerodha charges ₹20 per trade for intraday and F&O, while full-service brokers charge 0.25% to 0.50% per trade.

2. Securities Transaction Tax (STT) & Commodity Transaction Tax (CTT)

• STT applies to stock trading, while CTT applies to commodity trading.
• Example: On equity delivery trades, STT is 0.1% on both buy and sell transactions.

3. Exchange Transaction Charges

• Charged by NSE, BSE, and MCX for executing trades on their platforms.
• Different for equity, derivatives, and commodities.

4. GST (Goods & Services Tax)

• 18% GST applies to brokerage, SEBI charges, and exchange fees.

5. Stamp Duty

• Varies by state and is charged on the trade value.

6. DP (Depository Participant) Charges

• Charged for selling shares from your Demat account.
• Example: NSDL and CDSL charge ₹13 to ₹15 per transaction.

How Are Brokerage Charges Calculated?

Brokerage fees depend on the broker, trade type, and trade volume. Here’s how they apply across different segments:

Equity Trading: Intraday & Delivery Brokerage

Example Calculation – Intraday Trading

If you buy ₹2,00,000 worth of shares and sell them the same day, using:

Zerodha: ₹20 per order (Flat Fee)
ICICI Direct: 0.05% brokerage

• Zerodha Brokerage Charges: ₹20 (Buy) + ₹20 (Sell) = ₹40
• ICICI Direct Brokerage: ₹2,00,000 × 0.05% = ₹100 (Buy) + ₹100 (Sell) = ₹200

Savings using a discount broker like Zerodha = ₹160 per trade

Futures & Options (F&O) Trading Brokerage

F&O trading fees include:
✅ Brokerage charges (flat fee per order or % of trade value)
✅ Exchange transaction charges
✅ GST and SEBI charges

Example: NIFTY Futures Trade

Trade: Buy 2 lots of NIFTY Futures (50 x 2 = 100 units) at ₹19,500

Savings using Zerodha: ₹60 per trade

Commodity & Currency Trading Brokerage (MCX & Forex)

Gold Futures Trade (MCX)

Trade: Buy 1 lot of Gold Futures (1 kg) at ₹60,000 per 10g

✅ Zerodha charges ₹20 per order
✅ Traditional brokers charge 0.03% of trade value

• Zerodha Cost: ₹20 (Buy) + ₹20 (Sell) = ₹40
• Full-Service Broker Cost: ₹60,00,000 × 0.03% = ₹1,800

Savings using Zerodha = ₹1,760 per trade

Why Use a Brokerage Calculator?

A Brokerage Calculator helps you estimate the exact brokerage charges and other fees before placing a trade.

Why It’s Useful

• Know Your Trading Costs Upfront – Avoid surprises by calculating all charges before executing trades.
• Compare Brokerage Across Platforms – Check fees for Zerodha, Upstox, Angel One, and others.
• Plan Your Trades More Efficiently – Helps you decide the most cost-effective trading strategy.

Who Should Use a Brokerage Calculator?

A Brokerage Calculator is beneficial for all types of traders:

• Intraday & Swing Traders – Frequent traders who need to keep costs low.
• F&O Traders – Calculating brokerage for Futures & Options contracts.
• Long-Term Investors – Checking hidden charges on delivery trades.
• Commodity & Forex Traders – Estimating spreads, STT, and leverage fees.

How to Use Our Brokerage Calculator

Using our Brokerage Calculator is simple:

• Select Your Trading Segment – Equity, F&O, Currency, or Commodities.
• Enter Your Trade Details – Trade size, buy/sell price, and broker.
• Choose Your Broker – Compare brokerage charges across platforms.
• Get Instant Results – See total brokerage and charges before placing a trade.

By understanding your trading costs in advance, you can optimise your trades and increase profitability. Try our free Brokerage Calculator today and take control of your trading costs! 

Is 1% Brokerage Fee High?

Yes! A 1% brokerage fee is considered very high in today’s Indian stock market.

Let’s break it down:

• Full-service brokers (like ICICI Direct, HDFC Securities) used to charge 0.5% to 1% brokerage on equity delivery.
• Now, discount brokers (like Zerodha, Upstox) charge ₹0 brokerage on delivery and flat ₹20 per order on intraday and F&O trades.

For example

If you buy shares worth ₹2,00,000 and your broker charges 1% brokerage, you would pay: Brokerage = ₹2,00,000 × 1% = ₹2,000

But with Zerodha (₹20 per trade), you pay just ₹20 instead of ₹2,000—a massive difference!

What is ₹20 Per Trade Brokerage?

Many discount brokers charge a flat ₹20 per trade brokerage instead of a percentage-based fee. This means whether you buy stocks worth ₹10,000 or ₹10 lakh, you still pay only ₹20 per trade.

• Best for high-value traders – If you trade big amounts, ₹20 per trade saves huge brokerage costs.
• Fixed, predictable charges – Unlike percentage-based fees, which rise with trade value.

For example

If you buy stocks worth ₹5 lakh, a traditional broker charging 0.5% brokerage would charge ₹2,500.
With Zerodha or Upstox (₹20 per trade), you pay just ₹20—saving ₹2,480 per trade!

How to Reduce Brokerage & Trading Fees?

Want to minimise trading costs? Follow these smart tips:

• Use Discount Brokers – Choose Zerodha, Upstox, Angel One over traditional brokers.
• Opt for Annual Brokerage Plans – Some brokers offer flat-fee plans for high-volume traders.
• Trade on Low-Volume Days – Lower exchange fees apply on less volatile days.
• Use Limit Orders Instead of Market Orders – Avoid higher slippage costs.
• Compare Brokers Before Trading – Always check for hidden fees like auto-square off charges.

P. Laurore

Finance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and holder of a Master's degree in finance, Pauline has recognised expertise in personal finance, which she uses to help users better understand and optimise their financial choices. At HelloSafe, Pauline plays a key role in designing clear, educational content on savings, investments and personal finance. Passionate about financial education, Pauline strives, with every piece of content she oversees, to provide reliable, transparent and unbiased information for independent and informed financial management. To this end, she has tested over 100 trading platforms to help internet users make the right choices.