Bull Put Spread Calculator
Use this free bull put spread calculator to model your credit spread before you place it. Enter your two put strikes and net credit received to instantly see max profit, max loss, breakeven price, and a full P&L diagram.
How to use the bull put spread calculator
Enter your two put strikes and net credit above and the calculator updates in real time. Here is what each input does.
Enter the short put strike
This is the higher strike put you are selling. It is the main source of premium and the level below which the stock starts working against you.
Enter the long put strike
This is the lower strike put you are buying to define your maximum loss. The gap between the two strikes is your spread width.
Enter the net credit received
Enter the total net credit collected for the spread. This is the short put premium minus the cost of the long put and represents your maximum profit.
Review your results
See max profit, max loss, and breakeven instantly. The P&L diagram shows exactly how the trade performs at every stock price at expiration.
Understanding the bull put spread
A bull put spread is built by selling an out-of-the-money put and simultaneously buying a further out-of-the-money put at a lower strike. You collect a net credit upfront. The strategy profits when the stock stays flat, rises, or declines only slightly through expiration. Because you are selling the more expensive option and buying a cheaper one to cap your risk, the spread comes in as a credit.
Time decay is your friend with this strategy. Every day the stock stays above your short put strike, theta erodes the value of both options but benefits your net position since you are a net seller of premium. This is why many traders favor credit spreads over debit spreads when they want a high-probability trade rather than an aggressive directional bet.
Probability of profit advantage
Because you are selling a put below the current stock price, the short strike can be placed at a level where the probability of the stock closing above it at expiration is quite high. A $50 short put on a stock trading at $60 has a wide margin before it is in trouble. The trade-off is that the credit you collect is smaller relative to the risk, but the frequency of winning trades is higher than with a debit spread targeting the same move.
When to use a bull put spread
Bull put spreads work well when you are bullish to neutral on a stock and want to profit from time decay and a stable or rising price. They are effective in high implied volatility environments where you collect a larger credit, and are commonly used on stocks where you are comfortable owning the shares at the short put strike if the trade goes wrong. If the stock drops sharply, the long put limits your loss to the spread width minus the credit received, giving you a clearly defined worst-case outcome.
Bull put spread example with real numbers
Here is a worked example you can enter directly into the calculator above to see the full P&L diagram in action.
Trade setup: XYZ stock trading at $55.00
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Bull put spread calculator FAQ
Common questions about the bull put spread strategy and how to use this calculator.
A bull put spread is a bullish to neutral credit spread where you sell a put at a higher strike and buy a put at a lower strike on the same stock with the same expiration. You collect a net credit upfront. The trade profits if the stock stays at or above the short put strike through expiration, causing both puts to expire worthless so you keep the full credit. Your risk is capped by the long put you bought.
The maximum profit is the net credit received multiplied by 100 shares per contract. Using the example above, that is $150. You achieve max profit when the stock closes at or above the short put strike ($50) at expiration. Time decay accelerates this outcome as expiration approaches, especially in the final weeks of the trade when theta is highest.
The maximum loss is the spread width minus the net credit received, multiplied by 100. For a $5-wide spread with $1.50 in credit, max loss is $350 per contract. This occurs if the stock closes at or below the long put strike ($45 in the example) at expiration. The long put you bought prevents any further loss beyond the spread width, no matter how far the stock falls below that level.
The breakeven is the short put strike minus the net credit received. With a $50 short put and $1.50 in net credit, the breakeven is $48.50. If the stock closes exactly at $48.50 at expiration, the position breaks even. Above $48.50, the trade is profitable. Below $48.50, the loss grows until the stock reaches the long put strike ($45), at which point the maximum loss is reached.
Yes, a bull put spread and a short put spread refer to the same strategy. Both names describe the same trade: selling a higher-strike put and buying a lower-strike put to collect a net credit. The term “bull put spread” emphasizes the bullish directional bias, while “short put spread” describes the structure of the trade. You may also hear it called a put credit spread, which highlights that it brings in a credit when opened. All three terms mean the same thing.
This calculator is for educational and informational purposes only. Options trading involves substantial risk and is not suitable for all investors. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Always consult a licensed financial professional before making investment decisions.