Enter the total dollar volume ($) and the average stock price ($) into the Stock Volume Calculator. The calculator will evaluate and display the Stock Volume.
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Stock Volume Formula
The calculator runs in two modes. Each mode uses its own formula.
Dollar volume mode converts a money amount traded into an estimated share count.
Shares = Dollar Volume / Average Price
- Shares = estimated number of shares traded
- Dollar Volume = total money value traded over the period
- Average Price = average price per share for that period
The calculator also reports round lots as Shares ÷ Lot Size (default 100), and if you enter Average Daily Volume, it computes Volume vs. ADV as Shares ÷ ADV × 100. The dollar volume formula assumes the average price you enter is representative of the period the dollar volume covers. If price moved sharply, the share count is an approximation.
Average cost mode finds the weighted average price across up to four buys.
Average Cost = Sum(Shares_i * Price_i) / Sum(Shares_i)
- Shares_i = shares purchased in buy i
- Price_i = price paid per share in buy i
- Average Cost = weighted average cost basis per share
If you enter a current price, the calculator adds Market Value = Current Price × Total Shares, Unrealized P/L = Market Value − Total Invested, and Return = P/L ÷ Total Invested × 100. Commissions and fees are not included. Add them to the buy price if you want them reflected in cost basis.
Reference Tables
Use these as quick context for the numbers the calculator returns.
| Volume vs. ADV | Reading |
|---|---|
| Under 50% | Quiet session for the stock |
| 50% to 150% | Normal active trading |
| 150% to 200% | Elevated, often news driven |
| Over 200% | Unusual, check for a catalyst |
| Lot Type | Shares | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Round lot | 100 | Standard US equity lot |
| Mixed lot | 101 to 199 | Round lot plus odd lot |
| Odd lot | 1 to 99 | Below the standard lot |
| Block trade | 10,000+ | Or $200,000+ in market value |
Worked Examples and FAQ
Example 1: Dollar volume to shares. A stock trades $2,500,000 in dollar volume at an average price of $42.50. Shares = 2,500,000 ÷ 42.50 = 58,824 shares. With a 100-share lot, that is about 588 round lots. If ADV is 1,200,000, then 58,824 ÷ 1,200,000 = 4.9% of ADV, which reads as quiet.
Example 2: Weighted average cost. Buy 1 is 100 shares at $48.25. Buy 2 is 75 shares at $44.10. Total invested = 100 × 48.25 + 75 × 44.10 = $4,825.00 + $3,307.50 = $8,132.50. Total shares = 175. Average cost = 8,132.50 ÷ 175 = $46.47 per share. At a current price of $55, market value is $9,625, P/L is $1,492.50, and return is 18.35%.
Why does the share count seem off versus reported volume? Reported exchange volume is total shares matched. The calculator estimates shares from a dollar figure and a single average price. If you use VWAP for the same period, the result will be very close to actual shares.
Should I include commissions in buy price? If you want a true cost basis, add per-share commissions to each buy price. For most US retail brokers commissions are zero, so the buy price is the cost basis.
Can I use this for selling too? The average cost mode is for purchases. To track realized gains, run the buys to get cost basis, then compare your sale price to that average cost.
What lot size should I use? Use 100 for US listed stocks. Some markets and some high-priced foreign listings use different lots. Enter the lot size your exchange uses if it is not 100.
