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The payout is what you earn on a winning trade, as a percentage of the amount invested. On Pocket Option it changes from one asset to another and over time: the asset list shows payouts of up to 92% on many currency pairs, and as low as 15% on some crypto pairs. A 92% payout sounds generous, but it means you must win 52.1% of your trades just to break even. Here is why, and how to use this number.
Want today’s figures rather than examples? Our page of Pocket Option payouts right now lists every asset with its payout at this moment, read on our own account and refreshed every 15 minutes.
How the payout works
You invest $10 on EUR/USD going up, with a 92% payout. If the price is higher at expiry, you receive your $10 back plus $9.20. If it is lower, you lose the $10. The result is credited to your balance automatically when the trade expires. A win pays less than 100%, but a loss costs 100%: that gap is what you have to overcome.
The break-even win rate for each payout
The formula is simple: break-even win rate = 1 ÷ (1 + payout).
| Payout | Win rate needed to break even |
|---|---|
| 70% | 58.8% |
| 75% | 57.1% |
| 80% | 55.6% |
| 85% | 54.1% |
| 88% | 53.2% |
| 90% | 52.6% |
| 92% | 52.1% |
Our lesson The math of break-even explains the formula in detail.
An example over 100 trades
100 trades of $10 at a 92% payout:
- 50 wins and 50 losses: +$460 − $500 = −$40. Being right half the time loses money.
- 55 wins and 45 losses: +$506 − $450 = +$56.
The difference between losing and winning over time is a few trades out of a hundred. That is why every decision counts, and why the payout of the asset you choose matters.
What makes the payout change
- The asset: the platform publishes a payout for each asset, and it varies widely.
- The time: the payout of the same asset can change during the day and around market events. Always check it on the trade ticket before you confirm.
- The type of trade: the platform advertises “payouts of up to 218%” for express trades, which combine several predictions. Every prediction must be right for the trade to win, so a higher payout comes with a much lower chance of winning.
How to use the payout in practice
- Write down the payout of each trade in your journal, next to the result.
- Compare your win rate with the break-even of the payouts you actually traded, not with 50%.
- Avoid low-payout assets: at 70%, you need nearly 59% winning trades.
- Never try to make up for a loss by doubling the next trade: our lesson on why the martingale ruins accounts shows the numbers.
For an overview of the platform, read our full Pocket Option review.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum payout on Pocket Option?
On a standard trade, the asset list shows up to 92%. Express trades are advertised up to 218%, with several predictions to get right.
When is the payout credited?
Automatically, at the expiry of the trade, to your balance. Withdrawing it is a separate step: see deposits and withdrawals.
Is a higher payout always better?
For the same asset and the same trade, yes: it lowers your break-even. But a high payout on a combined or exotic trade can hide a much lower chance of winning.
Practise first on the demo account, and read our Risk Disclosure: you can lose all the money you invest.
