How to Calculate Zerodha Brokerage Charges (Free Calculator)

Trading with Zerodha? Understanding your exact trading costs upfront can save you from unpleasant surprises when you check your account statement. This guide will walk you through every charge and show you exactly what you’ll pay.

Understanding Zerodha’s Pricing Structure

Zerodha follows a simple, transparent pricing model that’s easy to understand once you know the basics. Here’s how it works:

Brokerage Charges Breakdown

• Equity Delivery: ₹0 (completely free)
• Equity Intraday: ₹20 flat or 0.03% of turnover (whichever is lower)
• Futures: ₹20 flat or 0.03% of turnover (whichever is lower)
• Options: ₹20 flat per executed order

Additional Charges You Need to Know

Beyond brokerage, every trade involves several mandatory charges:

• Securities Transaction Tax (STT): 0.1% on equity transactions (increased from 0.025% in October 2024)
• Exchange Transaction Charges: 0.00297% on NSE equity transactions
• SEBI Charges: ₹10 per crore of turnover
• Stamp Duty: 0.015% on buy transactions or ₹1,500 per crore (whichever is lower)
• GST: 18% on (brokerage + SEBI charges + transaction charges)

Real Trading Cost Examples

Let’s see how these charges apply to actual trades:

Example 1: Small Delivery Trade (₹10,000)

Buying shares worth ₹10,000 for long-term investment:

• Buy Value: ₹10,000
• Brokerage: ₹0 (delivery is free)
• STT: ₹10.00 (0.1% on buy and sell combined)
• Exchange Charges: ₹0.30
• SEBI Charges: ₹0.01
• Stamp Duty: ₹1.50
• GST: ₹0.06
• Total Cost: ₹11.87

Key Insight: Even small trades have minimal costs with delivery trading.

Example 2: Intraday Trade (₹50,000)

Day trading with ₹50,000 worth of stocks:

• Turnover: ₹1,00,000 (₹50,000 buy + ₹50,000 sell)
• Brokerage: ₹20.00 (flat rate)
• STT: ₹50.00 (0.1% on sell side)
• Exchange Charges: ₹2.97
• SEBI Charges: ₹0.10
• Stamp Duty: ₹7.50
• GST: ₹4.15
• Total Cost: ₹84.72

Key Insight: The flat ₹20 brokerage makes larger intraday trades very cost-effective.

Example 3: Large Trade (₹5,00,000)

High-value intraday trading:

• Turnover: ₹10,00,000 (₹5,00,000 buy + ₹5,00,000 sell)
• Brokerage: ₹20.00 (still just ₹20!)
• STT: ₹500.00
• Exchange Charges: ₹29.70
• SEBI Charges: ₹1.00
• Stamp Duty: ₹75.00
• GST: ₹9.13
• Total Cost: ₹634.83

Key Insight: Traditional brokers might charge ₹3,000+ in brokerage alone for this trade. Zerodha’s flat fee structure really shines here.

Example 4: Options Trading

Buying call options with ₹2,000 premium:

• Premium Paid: ₹2,000
• Brokerage: ₹20.00
• STT: ₹2.00 (0.1% of premium on sell side)
• Exchange Charges: ₹10.62 (₹5.31 per lot)
• SEBI Charges: ₹0.02
• Stamp Duty: ₹0.60
• GST: ₹5.52
• Total Cost: ₹38.76

Hidden Charges Most Traders Miss

Beyond the trading charges, there are some additional costs to be aware of:

Account Maintenance Charges

• Portfolio Value up to ₹4 lakh: Free
• ₹4-10 lakh: ₹100 per year
• Above ₹10 lakh: ₹300 per year

Other Charges

• DP Charges: ₹13.50 + GST per stock when selling delivery shares
• Call & Trade: ₹50 per order if you place orders via phone
• Auto Square-off: ₹50 if system auto-closes your positions
• Physical Statement: ₹20 per month if requested

How to Calculate Your Breakeven Point

Understanding your breakeven is crucial for profitable trading. Here’s how to calculate it:

For Delivery Trading

Since brokerage is ₹0, you only need to cover other charges. For a ₹10,000 stock purchase, you need approximately 0.15% price appreciation to breakeven (including both buy and sell charges).

For Intraday Trading

With ₹20 brokerage plus other charges, you typically need 0.2-0.3% price movement to breakeven, depending on trade size.

Quick Breakeven Formula

Breakeven % = (Total Buy Charges + Total Sell Charges) / Trade Value × 100

Smart Trading Tips to Minimize Costs

For Long-term Investors

• Use delivery trading to avoid repeated charges
• Consolidate purchases instead of buying small quantities frequently
• Hold positions longer to amortize fixed charges over time

For Active Traders

• Focus on larger position sizes to benefit from flat ₹20 brokerage
• Use GTT (Good Till Triggered) orders to automate entries and exits
• Avoid physical statements and call & trade to prevent additional charges

For Options Traders

• Consider the ₹20 flat brokerage when choosing contract quantities
• Factor in the 0.1% STT on premium when calculating potential profits
• Use weekly options for short-term strategies to reduce time decay impact

Zerodha vs Other Brokers: An Honest Comparison

When Zerodha Makes Sense

• Long-term investing (free delivery)
• High-volume intraday trading (flat ₹20 advantage)
• Options trading (competitive ₹20 flat)
• Cost-conscious traders

Potential Drawbacks

• No relationship manager for guidance
• Limited research recommendations
• Self-service model requires some learning

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Zerodha delivery trading really free?

Yes, Zerodha charges ₹0 brokerage for equity delivery trades. However, you still pay government taxes (STT), exchange charges, and other regulatory fees. The “free” refers specifically to brokerage.

Why is the ₹20 flat fee better than percentage-based pricing?

The flat fee benefits traders with larger position sizes. For example, a ₹10 lakh trade would cost ₹20 with Zerodha versus ₹500-₹1,000 with percentage-based brokers.

What happens if my account goes negative?

If your account has insufficient funds, brokerage increases to ₹40 per order instead of ₹20. It’s important to maintain adequate balance.

Are there charges for cancelled orders?

No, Zerodha doesn’t charge brokerage for cancelled or rejected orders. You only pay for executed trades.

How accurate is this calculator?

The calculator uses official Zerodha rates and current government tax rates. All calculations match what you’ll see in your contract notes and statements.

Getting Started with Zerodha

Ready to start trading? Use the calculator above to estimate your costs for different trade scenarios. This helps you plan your position sizes and understand exactly what you’ll pay before you trade.

Remember to factor in all charges, not just brokerage, when calculating your potential profits. The total cost of trading includes various government levies that apply regardless of which broker you choose.